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Check out Americans for the Arts News, read arts news from around the world, find out how current legislation is affecting the arts, and view our press releases.
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Vans Custom Culture Competition: Inspiring a Generation of Creative Students

Jun 10, 2016

Since 2012, Americans for the Arts has partnered with Vans on Custom Culture, a national high school competition using blank Vans shoes to be customized around specific themes. Now in its seventh year, the competition continues to inspire and empower creativity, showing high school students how creativity can be their strongest asset as they grow and that artistic careers are viable. 

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Senate Advances Bill Funding Arts Education

Jun 10, 2016

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced bipartisan legislation setting Fiscal Year 2017 funding levels for a number of federal agencies and programs, including the Assistance for Arts Education at the U.S. Department of Education. 

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Barbara Goldstein Honored with Public Art Network Award

Jun 10, 2016
Americans for the Arts will present the Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards at the 2016 Annual Convention in Boston on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. These awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts. Barbara Goldstein will receive the Public Art Network Award. Given annually since 2003, the award honors innovative contributions to, and exemplary commitment and leadership in, public art. 
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Laura Perille Honored with Arts Education Award

Jun 10, 2016
Americans for the Arts will present the Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards at the 2016 Annual Convention in Boston on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. These awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts. Laura Perille, CEO of EdVestor, based on Boston, will receive the Arts Education Award. Presented each year since 2007, the Arts Education Award honors the best in arts education program design, execution, and organizational leadership. 
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Vans Crowns John P. Stevens High School Winner of the 2016 Vans Custom Culture Design Competition

Jun 09, 2016

Vans, the original action sports and youth culture brand, is proud to welcome John P. Stevens High School from Edison, N.J. to the ranks of winners of the Vans Custom Culture design competition. As the grand-prize winner, John P. Stevens High School has been awarded a donation of $50,000 for the school's arts education programs to help foster the students' #RightToArt and support the next generation of creative individuals.

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Helen Mirren Testifies on the Hill

Jun 09, 2016

Mirren joined a panel of witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittees joint hearing June 7 to discuss recently introduced legislation that could provide a new avenue to aid in the recovery of stolen or looted Nazi-era artwork.

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Octavia Yearwood Honored with American Express Emerging Leaders Award

Jun 09, 2016
Americans for the Arts will present the Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards at the 2016 Annual Convention in Boston on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. These awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts. Octavia Yearwood, Arts Educator and CEO/Director of Team Ohhh, will receive the American Express Emerging Leaders Award. Given annually since 2006 and sponsored by American Express since 2011, the award recognizes an exceptional new and/or young arts professional for their exemplary leadership, deep engagement with community, and strong commitment to advancing the arts. 
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In Oakland, Art and Public Safety Intersect

Jun 09, 2016

At the intersection of 60th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard in West Oakland, California, is a huge wall-length mural titled “Silence the Violence,” containing the names of every Oakland homicide victim from 2013. The mural, painted on the side of a screenprinting shop, shows owner Aswad Hayes screaming out in anguish as two guns are pointed at him, his arms outstretched to the side.

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Brad Erickson Honored with Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award

Jun 08, 2016
Americans for the Arts will present the Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards at the 2016 Annual Convention in Boston on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. These awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts. Brad Erickson, Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area in San Francisco, California, will be honored with the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award. Since 2007, the award has honored an individual whose arts advocacy efforts have dramatically affected the political landscape at the state level. 
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Los Angeles Is Hiring a Sound Artist to Help Make its Streets Safer

Jun 08, 2016

At a time when the number of pedestrian traffic deaths is increasing as urban residents are encouraged to walk and bike more, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is committing to creativity and innovation by hiring a sound artist to help fix the issue.

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