The goal of the prize is to celebrate one unique civic design professional at the mid-career level for their locally implemented contributions that support community development through the integration of art and artists into the built environment. The selected individual will receive $30,000 to further their work plus professional development and engagement opportunities throughout the year.

The free digital guides provide details on arts-related funding in grant topic areas covering community development, economic development, rural development, environment, national service, and congressional earmarks.

Americans for the Arts’ 2022 Annual Convention will take place May 18-20, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The event will be simplified, shorter, and more accessible, and the public may participate in a more open and equitable session submission process through Feb. 15, 2022.

A new collection of webinar sessions designed for mid-career arts and culture professionals will dive deep into equitable leadership and power sharing structures and support arts administrators from backgrounds underrepresented in arts leadership to help advance their leadership journeys.

After six months of hearing candid feedback from the field and internal planning, Americans for the Arts is set to begin the next phase of the Strategic Realignment Process toward redefining its unique role as a service organization to the arts and culture field and the public good. The organization has engaged the services of three consulting organizations to support the process: Arts Consulting Group, The Hewlin Group, and Hope Nation.

The year is winding down, but the work of artists and arts organizations keeps going! Check out a robust slate of online learning happening in December on ArtsU, and take a look back at recent blogs and news you might have missed.

Americans for the Arts and its national partners are excited to announce that applications for the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) internship program are now open! Summer 2022 will mark the 30th year of the DIAL program, and host sites have expanded once again to six national locations: New York City, New Jersey, Nashville, Boston, Sarasota (FL), and Raleigh/Wake County (NC). The deadline for applications is January 14, 2022.

This week: How local arts agencies can better connect to Native culture, $20 million in NEA grants funded by the American Rescue Plan, the first ever binational World Design Capital along the U.S.-Mexico border, a new platform of power for African-American arts leaders, the launch of the Arts & Cultural Equity Studio, transformative public art in New Jersey, and more!

Arts & Cultural Equity Studio (ACES) centers the experiences of arts leaders of color navigating the field and offers attendees insights into various professional journeys the paths that have led to leadership roles in the arts sector.

This week: join a conversation on creativity and the future of democracy, register for a new professional development series on equity in arts administration, get arts marketing insights for increasing audience engagement, see public art designed to raise awareness of racial terror in local history, and check out the latest in our Member Spotlight series.

What role does culture play in creating a civic imagination and creating a future for Democracy in America? Join civic artist Rosten Woo and political theorist Dr. Danielle Allen on Dec. 3, 2021, for a virtual conversation exploring strategies from political and creative practices that hold promise for creating a culture of citizenship and participation.

This week: A new arts education bill needs your support, the power of local arts agencies, exploring the importance of Indigenous stories and media, managing transitions at arts organizations, elevating the work of our members, and a day for conservators to shine on social media.

Catch up on news about National Arts & Humanities Month, the National Arts Marketing Project Conference, the Arts + Business Partnership Awards, a new audit of public art monuments in the U.S., and our latest Member Spotlight.

Registration support opportunities are available for arts marketing professionals who are unable to access a paid registration to the 2021 virtual National Arts Marketing Project Conference, taking place December 7-8.

Americans for the Arts is thrilled to collaborate with Alora Young, the 2021 Youth Poet Laureate for the Southern United States, as our 2021 Ambassador for National Arts & Humanities Month. Alora will use her platform throughout the month of October to share her love of the humanities and arts with the public as we celebrate the power of culture in communities across the nation.