Another successful NASAA Assembly is behind us. I am grateful for the many ways this gathering reinforces the connections, leadership and shared purpose that sustain our organization and strengthen the work of state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the country.

At the heart of NASAA is a simple but powerful idea: we are stronger when we learn from one another, work collaboratively and bring different perspectives to the challenges and opportunities before us. This spirit of partnership was on full display at NASAA Assembly 2026 in Washington, D.C., where more than 500 arts professionals came together for one of our most well-attended convenings in many years. The energy, generosity and enthusiasm of our colleagues were a powerful reminder of the importance of creating space for meaningful exchange and professional connection that carry our work forward long after the conference concludes.

Assembly is an important expression of what makes our field so distinctive. Our agencies serve states and jurisdictions with different needs, resources and priorities. Yet we share a commitment to ensuring the arts are accessible and contribute meaningfully to the vitality of our communities. By learning how colleagues approach similar challenges in different settings, we gain valuable insights that can inform our own work and help us better serve the people and places that depend on the arts.

That spirit of collaboration and shared values is equally important to NASAA’s board of directors. Effective governance depends on more than a willingness to serve. It requires knowledgeable leaders who understand the complexities of public arts administration, appreciate the unique responsibilities of state arts agencies, and bring the strategic insight needed to guide an organization through a changing landscape. Our board members leverage their firsthand experience to ensure NASAA’s priorities remain grounded in the aspirations of our members and responsive to the realities they face.

I am pleased to welcome our newly elected board officers and members, whose expertise and commitment will help guide NASAA’s work in the years ahead. Our Executive Committee officers are Michael Donovan, chair; Karen Ewald, 1st vice chair; Marcela Garcia, 2nd vice chair; David Lewis, treasurer; and Adele Sicilia, secretary. We also welcome four new board members beginning three-year terms for 2027–2029: Ché Anderson of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; Joshua Davis-Ruperto of the Illinois Arts Council; Tony Manfredi of the Nevada Arts Council; and Allison Tratner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

As the membership organization for the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies, NASAA has an important responsibility to support our members through research, advocacy, professional development and opportunities for peer learning. Fulfilling this mission requires us to understand the policy, economic and organizational environments in which our members operate and to provide resources and guidance that help them navigate an evolving landscape. It also means continually assessing how NASAA can best respond to the needs of the field and where new opportunities for service may emerge.

The success of Assembly 2026 and the strength of our board reflect two essential dimensions of NASAA’s work. Assembly creates opportunities for our field to connect, exchange ideas and consider new possibilities. Our board provides the strategic guidance and stewardship that ensure NASAA remains a strong, effective and responsive organization. Together, these experiences and leadership structures help position NASAA to meet its responsibilities and serve its members well.

I leave Assembly encouraged by the dedication of this community and the many people who make NASAA’s work possible. The challenges before the arts sector are real, but so are the expertise, creativity and determination of the leaders working every day to address them. I am confident that, by remaining attentive to the needs of our members and drawing on the considerable strengths of our field, we can continue to advance the role of the arts in thriving communities nationwide.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at NASAA Assembly 2026, to our outgoing board leaders for their service, and to our continuing and incoming board members for their leadership. I look forward to the work ahead and to all that we will accomplish together.