Elected officials are inundated with information, but they are more likely to read an article published by their own association and are more likely to trust a research report that is endorsed by their group. These public partnerships play a vital role in communicating the value of the arts and arts education to elected officials.

These partners are essential for successful arts funding and policy nationwide. Our partnerships take on different characteristics, but generally include providing speakers for their association conferences, writing articles in their newsletters, our jointly presented Public Leadership in the Arts Award to each level of official, and serving as a resource to the associations' staff and members. Lastly, the associations partner with Americans for the Arts on research reports and projects such as the Arts & Economic Prosperity V study.

The United States Conference of Mayors

US Conference of Mayors LogoThe United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the oldest Americans for the Arts public partner, dating back almost 25 years. Each year, Americans for the Arts sponsors an arts breakfast at the USCM’s Winter Meeting in Washington, DC where we present our Public Leadership in the Arts Award to two mayors (one of a city with a population of 100,000 or greater and one with a population of less than 100,000), a governor, and one or two nationally known artists.

At the USCM, the arts and culture falls under the authority of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports (TAPES) Committee, chaired by Reno, NV Mayor Hillary Schieve . Americans for the Arts works with Mayor Schieve and the TAPES Committee to submit various arts-related resolutions for consideration and adoption by the committee and then the entire conference. We use these resolutions throughout the year to encourage other elected officials to support the arts in their community or state.  USCM has been a proud sponsorship of our AEP studies including our Arts & Economic Prosperity V.

2021 Arts Policy Resolutions Unanimously Adopted by The United States Conference of Mayors on Sept. 4, 2021:  

Have a question about our partnership with The United States Conference of Mayors? Please contact Nina Ozlu Tunceli.

 

National Lieutenant Governors Association

National Lieutenant Governors Association LogoThe National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) and Americans for the Arts established a partnership in 2006. Each year at the NLGA Annual Conference, Americans for the Arts hosts a reception and presents a lieutenant governor with a State Arts Leadership Award as a part of the Public Leadership in Arts Awards series.  NLGA has been a proud sponsorship of our AEP studies including our Arts & Economic Prosperity V.

In July 2017, Americans for the Arts and the National Lt. Governors Association just took a major step in expanding our partnership.  After a year’s worth of discussions, the two organizations signed a Statement of Collaboration regarding our new State Military and Veterans Arts Initiative.  The two-year Initiative seeks to increase visibility, understanding, and support for the care of person across the military continuum and the role the arts can play in their health and wellness.  This program will focus on state national guard members and state run facilities.  It would function in concert with the Creative Forces Initiative.   Lt. Governors would use the power and influence of their office to promote policy, practice and quality use of arts and creativity as tools for health in the military and for veterans.  Sample activities for Lt. Governors would range from simple press releases/press conferences to convening meetings of local arts, military and state government leaders to discuss and devise ways to work together to provide these services.  In a few cases, Lt. Governors might choose to work with their legislative leaders to change existing laws/regulations on how the state treats arts therapy programs and how they are reimbursed.

Additionally, Americans for the Arts holds a unique position at NLGA as the only organization that is officially recognized as a partner of NLGA. Every three years, most recently in 2019, NLGA reviews and renews this partnership, which allows Americans for the Arts staff to present the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, attend every national meeting, and suggest speakers.

Resolutions Passed by the NLGA Supporting the Arts:

 

National Association of Counties

The National Association of Counties (NACo) and Americans for the Arts established a partnership in 1999 when the two organizations first recognized a county official with the County Arts Leadership award, which is part of Americans for the Arts' Public Leadership in the Arts Awards series.  The award is currently presented at NACo's Awards Luncheon at its annual conference. Since then, Americans for the Arts has gone on to write articles for NACo News, its monthly publication, provided speakers at its conferences, and serve as an arts resource to its staff and members.

Deepening our work, NACo, in partnership with Americans for the Arts, received a second Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to train county leaders to advance arts-based economic development in rural and mid-sized counties across America. The program is scheduled to launch this fall.  The program complements NACo’s vision to achieve healthy, vibrant and safe counties, where the arts can provide a window of opportunity into many of the issues counties tackle on a day-to-day basis, including economic and community development, public health, and justice and public safety.

The NACo Arts and Culture Commission was established in 1997.  Americans for the Arts Senior Director of State and Local Government Affairs has served on the Commission since 2006 and is a full voting member. Each year, Americans for the Arts sponsors a Commission dinner and awards ceremony at NACo’s annual conference.  Americans for the Arts also works with NACo's Rural Action Caucus, Health County Initiative and their Veterans Committee.  NACO has been a proud sponsorship of our AEP studies including our Arts & Economic Prosperity V.

 

National Conference of State Legislatures

National Conference of State Legislatures LogoThe National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Americans for the Arts have partnered to present a state legislator with an award for State Arts Leadership at NCSL’s annual conference each year since 2006. The award is part of Americans for the Arts Public Leadership in the Arts Awards series and is presented at a general session during its legislative conference.

NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee has jurisdiction over arts and culture within the organization. Each year, Americans for the Arts sponsors a committee luncheon/session focusing on the arts and culture.  Americans for the Arts also works with NCSL's Education Committee, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, and the Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force.  NCSL has been a proud sponsorship of our AEP studies including our Arts & Economic Prosperity V.

Every third year, NCSL debates and renews a policy statement on the arts and culture. The current policy states:

Arts, Culture and Economic Development

  • NCSL encourages the federal government to support arts and culture through investments in State and Local programs that will promote economic development, job creation and community revitalization.
  • NCSL encourages collaboration and coordination among the Federal Government’s disparate arts, culture and economic development agencies as they consider State and local programs ensure that the policy and program outcomes meet the needs and goals identified by state policymakers.

In collaboration with Americans for the Arts staff, NCSL featured an article on Arts in Education in the fall 2014 issue of "State Legislatures,” its print publication. Please click here to read the full article“Art Smart,” written by Sarah Shelton.

 Americans for the Arts is pleased to partner with NCSL at their annual conferences to host a luncheon for NCSL's members higlighting issues effecting their states.  Here are the last few years of topics/sessions.

National League of Cities

National League of Cities LogoThe National League of Cities(NLC) and Americans for the Arts established a public partnership in 2007 when they agreed to become a national partner for the Arts & Economic Prosperity III report. Since then, Americans for the Arts has written articles for NLC’s blog, CitiesSpeak.  Further, NLC conducted its 2018 State of the Cities Report and found that the Arts and Culture was one of the major subtopics under Economic Development, which was the primary area of activity for mayors.    Lastly, Americans for the Arts staff have spoken at NLC's annual conference and is proud that NLC also renewed its sponsorship of our Arts & Economic Prosperity V.  We are currently working on establishing a Public Leadership in the Arts Award for a city counsel person.

At the NLC, the Human Development Committee proposes policies relating to the arts and culture. The adopted federal policy positions guide the NLC’s federal advocacy efforts and focus on federal actions, programs, and proposals that directly impact municipalities.

8 Ways the Arts Can Boost Your Local Economy & Strengthen Your Community Blog Post

2012 Policy Position Adopted by the NLC in Support of the Arts

 

ICMA (International City/County Management Association)

Americans for the Arts has periodically worked with ICMA over the past 8 years but is stepping up its working relationship.  ICMA is a partner with Americans for the arts to promote our Arts & Economic Prosperity V.  Americans for the Arts periodicaly publishes feature articles in Pulic Management (PM), ICMA's member magazine and serves as speakers at ICMA Conferences.  We are currently working on establishing a Public Leadership in the Arts Award for a city/county executive.   

December 12 & 13, 2020   ICMA/US Envorinomental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfield Conference.  Session on Using the Arts to Attract People back to Remidiated Sites and Conference Keynote by ViJay Gupta.

December 1, 2020 The Importance of the Arts  PM Magazine

September 27, 2017  The Arts Strong Connection, Economic Impact Study Underscores the Importance of Arts and Culture  PM Magazine

September 26, 2017 The State of the Arts, National Arts and Humanities Month   PM Magazine

 

Western Governors Association

Americans for the Arts' newest public partner is the Western Governors Association (WGA) which covers the 20 western states and territories.  They represent states including and west of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK and TX.  In addition to attending their meetings, Americans for the Arts is working with WGA and their foundation to develop a progam to infuse the arts and culture into WGA's ongoing programming. 

  

National Governors Association

National Governors Association LogoWithin the National Governors Association (NGA), the the Economic Development and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over arts and culture. The NGA Center for Best Practices provides governors with information about how to use the arts effectively in their states to unite communities, create economic opportunity, and improve the quality of life. They also produced a report in 2012, New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design.

Each year, Americans for the Arts presents a State Arts Leadership Award as a part of the Public Leadership in Arts Awards series to a governor. Further, Americans for the Arts staff works with NGA to produce periodic research reports in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts.