Join your colleagues from all of the states and jurisdictions for professional development sessions designed around the current needs of state arts agencies. During the NASAA 2025 Learning Series, participants explore subjects relevant to the daily work they undertake serving their constituents, and delve deeper into timely topics and research. Sessions offer state arts agencies a valuable opportunity to learn with and from one another, sharing an abundance of ideas to inform, inspire and energize our work.
All staff and council/board members from state and jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations are encouraged to participate. To make this program accessible to all members, NASAA has waived registration fees for this series.
Banner iMAGE: Painting by Steve Johnson, Creative Commons
Improving Health Through Prescribing the Arts
September 30, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Social prescribing gives health professionals and public agencies a new tool to improve patient health at minimal cost. Increasingly, state and jurisdictional arts agencies are developing social prescribing programs that bring more arts opportunities and their concomitant health benefits to their constituents and communities. Join NASAA, social prescribing experts and state arts agency colleagues for big-picture ideas, tangible how-tos and peer dialogue addressing pertinent questions for state arts agencies.
This session is conducted as part of a series of learning events for NASAA’s Arts & Health Professional Learning Community, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Federal and State Resources for Emergency Recovery
September 29, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Join us for an informative learning session exploring how FEMA and the Department of the Interior can support state arts agencies in strengthening resilience and navigating recovery after emergencies and disasters. In addition to highlighting practical strategies for safeguarding the arts sector and sustaining creative communities, the session features an interactive discussion on the role that state arts agencies play and how some have successfully responded to past crises.
Speakers
- Mollie Quinlan-Hayes, Executive Director, NCAPER
- Seth Tinkham, National Coordinator, Natural & Cultural Resources ESF-11, Environmental Response and Recovery Division, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Jennifer Wellock, National Coordinator, Natural and Cultural Resource Recovery, Environmental Response and Recovery Division, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, U.S. Department of the Interior
The AI State Policy Landscape and Implications for State Arts Agencies
September 10, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving innovation and prompting both opportunities and concerns across government, business and society. State governments are exploring AI to enhance public services like customer support, health inspections and road safety, while also addressing potential risks through ongoing discussions. In 2025, all U.S. states and jurisdictions introduced AI-related legislation, with 28 states and the Virgin Islands enacting over 75 new measures. Join NASAA, the National Conference of State Legislatures and your peers for a look at the current legislative landscape and how it may affect state arts agencies.
Speaker
- Chelsea Canada, Program Principal, Financial Services, Technology and Communications, National Conference of State Legislatures
Arts & Health Research: The Case for Advancing Policy
August 26, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
A growing number of states and regions are implementing programs that utilize arts based practices to improve individual and community health. Also, research showing the benefits of integrating the arts in health continues to advance. What research is most compelling to communicate the case for connecting arts and health policies, help agencies use this research and contribute to the evidence base for their programs? Join Dr. Jill Sonke, director of research initiatives in the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, for an arts and heath research overview that makes the case for advancing this important work. This session will be an opportunity to learn from Dr. Sonke and to interact with colleagues to discuss how research can be used in your case making and program design.
This session is conducted as part of a series of learning events for NASAA’s Arts & Health Professional Learning Community, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Unstuck and Unstoppable: Energizing Leaders in the Evolving Workplace
June 25, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Feeling stuck can happen to the best of us—especially when facing uncertainty, rapid change or shifting workplace dynamics. Led by government workplace expert Mika J. Cross, this interactive and empowering learning session is designed to help state arts agency leaders and managers break free from change fatigue, reignite their leadership spark and inspire their teams to do the same. Through a blend of practical strategies, insightful tools and real-world examples, participants learn how to navigate challenges with confidence, foster collaboration and morale, and create a positive, resilient work environment.
Synergizing with Travel and Tourism
April 23, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
State and jurisdictional arts agencies and state tourism departments have long worked together to promote—or even to fund jointly—cultural tourism projects designed to foster the development of the arts and tourism partnership. Join a roundtable of your peers from the Nevada Arts Council, Texas Commission on the Arts and Wisconsin Arts Board for a lively discussion on how state arts agencies cultivate relationships and create synergies that are beneficial for both the arts sector and the travel and tourism industry.
State Ticketing Legislation
March 25, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Legislation designed to regulate event ticketing was introduced in more than 20 states in 2024. These bills sought to reduce fraud, increase transparency and strengthen consumer protections—provisions that could have a big impact on arts venues, performers, resellers and audiences. More of these bills are being introduced in 2025, making this a timely topic for arts leaders and creative-sector advocates. Please join NASAA for this webinar, which will share the story of Minnesota’s recently enacted ticketing law and examine key components often found in state bills.
Speakers
- Kelly Barsdate, Executive Advisor, NASAA
- Todd Duesing, President & CEO, Hennepin Arts
- Kendall Gilvar, Strategic Communications & Project Manager, National Independent Venue Association
Arts and the Military Programs
February 26, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
State arts agencies (SAAs) often assume a leading role in supporting state level efforts. Partnerships and programs working with veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and their families is one of those areas in which SAAs have provided substantial benefit. This session takes a look at three programs, led by the Delaware Division of the Arts, New Mexico Arts and the Washington State Arts Commission, and explores how these agencies are realizing their arts and military goals.
State Arts Agency Cross-Sector Strategies
January 15, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Increasingly, state arts agencies (SAAs) and regional arts organizations engage in working partnerships to realize the unique value of arts and creativity across sectors. SAAs collaborate with agencies working in health and human services, transportation and community development—alongside extensive programming in education, the humanities and economic development. Over the past year, NASAA conducted research on state arts agency programs exemplifying collaborations between SAAs and non-arts agencies working to improve public-sector outcomes. Join NASAA, the National Endowment for the Arts and SAA colleagues as we highlight several state program examples from the research and discuss the importance, challenges and benefits of cross-sector work.