This week, we announced the launch of applications for the 2021 Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design, which will be awarded to an exemplary arts administrator whose work promotes civic and social good in local communities. Check out a recording of a virtual information session about the Prize, read more about the application process, and apply by March 15 to be considered! On the blog, a post by Randy Cohen explores new research about the power of the arts in promoting mental health and wellness, and a student filmmaker shares his story of creating a documentary that focuses on the plight of artists and creative workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

ARTSblog

Strengthening Mental Health through The Arts (Including Mine!) by Randy Cohen
Americans are stressed—the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, polarizing politics, remote learning for students, unemployment, a fragile economy—so it is no surprise that mental health issues are spiking across the country. As community leaders seek to maintain the wellness and mental health of their residents, new research shows the arts are an effective resource in reducing depression and anxiety and increasing life satisfaction.

America’s Creative Economy: The Impact of COVID-19 by Sean Baker
When I had the opportunity to make a documentary for a C-SPAN education competition, it was natural for me to choose the arts as a topic. I hadn’t realized the impact COVID-19 had on our creative economy until I started listening to the stories of many local artists and creative workers. I interviewed a storyteller, a classical violist, a musical arranger, a vinyl record store owner, and several arts administrators. What I saw right away was a common understanding that the lives of artists have been devastated by the pandemic.

News Room

Apply for the 2021 Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design
Applications are being accepted for the 2021 Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design, a first-of-its-kind national program supported by The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. The program seeks to celebrate and highlight the work of individuals who support, develop, and manage the incorporation of art into the design of places and spaces across the United States. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

ArtsU

NEA Grants: The Programs, The Process, and How to Pitch
This webinar was so popular the first time around, we did it a second time! For those looking for funding to support a great project, this is your chance to hear a brief overview of National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding programs, including the application process and review criteria. The recording also includes specific guidance related to Arts Endowment grant programs that was given live to participants by NEA staff on the webinar.

2021 Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design Information Session
This webinar is your opportunity to learn more about the Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design, including the history of the Prize, and to get answers to questions about the application process. In 2021, the Prize will recognize an arts administrator with a track record of exemplary work in producing with intention to advance community, civic, or social good by implementing art-based processes and/or projects that lead to positive change in the built environment of a local community. 

Pictured: Sean Baker interviews Randy Cohen over video conference for his documentary film on the impact of COVID-19 on the arts.