The Michael Newton Award is presented as part of Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention and recognizes an individual for their innovation in developing arts and business partnerships for the arts and/or long-term achievement in effective and creative techniques to engage the private sector. The 2021 honoree is Alma Robinson, Executive Director of California Lawyers for the Arts. 

This week: case studies and new learning especially for arts organizations, inspiration for artists looking to promote equity and collaborate with communities, a reversal on executive orders related to public art, and extended scholarships to attend the 2021 Annual Convention.

The arts and culture field continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Americans for the Arts expanded access to the Annual Convention through extended scholarship opportunities. Submit a request by Friday, June 4.

This week: Asian American artist-activists using their art to effect change against racism and stereotypes, the work of Newark Arts executive director Jeremy Johnson, the growing roster of speakers and sessions for the 2021 Annual Convention, and remembering Artists Committee member Jacques d’Amboise.

Americans for the Arts mourns the loss of ballet dancer Jacques d’Amboise, who passed away Sunday, May 2 at the age of 86. He was a prolific dancer, an arts education advocate, and a member of Americans for the Arts’ Artists Committee since 2004.

This week: Explore with us the work of Indigenous artist Luzene Hill, consider with us the opportunities in using technology to bring public art to people during a pandemic, and join us in saying goodbye to philanthropist Eli Broad.

This week: Funding news from the NEA, chambers of commerce ask Congress to support creative economy recovery, creating arts spaces for queer BIPOC during COVID, a webinar on creative placemaking, our latest Member Spotlight, ways to build long-term organizational stability, and a new program providing support for our ArtsU digital programming.

Building on two previous letters of support for relief and recovery efforts to help the arts, culture, and the creative sector, a coalition of 113 chambers of commerce in 46 states delivered a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership asking that $18 billion be allocated within the forthcoming infrastructure recovery bills specifically to support creative economic recovery. Signatories come from chambers in communities of all sizes and geographies and collectively serve over 33 million Americans.

Enjoy this week’s blogs, news, and webinar replays on topics ranging from fundraising, cultural equity and access, and the inclusive creative economy to arts and business partnerships, public art, and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts—plus, learn how to make our Local Arts Agency Dashboard work for you.

Just as local arts agencies act as voices and conveners for their arts and culture communities, so do local chambers of commerce for their business communities. Partnerships between the two are essential to community and economic development. But where to start? Register for our new 101-level, on-demand webinar series that aims to flip the conversation away from “business support for the arts” to “how and why the arts are an essential part of business and community development strategies.”  

Americans for the Arts is pleased to introduce our new online glossary of terms and definitions related to the inclusive creative economy, and a full website of resources, information, and action related to developing an inclusive creative economy. 

The ArtsU Support Program is a new initiative designed to increase equitable access to live and on-demand ArtsU digital activities. The program is open for anyone to participate in any public ArtsU webinar and other events. 

This week: we launched registration and opened scholarships to the 2021 Annual Convention, dove into arts policy and issues at the state and local levels, explored the importance of intersectionality in anti-racism work, reminded ourselves why creative employees make the best employees, and shined the spotlight on one of our dedicated members.

Scholarships are available for those interested in attending the 2021 Annual Convention, happening virtually June 8-11. The deadline to request a scholarship is Monday, May 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

This week: updating the economic power of the arts; advocacy reading and opportunities, including next week’s National Arts Action Summit and 10 reasons to support the arts in 2021; exploring the impact of COVID-19 on intentionally marginalized creative workers; how to bring a creative workforce recovery program to your community; and introducing the 2021 Diversity in Arts Leadership interns.