Capitol art exhibits are a strategy state arts agencies adopt to showcase and celebrate the arts as an important part of state policy and public pride. Exhibiting artworks or cultural events in state capitol buildings helps to raise public awareness about the arts, create visibility for local artists and educate elected officials about the role…
NASAA, in partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, granted nearly $1.5 million to 36 state arts agencies (SAAs) to support creative aging initiatives. The wide variety of programming across all 36 SAAs acknowledged the impactful role arts and creativity can play in supporting a higher quality of life and healthier living for older adults. Two grantees,…
Arts and cultural strategies have the potential to strengthen the social fabric of communities. In an effort to address community challenges as well as to encourage economic growth, the Georgia Council for the Arts launched the More than Murals Workshop. The pilot project was developed after noting the overwhelming response to a virtual workshop previously…
Public art has many civic benefits. Aside from enlivening and beautifying public spaces, public art makes communities distinctive and attractive places to live, visit and do business. Whether supported through state percent for art policies or other programs, public art installations can serve as focal points for civic engagement. They create job opportunities for artists…
Using arts, creativity and culture as a convener to improve community interactions and quality of life is a focal point of the Nevada Arts Council. As part of this commitment, the Arts Council launched the Nevada Basin to Range Exchange (BRX), a program that facilitates rural and metropolitan partnerships by promoting resource sharing, project development,…
Cultural districts can be an invaluable tool for states seeking to promote economic and community development. NASAA often receives information requests about the variety of strategies that leverage the economic strengths of the arts in cultural districts and the practical policies enacted that make them work. The following examples of state-led cultural districts highlight the…
Artists play a pivotal role in fueling a creative state. In an effort to promote and support local artists, the Missouri Arts Council launched the Featured Artists program. Through this initiative, the council spotlights four individual artists each month who are producing original work in a variety of art mediums and genres, including but not…
Many state arts agencies run state galleries, artist showcases and juried exhibitions to support and highlight the work of artists in their states. These services often are used to facilitate public access to the arts and highlight communities, artists or issues that may face barriers to receiving creative recognition. The DC Commission on the Arts…
Arts and cultural spaces help foster a sense of place and identity for both locals and visitors. To tap into this unique ability of the arts, the Indiana Arts Commission in partnership with Visit Indiana launched the Indiana Arts and Culture Passport. In addition to encouraging visitors to discover Indiana’s vibrant creative spaces, this project…
Research indicates that museums provide ideal spaces for exploration, immersive learning and critical thinking for children. They also offer opportunities for social, cognitive and emotional development. To provide children and families with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences in 2019 during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Summer…
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