Designing Our Destiny

Throughout 2022, Americans for the Arts went through a Strategic Realignment Process to redefine our role as a service organization to the arts and culture field. The conversations we’ve had during this process have been enlightening and inspiring, and as we enter a new stage of growth, we’re proud to share the Designing Our Destiny platform for strategic planning and a transformative approach to our work in the new year.

Light blue graphic with white text that reads: Designing our Destiny. Swooping lines in orange and purple surround the text and form a star above the words: Americans for the Arts.

2023 Events Update

During 2022’s Strategic Realignment Process, we worked with members and other stakeholders to identify the specific and unique role of Americans for the Arts within the arts and culture community. While we continue to evaluate and evolve our offerings, here’s the latest update on some of our flagship events, including the National Arts Action Summit, Annual Convention, and the National Arts Marketing Project Conference.

View from the back of a ballroom filled with people sitting at tables who are listening to a speaker at 2022 Annual Convention.
Photo: 2022 Annual Convention, photo by EPNAC.com

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6

Centering equity and inclusion, Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce the launch of Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), the sixth national study of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Audiences in 395 participating communities representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia will provide responses to audience-intercept surveys at arts events beginning May 1, 2022.

Illustrated graphic of a pair of hands holding the earth on pink background, and Americans for the Arts and Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study logos. Text reads: Change the Conversation.

Peter Jemison Named Johnson Fellow

Americans for the Arts is honored to recognize G. Peter Jemison (Seneca) of Victor, NY as the 2023 Johnson Fellow for Artists Transforming Communities. The Johnson Fellowship honors individual artists who demonstrate a sustained commitment to civic participation through their work, and who have made a positive and meaningful difference to inspire, inform, engage, challenge, animate, and celebrate communities through arts and culture.

Person with crossed arms leaning against a window of a wooden structure wearing a blue shirt with a jellyfish design and a black cap over white hair.
Photo: Rikki Van Camp
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The Latest News
A person sits in front of a blue background and US flag. They have curly dark brown hair and are smiling directly at the camera. They are dressed in a red suit jacket with pins on both lapels.
June 1, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) Re-Introduces Advancing Equity Through Arts And Humanities Act in 118th Congress
Legislative News

On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) re-introduced the Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act (H.R. 3239). The legislation would create a grant program through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for nonprofit and public entities, including faith-based and community organizations, that serve and are led by people of color. The program aims to support arts and humanities projects that work to dismantle systemic racism through the arts and humanities.

May 24, 2023
New Approach to Effective and Equitable Arts Advocacy
Legislative News

During last year’s Strategic Realignment Process, Americans for the Arts and Arts Action Fund staff heard from stakeholders that advocacy is both a key strength and among their top priorities. Staff also heard that how we do our work is as important as what we do. Based on direct feedback from members and stakeholders, Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund have adopted Equitable Advocacy as the lens through which all our decisions are made.

Headshot of Nora Halpern
April 21, 2023
Americans for the Arts’ Vice President Nora Halpern, Alongside Co-chairs Lady Gaga and Bruce Cohen, Appointed to President Biden’s Re-Established Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Press Releases

American for the Arts’ leadership has been tapped by the Biden administration as part of a collective of prominent artists, scholars, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and state and local public officials who have demonstrated a sustainable commitment to the arts and humanities across the country, for the re-establishment of President Biden’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). Among the appointees to the committee is Nora Halpern, who has served as Vice President of Leadership Alliances for more than two decades at Americans for the Arts– the longest-running national arts advocacy organization represented within the collective of distinguished members.

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April 18, 2023
Americans for the Arts Continues to Create Platforms for National Arts Leaders To Advocate on the Hill
Press Releases

Americans for the Arts’ national arts advocacy approach has evolved to position the arts as a driver for community development year-round. The first of these 12-month equitable advocacy programs starts today, April 18 and 19, 2023, and includes 12 representatives from arts agencies in ten states including Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

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Designing Our Destiny

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