As the COVID-19 crisis continues to challenge the arts and culture sector, we explore the question of how—and whether—to bring community together and make art during a global pandemic. In upstate New York, one such experiment paid off for the artist and city residents alike with a thoughtful public art project that was planned with safety precautions built into the process. Also this week, we joined "Stars in the House" for a special ArtsVote themed episode on National Voter Registration Day, hosted a webinar about how to provide artists with affordable and sustainable spaces in which to work, and released the daily themes for the #ShowYourArt2020 Instagram challenge for National Arts & Humanities Month.

ARTSblog

Making art in person with community: Is it worth the risk in a pandemic? by Julia Vogl
At a time when everyone is evaluating what risks are worth taking for the greater good, maybe making art with people in public sounds like an unnecessary hazard. However, after my experience in Kingston, I would argue it was an essential action. It greatly impacted my mental health, and visibly demonstrated the importance of placemaking and tangible engagement for community in these apocalyptic times.

News Room

Annette Bening, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ariana DeBose, Ben Folds, Todrick Hall, Javier Muñoz, Bebe Neuwirth, Storm Reid, Alfre Woodard, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, and Nina Ozlu Tunceli Join 'Stars in the House' Special Episode Dedicated to Americans for the Arts
Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley of "Stars in the House" hosted a very special episode of conversation, music, and celebration of the transformative power of the arts dedicated to the essential work being done by Americans for the Arts, and to encourage viewers to register to vote in honor of National Voter Registration Day. Important information was given throughout the show about the new rules and deadline to vote effectively in every states.

Americans for the Arts Encourages National Arts and Humanities Month Participation Through #ShowYourArt2020 Social Media Campaign Celebrating the Power and Diversity of Arts in Our Lives
In this turbulent year, the arts and humanities have played a critically important role in getting us through the COVID-19 pandemic and in amplifying the need for racial equity across the country. National Arts & Humanities Month is the time for communities to come together in unified celebration of the power of the arts to make a difference and change our lives for the better. The “Show Your Art” social media campaign is designed to engage the public in celebrating the power and diversity of the arts in our lives.

ArtsU

Supporting Individual Artists: How Prioritizing Affordable Workspaces Pays Off
Hear from Siobhan Spain of Mainframe Studios in Des Moines, Iowa, to learn about a replicable model for providing safe, accessible, inclusive and sustainable studio options for creative professionals. The conversation also includes insight from Deshara Bohanna and Gretchen Bohling, two of the nonprofit’s 52 entrepreneurs, about how an affordable professional setting and supportive environment stimulated their business growth and community engagement.

Photo montage of community members participating in a public art project in Kingston, NY, by Nancy Donskoj.