Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch was named to the 2020 NPT Power & Influence Top 50, an annual list in its 23rd year highlighting the nonprofit sector’s top working executives for innovation and influence on the broader sector. This is the sixth year Lynch has been recognized by the publication for his leadership for Americans for the Arts. He was previously recognized in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019.

Americans for the Arts and the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) today announced that Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R-MO) is the recipient of the 2020 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. Kehoe received his award at this year’s NLGA annual meeting which was held virtually.

Americans for the Arts has announced Red Door Project’s Evolve, a live performance experience based in Portland, Oregon, as the 2020 recipient of The Robert E. Gard Award. The award recognizes exemplary projects from the last year led by individuals or organizations who demonstrate a commitment to intersecting the arts with other sectors of community life in meaningful and measurable ways.

Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce a generous gift of $250,000 from The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation establishing a first-of-its-kind national program, the Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design. The program, which includes an award benefitting an artist, public art administrator, or representative from the civic design field on a rotating basis annually, seeks to celebrate and highlight the work of individuals who support, develop, and manage the incorporation of art into the design of places and spaces across the United States. 

Americans for the Arts announced today that Gina Rodríguez-Drix, Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, multi-genre writer, and practicing birth doula has been awarded the 2020 American Express Emerging Leader Award at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference. 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 announced today the recipients of the 2020 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awards at Americans for the Arts’ digital Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference. Given annually, the awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Americans for the Arts will host its first-ever virtual Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference, which will take place June 23-25, 2020. Through more than 40 sessions, participants will gather to better understand how the arts field is responding to the COVID-19 crisis, how the field can move toward recovery, and the role of the arts in healing during and after crises.

Americans for the Arts reports that of more than 10,000 artists and creative worker responses so far to the new COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, 62% have become fully unemployed because of COVID-19 and 95% have experienced income loss from COVID-19. The average decline in estimated total annual income per creative worker for 2020 is $27,103.

The $2 trillion emergency stimulus package that Congress passed this week includes $300 million in economic relief to support nonprofit cultural organizations, museums, libraries, public broadcasting, and state and local arts and humanities agencies, as well as substantial additional economic relief opportunities for independent contractors like "gig economy" workers such as actors, musicians, and artists and nonprofit organizations and small businesses, including those working in the creative economy.

Americans for the Arts has announced that in alignment with COVID-19 health recommendations and warnings issued by the Washington, DC, government, it has made the decision to cancel the National Arts Action Summit and postpone the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy, which were set to take place March 30-31 in Washington, DC. The annual advocacy event and lecture were in their 33rd year.

Americans for the Arts today announced that Sarah Arison, President of the Arison Arts Foundation, has been named National Arts Awards Chair for a five-year term. She is underwriter of the Ted Arison Young Artist Award, named for her grandfather, and she co-chaired the National Arts Awards from 2012 to 2019.

Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch released a statement following the release of the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget, which would eliminate funding for the arts. 

Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch and acclaimed singer-songwriter Ben Folds today urged the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to support federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $170 million for fiscal year (FY) 2021, a $7.75 million increase over FY 2020 funding. With last year’s increase the largest in six years, Congress has almost restored the NEA to its funding-level highpoint of $176 million in FY 1992. 

Americans for the Arts and Chair of the Board Julie Muraco announced today that Ira Sallen, Chief Operating Officer at BMG/Primary Wave Label Services, has been elected to the Board of Directors for a three-year term.