The information and materials in this handbook were compiled to provide the Indiana Arts Commission's Regional Partner Organizations with assistance in developing and implementing their regional grants making programs for allocating Regional Partnership Initiative block grant funding. Information in this handbook is based on the Indiana Arts Commission's past grants making policies and practices. Except where noted, specific policies, practices, and forms are optional. All information and materials may be modified to meet the specific needs of the Regional Partner Organization.

November 1998 Forum that sought to stimulate dialogue about how to build a stronger, more financially secure future for the arts in America.

This issue of the Monograph highlights findings from the Local Arts Agency Facts Survey competed in 1998.

In this report, the third of the Charlotte/Mecklenburgs third Cultural Action plan, the team of planners set forth a series of recommendations to expand and enhance the communitys cultural system. The results are grouped into seven major focus areas, all designed to secure high public participation in cultural activities.

This handbook is intended to help local officials and community and cultural leaders to decide whether cultural planning makes sense for their community. Such planning can identify and mobilize cultural resources to spur economic development, advance cultural preservation efforts and enhance a community's overall quality of life. (p. 7)

This issue of the Monograph explores the importance of community cultural planning, which can be an effective tool to strengthen the cultural community and apply cultural solutions to community problems. The process often results in increased funding for the arts, more programming for the public, and new partnerships.

Arlington County, Va., has successfully developed a new way of working in this changing climate: the arts incubator. This new model of support is infinitely adaptable and transferable to any community interested in expanding its arts presence despite limited resources.

In this issue of the Monograph, experts in the arts and aging field discuss and describe a myriad programs, policy issues and partnerships across the country.

This issue of Monographs will provide an overview of cultural diversity as it relates to the local arts agency field, as well as raise difficult questions, offer suggestions for the future and profile local arts agencies addressing cultural equity and cultural diversity. Given accelerating changes in demographics in many cities across America, it is no wonder that local arts agency administrators have been increasingly challenged to more accurately reflect the composition of their communities in their programming.

Local arts agencies pioneering folk arts programming have found that it opens new relationships to underserved sectors of their communities, furthers mutual understanding between different cultural groups, and offers accessible new artistic experiences.