Weekly Web Roundup: Oct. 19-23, 2020

Friday, October 23, 2020

Lots going on this week in and around the Americans for the Arts (virtual) offices! Learn how arts organizations are engaging their communities to get out the vote, and read about several public art projects, opportunities, and recognition on local and national levels.

U.S. Conference of Mayors and Americans for the Arts Release ‘City Song Collection’

Featuring contributions and collaborations from cities across America

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

City Song Project
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Today, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Americans for the Arts announced the release of the ‘City Song Collection,’ featuring nine songs inspired, composed, and performed by local artists from cities all over the country in a demonstration of healing, unity and city pride. The songs and overall collection showcase how cities are coming together through music in 2020, which has been an unprecedented year for communities across America. The effort comes as America celebrates October’s annual National Arts and Humanities Month. The project features both original compositions and covers of songs from Louisville, Chicago, Reno, Austin, Detroit, Charleston, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

Registration Open for the National Arts Marketing Project Conference—Now Virtual!

Conference is happening online Dec. 7 and 8, 2020

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Join Americans for the Arts and peers in the arts marketing field for the 2020 National Arts Marketing Project Conference, going virtual Dec. 7 and 8. From changes in consumer behavior to addressing bias in your content, from new pricing strategies to targeting audiences and much more, explore with us the road ahead for arts marketing in 2021 and beyond. 


Alexandria Kotoch

Why the Arts are Valuable in Business School Curriculum

Posted by Alexandria Kotoch, Oct 06, 2020


Alexandria Kotoch

When you think of MBA coursework, you think of core classes in marketing, finance, economics, operations, decision sciences, strategy, and so on. You don’t think of color theory, collaborative drawing, or watercolors. But at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, we do. Unlike traditional business schools that collect and present art, we make it. In addition to core curriculum that encompasses fundamental business areas, for the past two years Kellogg has offered students an opportunity to participate in artist-led, hands-on workshops that focus on a variety of arts-themed topics. I attribute the success and popularity of these workshops to filling a much-needed void in MBA curriculum—one that stimulates the right brain, which supports creativity and intuition. Exercising these functions encourages important skills for aspiring business leaders. Interactions with art develop observation, collaboration, communication, narrative building, and critical thinking skills. They also emphasize empathic thinking, creative ideation, implicit bias awareness, and recognizing the nature of objectivity/neutrality. Leaders are made and trained, not necessarily born. Exercising empathy, knowing how to communicate effectively, and having the ability to think creatively through complex issues all help leaders manage effectively. 

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Americans for the Arts Encourages National Arts and Humanities Month Participation Through #ShowYourArt2020 Social Media Campaign Celebrating the Power and Diversity of Arts in Our Lives

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

NAHM Show Your Art
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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. In this turbulent year, the arts and humanities have played a critically important role in getting us through the COVID-19 pandemic and in amplifying the need for racial equity across the country. National Arts & 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.

Americans for the Arts and Over 775 Cultural Organizations and Creative Workers Come Together to Propose Plan for Putting Creative Workers to Work After Pandemic

Endorsers include major cultural organizations in all genres, national service organizations, and influential individuals including former National Endowment for the Arts Chair Jane Alexander and Academy, Tony, and Emmy-nominated Actress Annette Bening

Thursday, September 10, 2020

There is no recovery without creativity.
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Americans for the Arts, in partnership with over 775 cultural organizations and creative workers, has proposed a 15-action national recovery strategy that the next Administration can use to put creative workers to work—activating the creative economy and drawing upon the creative energies of the country’s 5.1 million creative workers to energize Americans, reimagine how communities can thrive, and improve the lives of all. Organizations and creative workers who wish to endorse this proposal can do so via the Creative Workforce Proposal Endorsement form.


Mr. Jay H. Dick

How to Secure a Local Proclamation for National Arts & Humanities Month

Posted by Mr. Jay H. Dick, Sep 08, 2020


Mr. Jay H. Dick

Proclamations are a wonderful way that your mayor, city council, or your city (or county) in general can easily show its support for the arts and culture. Each year, Americans for the Arts encourages advocates to work with their local and state elected officials to issue a proclamation declaring October National Arts & Humanities Month in their city, county, or state. They allow elected officials to easily demonstrate their support for the arts, offer a written document for advocates to use year-round to demonstrate the value of the arts and culture, and serve as a tool to engage other arts advocates in their local communities. For those who have never done this before, I thought that I would offer a how-to guide help you understand the process of obtaining a proclamation.

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Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fellowship Introduces Second Cohort!

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Americans for the Arts and its partners, The Joyce Foundation and American Express Foundation, welcome the second cohort in the Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fellowship. The ACLC Fellowship program continues to invest in mid-career arts administrators of color across the Great Lakes region through a year-long professional development program. This year we selected 16 fellows to participate in creating systemic change in national arts leadership.

Americans for the Arts Action Fund Launches ArtsVote ‘Make Your Vote Count’ Campaign and Shepard Fairey ArtsVote Image

Arts Action Fund Urges Voters to Sign Pledge to ‘Make Your Vote Count,’ Use Customized Voter Resources for Every State to Begin Now

Friday, August 14, 2020

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Americans for the Arts Action Fund today presented its ArtsVote “Make Your Vote Count” campaign and pledge with artwork designed by renowned contemporary artist and Americans for the Arts Artists Committee member Shepard Fairey, as well as customized voter fact sheets for every state and U.S. territory. The fact sheets provide the latest details and deadlines on vote-by-mail ballots, early voting, and in-person voting. These resources can be found at www.ArtsActionFund.org/ArtsVote. 

Registration Open for Virtual Summer Conferences

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Registration is now open for the 2020 Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference! This newly virtual convening, happening June 23-25 from the comfort of your home, is the chance for arts leaders across the country to gather virtually and better understand the current health crisis, how we are responding to it, and how the arts field can move toward recovery. 

Join the National Arts Drive June 20, 2020

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

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The 10-city, 3-hour long community event taking place Saturday, June 20 across the U.S. will allow local artists to showcase their work, wares, and performances at a distance, while the public is invited to drive or ride down their city blocks and suburban streets to experience and support the art. 

140 Chambers of Commerce Lobby Congress for Nonprofit Arts & Cultural Institutions

Friday, May 15, 2020

Last week, a letter signed by 140 chambers of commerce from 39 states across the country was delivered to Congressional leadership in support of federal relief for the nonprofit arts and cultural community. This letter was generated by a small group of chambers and distributed by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and Americans for the Arts.

Local Arts Agency Roundtable

Three arts leaders in conversation

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Roundtable discussion
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Three leaders of local arts agencies from around the country in conversation around the issues that led to their agency being formed, what they're facing in their communities, and what the future holds.

Opportunity for the General Public to Participate in New Study Measuring Impact of Arts on Isolation and Social Distancing Resulting from COVID-19

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Americans for the Arts is partnering on a new international study to measure the mental health impact of COVID-19 and social distancing on the American public and is seeking volunteers to participate via online surveys. Everyone age 18 and older is welcome to be part of the study, and participation is fast and simple! 

Annual Report on Local Arts Agency Budgets and Programs Released

Monday, April 20, 2020

Americans for the Arts has released the 2019 Profile of Local Arts Agencies, an annual survey of a core set of local arts agency (LAA) indicators that is supplemented with rotating modules, enabling a more in-depth exploration into specific aspects of LAA work. The findings in this year’s study are based on 633 survey responses that were collected May through August of 2019.


Mr. Erick D. Dorris

Local Arts Agency Roundtable: A Conversation with Erick Deshaun Dorris

Posted by Mr. Erick D. Dorris, Apr 13, 2020


Mr. Erick D. Dorris

Last year in Joliet, Illinois—inspired by a rising tide of creativity and arts stewardship—the city council recognized the need for a central, organizing body for the local creative sector and voted unanimously to establish the Joliet Arts Commission. If I can offer any word of encouragement for others looking to establish an arts agency in your community, it is that you are not alone. There is a network of folks across your state and the country who are doing this work, even if you are a solo act in your community. Joliet could not get this far this quickly without the guidance, support, and encouragement from our state and national local arts networks. About two years ago, I walked into a meeting in Galesburg, Illinois, and said, “Joliet wants to start a local arts agency,” and the resounding response was “Okay, how can we help!” I have found that people in these roles want to help you and are looking for opportunities to connect with you. Reach out, be humble, and ask questions.

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National Arts Action Summit Goes Digital – Register Now!

Monday, April 13, 2020

Americans for the Arts presents a brand-new experience for arts advocates to engage virtually at the first ever National Arts Action Digital Summit with three plenary and ten issue-specific webinars live April 27 to May 1, 2020. 

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