Arts Education for All Act Introduced

A first-ever arts education bill introduced in Congress

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Smiling person with short brown hair wearing a red blazer, posed in front of an American flag.
Category: 

The Arts Education for All Act, the broadest arts education policy bill ever introduced in Congress, includes key provisions that will support and encourage the offering of arts education and programming experiences to Americans including our youngest learners, K-12 students, and youth impacted by the juvenile justice system; and would allow for rigorous arts and arts education research to be carried out to further inform how elementary and secondary education in our country can be improved.

White House Releases Proclamation on National Arts & Humanities Month

Monday, October 4, 2021

The White House logo
Category: 

For the first time since 2016, the White House has released a proclamation declaring October as National Arts & Humanities Month. In the proclamation, President Joe Biden cites the economic, health, educational, and community benefits of the arts and humanities.

Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month with Americans for the Arts in October

Americans Are Encouraged to Explore the Arts in Their Communities

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

A grid of images showing artworks and cultural experiences plus the National Arts & Humanities Month logo
Category: 

Americans for the Arts today announced its October celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. The arts and humanities have played a critically important role during the COVID-19 pandemic and in amplifying the need for racial equity across the country. National Arts and Humanities Month is the time for communities to come together in unified celebration of the power of the arts to make a difference and change our lives for the better.

New Bipartisan Federal Bill to Put Creative Workers to Work for Community Recovery Introduced

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Side by side photos - a person with long dark hair wearing a red and turquoise blazer in front of the US and New Mexico flags, and a person with short dark hair wearing a suit and tie in front of the US flag.
Category: 

On Friday, August 13, 2021, U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA). The bill authorizes $300 million to mitigate creative worker displacement, stimulate local creative workforce growth, strengthen connections for local creative small businesses and networks, create a pipeline for new creative jobs, enrich communities, increase access to culture, and invest in creative workers and local economies harmed by COVID-19.

Advocate and Celebrate for National Arts & Humanities Month this October

Monday, August 16, 2021

National Arts & Humanities Month logo

Individuals and organizations can use National Arts & Humanities Month as a starting point to advocate for the arts and raise awareness about its role in our communities and lives—not just for the month, but throughout the entire year! Here are a few of the ways you can join Americans for the Arts in celebrating NAHM.

Applications Open for Arts and Culture Relief Funds from the American Rescue Plan

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Graphic that reads “Apply for American Rescue Plan grants, Rebuilding the Creative Community” with the NEA logo, two photos of groups on stage repeated four times in different colors, and the URL arts.gov/arp-grants.
Category: 

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced two new grant program guidelines to distribute approximately $80 million in American Rescue Plan funds directly to nonprofit arts and culture organizations and to local arts agencies to subgrant deeper into communities across the country. Applicants for this new grant program will not have to be a previous NEA grantee to be eligible to apply. 

President’s FY 2022 Budget Request Shows Big Arts Support

Cultural Agencies See Big Potential Increases

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Text logo that reads "Budget of the U.S. Government"
Category: 

On May 28, the administration released its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget request, which calls for the largest requested increase in the history of the National Endowment for the Art (NEA)—a $201 million budget. This is a $33.5 million increase over FY 2021 levels for the NEA!


Irene Mei Zhi Shum

In the Wake of the Pandemic, Asian Americans Artists Confront Racism

Posted by Irene Mei Zhi Shum, May 11, 2021


Irene Mei Zhi Shum

Unleashed by anxiety over the pandemic, the nationwide rise in anti-Asian hate has served as a call to action for many Asian American artists to take a stand: To actively challenge the historic negative stereotype of the vice- and disease-ridden Yellow Peril; to dismantle the pernicious and divisive myth of the model minority that pits achievements by Asian Americas as judgements against other communities of color; and to advocate for social justice, equity, and inclusion for all. Located on opposite coasts, the work of photographer Mike Keo and multimedia artist Monyee Chau exemplify this new generation of Asian American activist-artists who are working within their respective communities to effect change. Both skillfully employ social media to raise awareness. Keo and Chau follow a long line of Asian American activist-artists and curators who deserve wider recognition. Most notably, in 1990 artists Ken Chu and Bing Lee and curator Margo Machida founded Godzilla: Asian American Art Network, an influential collective of artists and curators in New York City.

Read More

First Phase of American Rescue Plan Funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Announced

Thursday, April 29, 2021

A graphic illustration featuring various buildings, sculptures, and groups of people against a red background.
Category: 

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced more than $52 million in funding for state and jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations, the first recommended awards of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). These funds are designed to support the arts sector as it recovers from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congressional Testimony Calls for Increased National Endowment for the Arts Funding in FY 2022

Americans for the Arts Interim President and CEO General Nolen Bivens (U.S. Army Ret.) makes the ask of no less than $176 million for FY 2022—at least an $8.5 million increase over FY 2021 funding

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

The National Endowment for the Arts logo
Category: 

Americans for the Arts Interim President and CEO General Nolen Bivens (U.S. Army Ret.) submitted official testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to support federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at no less than $176 million for FY 2022—at least an $8.5 million increase over FY 2021 funding. This ask matches the most recent highpoint of NEA funding of $176 million in FY 1992.

Resources to Combat Anti-Asian Racism

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

A photo of a sign in a window that reads "Racism is a pandemic"

In the wake of the shooting in Atlanta that has left eight individuals dead, six of whom were Asian, we are re-sharing an excerpt from a recent issue of our Cultural Equity Weekly News Digest focusing on resources specific to combatting anti-Asian racism. 

Americans for the Arts celebrates International Sculpture Day—will you join too?

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

A nighttime photo of a public art sculpture in the shape of a small house covered in decorative cut-out shapes. A light from inside casts shadows of the shapes around the sculpture.

On Saturday, April 24, Americans for the Arts will celebrate International Sculpture Day, a worldwide event created by the International Sculpture Center (ISC) for anyone with an appreciation or commitment to the field of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society. We encourage all our members and followers to take part!

2021 National Arts Action Summit Activates Full Registration Support

Friday, February 26, 2021

It’s the National Arts Action Summit logo.

Thanks to the continued commitment from this year’s organizational partners—and in response to the financial challenges that many are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic—opportunities for full registration support to attend the National Arts Action Summit are available for anyone who would otherwise be unable to participate.

Request a Scholarship to the 2021 National Arts Action Summit

Friday, January 22, 2021

Join Americans for the Arts, organizational partners, and hundreds of advocates April 5-9, 2021 for the National Arts Action Summit. For the first time, Americans for the Arts is pleased to offer a number of scholarship opportunities to those interested in attending the virtual summit. Registration and scholarship requests are available beginning Jan. 25, 2021.

Nominations Open for 2021 Arts and Business Partnership Awards (Virtual)!

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Blue, green, and red strips of varying thickness form a circle over red text that reads "Americans for the Arts Arts + Business Partnership Awards"

Americans for the Arts annually honors the best businesses partnering with the arts in America at the Arts and Business Partnership Awards based on nominations by individuals and organizations. Nominations for this year's awards must be made by February 12, 2021. 

How the Work of Americans for the Arts Is Addressing the Urgent Challenges of 2020

Monday, November 16, 2020

Americans for the Arts logo

In 2020, Americans for the Arts continued its commitment to our vision and planned work, while also pivoting and taking on new, urgent work like so many of our 5,000 member organizations. Here are highlights of some key areas of the new and urgent work of Americans for the Arts in 2020 that are in addition to our planned work portfolio.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Connecticut