News Room
Read the latest arts news
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As a part of the College, Career, and Citizenship Readiness Coalition, Americans for the Arts has signed onto a letter to Senators Harkin (D-IA) and Alexander (R-TN) in support of the language in the Strengthening America’s Schools Act (S.1094), which supports a well-rounded education.
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Barry's Blog, a service of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), posted their Fifty Most Influential People in the Nonprofit Arts (USA) list this Sunday, August 25.
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Congratulations to our long-time Board Member Bill Lehr and his wife, Beverlee, who will receive the Patron Award, one of the PA Governer's Award for the Arts at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg on Oct. 22. The Awards will be presented by First Lady Susan Corbett, who is chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts. The Lehrs established the Americans for the Arts Foundation, as well as the Bill Lehr Fund, which supports our Professional Development Programs. We are lucky to have them on our team of strong supporters, and AFTA CEO Bob Lynch looks forward to celebrating all that they have contributed to the arts at the Awards Banquet.
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The Senate Appropriations committee has released its draft version of the FY 2014 spending bill which would fund the NEA and NEH at the president’s request level of $154 million for each agency. This is a major departure from the House version, which seeks a 49 percent cut to the cultural agencies.
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Agnus Gund from the Huff Post reacts to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approval of cutting the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities by 49 percent, and contests with a strong argument in defense of the arts. In response to the Chairman's stating that the arts were nice to have but not a critical part of American's everyday lives, she mounts "a more vigorous, vital, real-life defense," stating that the arts are particularly essential to our kids, our servicemen and women, and our communities.
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U.S. House Appropriations Committee began consideration of the FY 2014 Interior funding bill, which includes a proposed 49% cut in funding to the National Endowment for the Arts. An amendment to restore the funding to the NEA was defeated along a party-line vote of 19-27, and the committee recesses for August before finishing their work on the bill.
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Americans for the Arts pauses to remember Rick Lester, a dear member of our National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP) community and former CEO of TRG Arts, Colorado Springs, CO. We will always be grateful for his incredible contributions as a featured writer and NAMP speaker. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones, friends, and TRG family.
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Healing Newtown, a project of the The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, is focusing on the power of music and art to connect and heal a community that was shocked and devastated by the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook School. Since December, Healing Newton has been offering classes and workshops as well as hosting community events.
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Even with arts education on the wane in many public schools, a new study by The Wallace Foundation suggests that digital technologies are changing the artistic landscape for many young students. "New Opportunities for Interest-Driven Arts Learning in a Digital Age" offers a new take on arts learning based on innovative efforts to bring kids, the technology they are constantly using, and the arts together.
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In an interview with 2012 National Medal of Arts honoree Lin Arison, she speaks with "Art Works" writer Paulette Beete about the importance of mentorship and her work with both the National Young Arts Foundation and the New World Symphony. Arison talks about what links artists and art education, and how first became an art-lover and eventually a passionate advocate of arts education.
