This week, we’re looking forward to the first-ever virtual Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design conference, happening next week on ArtsU. (There’s still time to join us—register here.) We’re also excited that the Nancy Hanks Lecture, which was postponed in March due to the COVID-19 crisis, will be part of the convening as the opening keynote—and as usual, is available for free to the public. Speaking of the impact of the virus, our latest Research Update includes bleak facts about how temporary closures have impacted the arts sector in particular. Also this week, we continue our ARTSblog series on the incredible musicians who were finalists for this year's Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities, and as an organization we are taking pause today to celebrate and reflect on the history of the Juneteenth holiday.

ARTSblog

Spotlight on 2020 Johnson Fellowship Nominees: Women Musicians Elevating Black Culture, History, & Contemporary Music for Change by Pam Korza
This blog features Courtney Bryan and Ashleigh Gordon, two of the 11 music artists who were the exemplary nominees for the 2020 Johnson Fellowship. As consummate musicians in contemporary genres, each thrives on the stimulation of artistic collaboration with fellow musicians, poets, writers, and dancers, but also drives the collective work that builds strength as socially engaged artists.

News Room

‘First to Close. Last to Open.’ COVID-19’s Impact on the Arts: Research Update June 15, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic continues its stranglehold on the nation’s arts sector. In addition to losses tracked through four national studies led by Americans for the Arts, new research by the Small Business Administration shows that “Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation” is now the sector of the economy with highest percentage of “temporary closings” (53.3 percent of businesses surveyed).

Americans for the Arts to Host Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference Virtually
The first-ever virtual convening will take place June 23-25, 2020. Through more than 40 sessions, participants will gather to better understand how the arts field is responding to the COVID-19 crisis, how the field can move toward recovery, and the role of the arts in healing during and after crises.

Americans for the Arts Honors Juneteenth
Americans for the Arts’ offices will be closed this Friday in recognition of Juneteenth, and staff will be using this day to better inform ourselves of the historical significance of Juneteenth and to reflect on the systems of racial injustice that have been set in this country for centuries. 

Violinist and Social Justice Advocate to Deliver 2020 Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy June 23 at 11:30 AM ET
Vijay Gupta believes that the work of the artist and the work of citizenship is the same: to create the world we want to see in our small, everyday actions—one person, one relationship, and one note at a time. His talk is titled “The Next Response,” and he will speak about forgiveness and how in this moment we gather in the common purpose of artists and citizens of this world to create our next responses together.

Resource

COVID-19’s Impact on The Arts Research Update One-pager
This one-pager (available for free download) summarizes Americans for the Arts' ongoing COVID-19-related impact on the arts studies, and is updated weekly on the National Arts Administration and Policy Publications Database.

Photo of violinist Ashleigh Gordon by www.RobertTorresPhotography.com