Missouri: Positioning Arts Organizations for Growth
The Missouri Arts Council (MAC) has announced a new grant program replacing its former Capacity Building grant. The new Accelerate program not only awards financial support, but also strengthens organizational capacity through a three-step process: assess, act and accelerate. First, boards and senior staff of participating organizations evaluate their programming, operations, fund-raising and leadership using […]
Mississippi: Toolkit
In addition to incorporating diversity into their own policies and programming, state arts agencies can encourage their grantees and other stakeholders to commit to practices that foster cultural awareness and inclusiveness. A recent example of this can be found in the Mississippi Arts Commission‘s (MAC) Diversity Toolkit, which offers guidance on how grantees can make […]
Alabama: Journey Proud Documentary Series
Journey Proud is a new documentary series produced by Alabama Public Television (APT) and the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) highlighting the people, customs and traditions of Alabama. The series is hosted by folklorist Joey Brackner, director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, the folklife division of ASCA. APT Executive Producer Chris […]
Massachusetts: State Legislator Listening Tour on Arts and Tourism
There is a unique effort under way in Massachusetts to develop the potential of cultural tourism. State legislators have embarked on a listening tour in an effort to learn about local cultural tourism prospects and develop policies that strengthen the arts and arts-driven tourism. By the end of 2014, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts […]
Arts Education 2013 State Legislation Roundup
Education policy is a complex tapestry in America, consisting of a dynamic mixture of federal, state and local resources and regulations. Within this multilayered system, many important decisions affecting the quality and availability of arts education are made at the state level. This year, a number of state legislatures introduced bills affecting arts education. Some […]
Louisiana: Creative Communities Initiative
This summer, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development (OCD), the parent agency of the Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA), is building the capacity of Louisiana community leaders to undertake place-based cultural, community and economic development projects. Through OCD’s Creative Communities Initiative, leaders from 10 communities are working with coaches trained by The National Consortium […]
Kentucky: Community Scholars Program
Part of the Kentucky Arts Council‘s (KAC) effort to foster the state’s cultural assets is to train citizens how to document, interpret and share their community’s cultural heritage. Through its Community Scholars Program, KAC empowers local communities to preserve and celebrate Kentucky’s art and culture. KAC holds training sessions throughout the state twice a year […]
Iowa: Job Creation Grants
To bolster the state’s creative economy, the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) directly invests in the creation of new jobs critical to cultural vitality. Through its Job Creation Grants program, IAC provides one-year awards, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, to help cover the salaries, wages and benefits of newly created positions with organizations in the cultural […]
Mississippi: Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum
The Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum is a new initiative of the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) that integrates the history, culture and art of Mississippi blues music into the state’s classrooms. The curriculum has 18 lessons, three each for six subject areas—music, meaning, cotton, transportation, civil rights and media. While the curriculum was developed for 4th-grade […]
Nebraska: Signers for the Arts Grants
The Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) has a new grant program that increases the accessibility of arts events and programs by underwriting the addition of licensed American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. Signers for the Arts Grants (SFA) provide nonmatching funds up to $250 for ASL interpreters for music, dance and theatre performances as well as art […]