Mississippi: Creative Economy
In collaboration with the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) recently unveiled the Mississippi’s Creative Economy website. Designed to educate business leaders, policymakers and the public about the importance of creativity to the state’s economy, the site contains resources about the role of the arts and culture in creating jobs and broadening economic […]
Georgia: Tourism Product Development Grants
Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Tourism, both divisions of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, have combined resources to offer Tourism Product Development (TPD) grants. TPD grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded in fiscal year 2012 to support the role of the arts in tourism by providing financial assistance to Georgia’s creative economies, […]
Colorado: Colorado Blueprint
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, of which Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) is a division, has released Colorado Blueprint, a strategic plan for advancing economic development. This new plan integrates the arts, culture and creative industries into the state’s vision for the future and in the strategies the state will pursue to […]
California: Income Tax Checkoff Program
Following legislation enacted in 2010 to authorize income tax donations to the California Arts Council(CAC), the agency has secured $152,465 in contributed funds in calendar year 2011. The state’s tax return forms now allow California taxpayers to contribute part of their personal income tax refund to the California Arts Council. Funds will be used to support […]
Montana: Artrepreneur Program
The Montana Arts Council recently announced that it will receive $175,105 in new federal funds to promote job skills training for Montana Artists. This federal funding, provided from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Community Development Initiative, will expand the Arts Council’s Montana Artrepreneur Program (MAP). MAP is a training program specifically designed to help […]
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 […]
Kentucky: Cultural Districts Certification Program
The Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) has launched a new Cultural Districts Certification Program. Announced by Governor Steve Beshear, state certification will recognize and support local districts that use the arts to promote civic and economic revitalization. The program will build on qualities that make Kentucky communities unique, including their abundant cultural assets, their historic resources, […]
Oklahoma: Gang Prevention Partnership
An Oklahoma City Police Department program is using the arts to stop kids from joining gangs. Through a partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC), the Oklahoma City Police Department’s gang prevention program—Family Awareness and Community Teamwork (FACT)—has added arts activities as positive alternatives for local youth at two Oklahoma City community centers. The program […]
Tennessee: Value Plus Schools Evaluation Report
The Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) recently announced the release of Changing Tennessee Schools through Arts Integration, the evaluation results of TAC’s Value Plus Schools program. The report synthesizes four years of research about student achievement, educators’ perceptions of the program and common denominators for successfully integrating the arts into all aspects of student instruction and […]
Michigan: Pure Michigan Radio Spots
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) has teamed up with the Pure Michigan tourism advertising campaign to produce a new radio commercial aimed at promoting the arts in Michigan. The one-minute ad is narrated by celebrity Tim Allen, a Michigan native. Entitled “Front Row,” the spot encourages visitors to enjoy a “casual” […]