In honor of the NEA’s 50th anniversary in 2015 and the National Park Service’s centennial in 2016, a new grant initiative created in partnership by the NEA and the National Park Service celebrates the intersections between the two organizations.
Oklahoma State Representative Jason Dunnington (House District 88) composed an editorial highlighting Oklahoma Arts Day, which was presented by State Arts Action Network member Oklahomans for the Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Day Committee on May 5.
Discussing the public good that the arts provide to the state, Rep. Dunnington also wrote about the arts districts in his community—Paseo Arts District and the Plaza District. He stated, “These areas provide the finest in quality of life and serve as an economic engine for our community.”
Longtime Arts supporter Stan Rosenberg was sworn in today as the President of the Massachusetts Senate. Americans for the Arts wishes to convey our congratulations to the Senator on this great accomplishment.
He has been a constant supporter of the arts and culture over his decades of service to the people of Massachusetts. One of his greatest legislative accomplishments was the passage of the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund that provides a source of funding to arts organizations for capital projects.
Local competitions began on January 1, 2015, that will lead to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in October. Nationwide, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities use the creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities. Across the country each year, Veterans enrolled at VA health care facilities compete in local creative arts competition.
Following the retirement of John Bryan this past fall, CultureWorks recently announced that Scott Garka will take the reins as the new President on January 20, 2015. Though Garka does not come from the arts field (he is currently the Senior Director for Consulting Services with Virginia Health Quality Center), he is very active in the arts community as a board member and treasurer for the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.
Continuing a long-standing partnership with Aetna in Hartford, CT, the Greater Hartford Arts Council has embarked on a project with the company that supports a local artist, raises the level of employee engagement and morale, and increases the presence of art at Aetna and in the community.
StubHub, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, recently announced its biggest music initiative yet to discover and support emerging artists.
Ingenuity’s "State of the Arts" progress report shows that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have increased arts instruction, staffing, partnerships, and funding during the second year of implementing the CPS Arts Education Plan. The CPS Arts Education Plan and the effort to expand instruction in CPS is a leading goal of the Chicago Cultural Plan, issued by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
This week the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) launched the first state initiative in the U.S. to bring music education to underserved youth through programs inspired by El Sistema.
Earlier today, Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL), co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, addressed attendees at The Atlantic’s Full STEM Ahead event at The George Washington University.
In support of those who serve wounded veterans, ArtStream, a community based arts organization in Silver Spring, MD, is proud to offer “You Are a Work of Art” (YAWA). This project, sponsored by Prince Charitable Trusts, is designed for nurses, medics, and technicians on the 4th Floor Wounded Warrior Unit at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center (WRNMMC) to practice stress-management and self-care while building friendships through the arts.
From December 1-5, the Veteran Artist Program (VAP) will hold an art exhibit in the Capitol sponsored by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. The VAP will bring 30 pieces of veteran artwork to the Senate Russell building to be displayed in the rotunda until Friday, December 5. Thirty pieces of work were selected from more than 400 submissions and 30 states. Artists from World War II to current conflicts are represented; showcasing the creative talent that veterans possess before, during, and after their military service.
Vickie Benson, Program Director at the McKnight Foundation reflects on how the foundation has and continues to suppport artist-centric creative placemaking through Minnesota as early as the 1980's.
The Center for Innovation, Testing, and Evaluation (CITE) is being designed in Southern New Mexico to be a city without a population, soley for the purpose of testing technologies such as cell phone towers and microwave ovens.
Adjunct professor of the University of New Mexico, Sherri Brueggemann, worked with her students, the investing firm, and the architectural firm to do a call for artists to create public art for CITE. Four winners were selected from this process and their project ideas and artist statements are on display at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.
Artists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming are displaying public artworks showcasing the area as an artistic community. Jackson Hole Public Art artist-in-residence Bland Hoke started the project with a call for artists to develop temporary artworks along a strip of highway that leads into the town center. Artists are using abandoned gas station signs and creating new artworks which highlight the local artist community.
