June 1, 2026
In July 1776, the signing of the Declaration of Independence signaled the birth of a new nation. 250 years later, many American communities are honoring that anniversary. This summer, America 250 will be a prominent theme of many festivals, family excursions, cultural events and civic celebrations. State and jurisdictional arts agencies have designed numerous special…
June 1, 2026
In 2026, communities across all 56 states and jurisdictions are commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To honor the milestone, state arts agencies are leading many creative initiatives, each steeped in their region’s unique landscape and cultural character. This month, we feature examples from Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa and Maine.…
June 1, 2026
State and jurisdictional arts agencies play a vital role in ensuring rural communities have access to the arts. The Arizona Commission on the Arts rural programming—developed through deliberate community engagement—addresses different rural and remote barriers to participating in the arts and reflects the specific needs of Arizonans. By engaging in an extensive statewide strategic planning…
June 1, 2026
As Congress continues its work on fiscal year 2027 appropriations, attention is now shifting from the House to the Senate, where important decisions about funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) remain ahead. In May, the House Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would reduce NEA funding to $135 million, a decrease of $72…
June 1, 2026
Statewide Strategies in the Arts and Health NASAA’s new report, A Guide to Promoting Statewide Strategies in the Arts and Health, explores how state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and regional arts organizations (RAOs) can help build a durable arts and health infrastructure across the country. The report was developed through NASAA’s Arts and Health…
June 1, 2026
How Arts Participation Renews Civic and Community Engagement A recently published report from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Great Connector: How Arts Participation Renews Civic and Community Engagement, examines the links between arts participation and broader community engagement. By analyzing statistical data from three nationally representative surveys—the Survey of Public Participation in the…
June 1, 2026
NASAA Welcomes Jhai James as Communications Director Jhai James joined NASAA in 2026 as our new communications director. Jhai oversees organizational messaging across multiple platforms, leads media and public relations efforts, strengthens digital communications and helps shape storytelling that advances the NASAA’s visibility, partnerships and organizational impact. Her professional career spans over 20 years in…
June 1, 2026
Need help accessing member content on the NASAA website? Contact Sue Struve. Find upcoming peer group meetings and NASAA learning sessions on the Upcoming NASAA Events Calendar. Let NASAA know if your agency’s Internet domain or your staff or council/board members’ email addresses change, which may affect your receipt of our emails. Make sure your…