This week we learned the latest data on the economic power of the arts from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and National Endowment for the Arts, showing that the arts were thriving pre-pandemic and reminding us that the arts & culture sector is responsible for a larger piece of the U.S. economy than areas (transportation, agriculture) with Cabinet positions and systems in place to ensure ongoing government support. This week also happens to be the final push for arts advocates to join us and our national partners at the National Arts Action Summit, where you’ll learn more about this kind of important and compelling data and get a real-world opportunity to appeal to your elected officials on behalf of the arts. We hope you’ll join us next week!

Elsewhere around our websites: read the final blog in a series exploring COVID-19’s impact on creative workers, especially those belonging to intentionally marginalized communities, rewatch a webinar on how to bring a creative workforce recovery program to your community, and help us welcome this year’s Diversity in Arts Leadership interns, who will work with arts organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Nashville this summer.

ARTSblog

The Creative Impact of COVID-19 on Intentionally Marginalized Artists and Creative Workers by Isaac Fitzsimons
Our survey of artists and creative workers found that 64% experienced a decrease in their creative productivity during the pandemic. Much of this decrease is due to logistical reasons: in-person events have been cancelled, venues have been closed. Additionally, artists are finding that their time is being spent on other responsibilities. Plus, it’s hard to create when everything around you feels like a fire that needs to be put out.

News Room

National Cohort for the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) Internship Program Selected for 2021
25 interns were selected to participate in the 2021 DIAL program, which matches undergraduate students from backgrounds underrepresented in arts leadership with dynamic communities, energetic host arts organizations, and committed mentors during a 10-week summer internship.

500+ Arts Advocates from 49 States and the District of Columbia to Convene April 5-9 for Virtual National Arts Action Summit
Americans for the Arts and our national partners will be joined virtually by more than 500 grassroots advocates from across the country for the National Arts Action Summit, held April 5–9, 2021. Members of Congress and leading artist advocates will participate in select training sessions throughout the Summit.

Nation’s Arts & Culture Industry was Thriving Pre-Pandemic, New Research Show
According to the latest Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) report released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the nation’s arts and culture sector—nonprofit, commercial, education—was a $919.7 billion industry that supported 5.2 million jobs in 2019.

ArtsU

10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2021
With the arts advocacy season fully upon us, hear from Randy Cohen, our VP of Research, as he discusses the latest updates to the top “10 Reasons to Support the Arts” and get 10 case-making arrows to include in your arts advocacy quiver to convince anyone to support the arts.

Exploring Local and State Creative Workforce Recovery Programs
In this webinar, learn about creative workforce initiatives from across the country, including deep-dives into two city-based initiatives in Seattle and Sacramento, and come away with good ideas about how you can encourage your own city or state to utilize relief and recovery funding to put creative workers to work as part of the national, state, and local recovery process.

National Arts Action Summit
This week is your last chance to register for the 2021 National Arts Action Summit! Learn compelling up-to-the-minute data, the latest in arts policy, and how to effectively engage decisionmakers to support the arts, arts education, and much more—then take part in virtual meetings with YOUR elected representatives to advocate for the arts in your community.