This week, we’re celebrating a new proposed bill on Capitol Hill that would strengthen arts education for young learners, K-12 students, and youth impacted by the juvenile justice system. It’s the broadest arts education policy bill ever introduced in Congress and you can take action to support it now! Read on for more information.

In other recent content you may have missed: check out a terrific read from the NEA on the power of local arts agencies, a blog that shines a light on the work of Indigenous filmmakers, a new webinar series exploring how to manage transition at arts organizations, a day of connecting with conservation professionals on social media, and our latest Member Spotlight feature.

ARTSblog

Member Spotlight: Morgan Ritter by Linda Lombardi
Artist, poet, and arts worker Morgan Ritter has been responsible for the care of art and arts spaces for 14 years within many of Portland, Oregon’s nonprofit arts institutions. Morgan joined the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) in 2019 and her personal art practice includes sculpture, installation, books, video, poetry, and performance.

Shining a Spotlight on Native American Media and Mediamakers by John Haworth
It is important for cultural leaders and individual artists to know the work of organizations elevating Native artists. This is of special urgency given the current challenges faced by local and regional arts agencies: Leaders in the cultural sector simply must have a broader understanding of social and economic justice issues.

News Room

Going Local with Federal Arts Spending
Local arts agencies are all about fostering community ties. October, being National Arts and Humanities Month, is a good time to mark the indelible role played by local arts agencies in their towns, cities, and neighborhoods—and how the National Endowment for the Arts’ administration of the American Rescue Plan will reinforce these local networks.

Arts Education for All Act Introduced
Introduced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), the Arts Education for All Act is the broadest arts education policy bill ever introduced in Congress. It includes key provisions that will support and encourage the offering of arts education and programming and would allow for rigorous arts and arts education research related to elementary and secondary education.

Your Chance to #AskAConservator on November 4
Arts professionals who oversee municipal or public art collections may find a wealth of information and new connections by engaging with the hashtag #AskAConservator. It’s also a great opportunity for local arts agencies that work directly with artists to encourage those artists to ask questions about archival materials or archiving their work.

ArtsU

Arts Organizations At A Crossroads: Managing Transitions and Preserving Assets
This three-part, on-demand webinar series is based on a toolkit developed by NCAPER with sections addressing structural shifts, departure of key staff/leadership, and the creation of artistic and physical assets which deserve preserving. Registration for the ArtsU series also includes a live virtual Coffee Chat on Tuesday, November 16.

Pictured: Micaela Tobin as Coyote in “Sweet Land,” from KCET’s “Southland Sessions” series. Photo by Casey Kringlen for The Industry.