Americans for the Arts today announced its October celebration of National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM), a time for communities to come together to celebrate the power of the arts and humanities in promoting individual wellbeing, addressing trauma, connecting cultures, highlighting inequities, and making the nation’s communities healthier and stronger.

Americans for the Arts today announced that acclaimed novelist and playwright Ayad Akhtar will deliver the 34th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy. Akhtar will be introduced by Rockefeller Brothers Fund President and CEO Stephen Heintz, and the evening will feature a performance by artists Rez Abbassi and Kiran Ahluwalia. The lecture will take place at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The lecture will also be livestreamed for nationwide accessibility with ASL interpretation. Registration to attend is FREE.

Americans for the Arts and the National Association of Counties (NACo) award Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter of Minnesota the Public Leadership in the Arts Award for County Arts Leadership. The award recognizes an elected official who has advanced the arts within their community and whose vision and leadership provide heightened visibility to the value of the arts.

Americans for the Arts and the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) today announced Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer as the recipient of the 2022 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for State Arts Leadership. The annual award honors a public official who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts at the state/territory level.

Americans for the Arts today announced that urban designer Paola Aguirre Serrano has been awarded the 2022 Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design. A first-of-its-kind national recognition program established by the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, the prize includes a cash stipend of $30,000 plus opportunities for Aguirre Serrano to participate in discussions about her work with national leaders in the arts and other allied fields.

Americans for the Arts announced today the recipients of the 2022 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awards at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention. Given annually, the awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Americans for the Arts announced today that Adriane Jefferson, director of the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven and the executive director of New Haven Festival Inc, has been awarded the 2022 American Express Emerging Leader Award at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention. The award recognizes an exceptional new and/or young arts professional for their exemplary leadership, deep engagement with community, and strong commitment to advancing the arts.

Americans for the Arts today announced its May 18–20 Annual Convention, bringing the creative field together in person for the first time since 2019. Through 22 sessions held in D.C.’s historic Omni Shoreham Hotel, participants will celebrate the transformative, collective strength of creative workers and cultural organizations across the United States; listen to and learn from creative leaders offering wisdom on the way forward; and better understand how the nonprofit arts field can build an equitable arts, culture, and creative economy together as we reemerge and rebuild from the pandemic.

Americans for the Arts Action Fund is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to its board of directors: Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts; Patrick Brien, executive director of the Riverside Arts Council; Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, vice president for cultural affairs for Arizona State University and executive director of ASU Gammage; and Felix Sanchez, chairman and co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.

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. Building on its 25-year legacy, AEP6 will examine the economic power that the arts and culture wield in 387 participating communities representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each community will receive a customized economic impact report about the number of jobs supported, government revenue generated, and economic activity of its nonprofit arts and culture 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 will convene more than 500 grassroots advocates from across the country for the annual National Arts Action Summit, held March 28–30. In 2022, the arts sector faces new advocacy and legislative challenges. Over the last 12 months, more pro-arts bills have been introduced in Congress than ever before in U.S. history. Through shared leadership and by presenting a thoughtful, unified message, advocates can ensure their voice is heard by decisionmakers when Congress considers issues like the budget, creative economy, and job creation throughout the year.

Americans for the Arts’ President and CEO Nolen V. Bivens issued a statement on the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of President Joseph R. Biden’s nomination of Shelly C. Lowe as the next chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors today presented the 2022 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards to three elected officials at The U.S. Conference of Mayors 90th Winter Meeting. The honorees include Bill Anaotubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation; Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston, Texas; and Gavin Buckley, Mayor of Annapolis, Maryland.