Idaho: Idaho Writer in Residence
The Idaho Commission on the Arts (ICA), like 28 other state arts agencies, fosters creative writing through an individual artist fellowship grant program. ICA also honors outstanding writers with the public recognition, responsibilities and financial support of its Idaho Writer in Residence program. The three-year writer in residence post, which is the state’s most prestigious […]
Florida: Awards Program
The Florida Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) has launched a new program to encourage the state’s arts and cultural programming to be as inclusive and diverse as possible. Through its Diversity & Inclusion Awards Program, DCA will honor the individuals, nonprofit organizations and public agencies making great strides to this end by awarding them a […]
Florida: Poet Laureate Program Renewed and Formalized
Soon there will be a new Florida poet laureate, the first under the auspices of the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and only the fourth since 1929. The honorary post—which had been a lifetime appointment by the governor, independent of any state agency and not statutorily defined—was formalized as a four-year position by the […]
Arkansas: Living Treasure Films Series
No matter the medium or discipline, crafts develop through contemporary practice as much as preservation of tradition. The Arkansas Arts Council (AAC) realizes this through its Arkansas Made Living Treasure Films Series, through which it collaborates with the Historic Arkansas Museum and filmmakers to produce documentaries about the artists and craftspeople who have received AAC’s […]
Maryland: O Say Can You Sing?
To celebrate this year’s bicentennial of the national anthem, the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) and Star-Spangled 200, the nonprofit group organizing this September’s Star-Spangled Spectacular celebration, are holding the Star-Spangled Sing-off. This statewide competition has a grand prize of $1,814, a governor’s citation and the opportunity to perform at a public event during the […]
South Carolina: First Novel Competition
The biennial South Carolina First Novel Competition is a unique partnership between the South Carolina Arts Commission and Hub City Press, an award-winning nonprofit independent press in Spartanburg. The contest is a highly competitive, anonymous process that is designed to help launch the careers of exceptional South Carolina writers and put top-quality novels in the hands of readers. Unlike some […]
Iowa: Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Award
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is collaborating with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation on a new agricultural art contest. The Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Award is a juried competition for artwork that promotes the natural beauty of Iowa and its role as a global […]
Virgin Islands: Celebrating Young Artists
This year the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) launched a new program to support young artists in the Territory. The Young Emerging Artist Honors (YEAH) program is designed to recognize the talents of young artists and to bring visibility to their exceptional achievements in the visual arts, media arts, literature, dance, photography, music […]
Idaho: Idaho Meth Project, Paint the State
Methamphetamine abuse—and its related social, health and law enforcement costs—is a serious challenge in Idaho. The Idaho Commission on the Arts (ICA) collaborated with the Idaho Meth Project last year to help the state combat this problem. As part of an aggressive statewide campaign to raise youth awareness about the dangers of meth, the Idaho […]
Maryland: Traditional Small Business Recognition Program
Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), recently announced the Traditional Small Business Recognition Program. The new program is a collaborative initiative of Maryland Traditions, MSAC, the Maryland Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts, and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The program will recognize the cultural […]