Americans for the Arts is pleased to welcome to its board of directors Theo Edmonds, JD, MHA, MFA, Directing Co-Founder of the Imaginator Academy and Research Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Denver. Edmonds will begin his three-year term on Americans for the Arts’ board on January 1, 2023.
Americans for the Arts leadership and staff are saddened to learn of the passing of longtime partner, patron, and friend William (Bill) J. Lehr Jr. His legacy of support for arts advocacy, both nationally and in his home state of Pennsylvania, will live on in the many nonprofits, public-private organizations, government entities, and the lives of individual artists that he impacted during his decades long leadership and support in the arts sector.
Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce the addition of five new members to its board of directors: Torrie Allen, president and CEO of Arts Midwest; Christopher Cutler, CFA, founder and president of Manager Analysis Services, LLC; Marc D. Folk, president and CEO of The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo; Kristina Newman-Scott, executive director of The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at New York Public Radio; and Ravi S. Rajan, president of the California Institute of the Arts. These new members will start June 1 and join at a critical time to help further the transformative and mission-focused work of the board and organization in support of the arts and culture sector and field.
Americans for the Arts remembers arts leader and Chicago native Joan Small, who passed away last week. Joan served nearly two decades with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and was an Americans for the Arts Board Member from 1994 to 2008.
This week: As we looked back on last year's arts advocacy successes, including increased federal funding for the arts and new support for creative arts therapies for military personnel and arts programs for at-risk youth, President and CEO Robert L. Lynch and Artist Committee member Ben Folds once again took the case for the arts to Capitol Hill.
Americans for the Arts and Chair of the Board Julie Muraco announced today that Ira Sallen, Chief Operating Officer at BMG/Primary Wave Label Services, has been elected to the Board of Directors for a three-year term.
Being a member of Americans for the Arts is a valuable asset because it is the only advocacy organization in the country that is championing a diverse portfolio of cultural issues and initiatives to ensure that all Americans connect to the arts in a meaningful way. In the areas of arts education, the critical role the arts play in community development, as well as health and wellness with a great focus on well being of our military, and public support for the arts.
Theo Bikel worked with Americans for the Arts from its earliest days when it was known as the Associated Councils on the Arts. He was a board member starting in the early 1970’s and continued in that role for nearly 30 years, later becoming a member of the Artists Committee.
We know that the arts are integral to the innovative thinking needed in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math), which is why Americans for the Arts is partnering with Congressional leaders, the private sector, educators, and researchers to make visible the amazing work happening around the country in STEAM education. On May 7, 2015, Americans for the Arts attended a STEAM Assembly hosted by VH1 Save the Music in New York City.
With the impending dissolution of the Arts & Health Alliance (Alliance), its Board asked Americans for the Arts to help by providing access to online resources and serving as a home for its members. Americans for the Arts recognizes the transformative power of the arts, and part of our 2015-2017 Strategic Plan is to raise awareness and understanding of all the ways the arts help to transform communities.
On Tuesday, February 10, Americans for the Arts' CEO, Bob Lynch, served as a panelist for the Business-Community Impact Symposium, hosted by The Conference Board - a partner of Americans for the Arts.
On Martin Luther King Day, Floyd Green, Vice President of Community Relations & Urban Marketing at Aetna and member of the Americans for the Arts Board of Directors, received the National Action Network’s Merit Award for his efforts to expand healthy living to all communities
Americans for the Arts congratulates State Arts Action Network (SAAN) member Anne Katz, Executive Director of ArtsWisconsin, on being selected for the third class of the National Arts Strategies’ (NAS) Chief Executive Program.
American Legion Auxillary's kickoff event last night for their 2015 conference was a tribute to the arts, and how the arts help members of our military and veterns in re-entry and healing. Americans for the Arts' CEO and President, Robert Lynch; Director of Arts Policy, Marete Wester; and Board member, General Nolen Bivens, U.S. Army, Ret. attended and spoke at the event.
On December 2, 2013, Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Director Michael Spring was honored for his 30 years of service, credited with transforming Miami's cultural scene along Biscayne Boulevard and throughout the many neighborhoods and communities in South Florida. Michael Spring has served as a Board Member at Americans for the Arts for over 10 years, and Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs is one of our professional member organizations.
