Mr. Robert Lynch

How the Work of Americans for the Arts Is Addressing the Urgent Challenges of 2020

Posted by Mr. Robert Lynch, Nov 16, 2020


Mr. Robert Lynch

Americans for the Arts is committed to a vision of the arts being recognized as integral to the lives of all people and essential to healthy, vibrant, and equitable communities across the nation. The work of the organization is guided by a board-approved strategic plan with the advice of our leadership councils, strategic partners, local and state arts agencies, and many other decision makers, all of whom have a stake in advancing the arts as core to transforming lives, communities, workplaces, and education systems. The urgency of this vision has never been more apparent than in 2020—amid a global pandemic, heightened focus on social justice and racial equity, a huge economic downturn, and a contentious presidential election. These issues have impacted every community across the country and devastated artists, nonprofit and for-profit creative businesses, educational systems, healthcare, and trust in government. And because of long-term systemic inequities, these challenges have more severely affected people and communities of color. In 2020, Americans for the Arts continued its commitment to our vision and planned work, while also pivoting and taking on new, urgent work like so many of our 5,000 member organizations. Here are highlights of some key areas of the new and urgent work of Americans for the Arts in 2020 that are in addition to our planned work portfolio.

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Americans for the Arts Issues Statement Congratulating President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris

Saturday, November 7, 2020

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Americans for the Arts heartily congratulates President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, as well as all the federal, state, and local elected leaders across the country who won their elections. The historic election saw record-high popular votes electing Joe Biden to become the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris, as both the first woman and woman of color, to be elected as vice president.

Americans for the Arts Action Fund Urges Every Legally Cast Vote to Be Counted Based on Each State’s Election Laws

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

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To keep voters safe during the Coronavirus public health crisis, every state adopted some form of special voting accommodations this year, such as mail-in ballots and expanded early voting. These changes have yielded historically high voter turnout and many states passed legislation to allow for an extended counting period for all properly postmarked and received ballots by each state’s approved deadline. Americans for the Arts Action Fund urges all government officials to honor the United States Constitution that specifically empowers states and the District of Columbia with the authority and procedures to elect the president and vice president.

Weekly Web Roundup: Oct. 26-30, 2020

Friday, October 30, 2020

Election Day is nearly here, and early voting is happening all over the country! Do you still need to make a plan to vote? Check out the Arts Action Fund ArtsVote campaign for state-by-state fact sheets that will help ensure your voice is heard at the polls! While you're waiting in line to vote, catch up here on blogs and news you might have missed this week, plus check out the upcoming virtual National Arts Marketing Project Conference—registration is open now.

Robert L. Lynch and Americans for the Arts Featured in New Episode of PBS’s “Craft in America” Focused on Democracy

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

A new episode of the PBS docuseries “Craft in America” focused on the arts and democracy premiered digitally this week and is available to stream now in advance of the Dec. 11 broadcast premiere. “Craft in America: DEMOCRACY” explores how the interaction between government and the arts inspires our lives, fuels the creative economy, and protects our multicultural heritage. 

Weekly Web Roundup: Oct. 19-23, 2020

Friday, October 23, 2020

Lots going on this week in and around the Americans for the Arts (virtual) offices! Learn how arts organizations are engaging their communities to get out the vote, and read about several public art projects, opportunities, and recognition on local and national levels.


Abigail Alpern Fisch

Arts Leaders and Americans for the Arts Members Getting Out the Vote

Posted by Abigail Alpern Fisch, Oct 22, 2020


Abigail Alpern Fisch

As the 2020 election gets closer and many voters are already voting by mail or in-person, arts organizations around the country are doing their part to help voters make their vote count. This election is crucial to electing leaders at each level of government who will ensure that funding for the arts is protected and accessible for all. In this month’s Member Briefing, Americans for the Arts members Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Nate McGaha, executive director of Arts North Carolina, discussed using the arts to Get Out the Vote. They shared their experiences conducting voter outreach in their communities including their candidate forums, messaging about important voting deadlines, and partnership with other local, and national organizations including ArtsVote. If you missed the briefing live, a recording of the event is available now on ArtsU. Member Briefings are our quarterly opportunity to talk to you about what’s happening now, so mark your calendars to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at Americans for the Arts and across the sector. 

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Make the Case for the Arts

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Given the funding challenges in the arts today, do you have your arguments ready for supporting the arts in your community? Americans for the Arts has important information at the ready on the economic impact of the arts, the social impact of the arts, and the need to put creative workers to work.

Weekly Web Roundup: Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2020

Friday, October 2, 2020

If you missed it this week: Watch a webinar exploring state-by-state voting rules and what educational activities nonprofits can do to get the vote out, learn more about the economic power of the arts in rural communities, meet fellow #AFTAmember Kathy Hsieh of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and explore our newly redesigned interactive results dashboard for the Profile of Local Arts Agencies. 

Data at your Fingertips: Presenting the New Profile of Local Arts Agencies Dashboard

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Earlier this year, Americans for the Arts released the results of the 2019 Profile of Local Arts Agencies, a comprehensive survey that tracks the budgets and programs of over 600 local arts agencies in the United States. In August, we unveiled a newly redesigned interactive dashboard where users can fully explore the results of the survey. Try it out today and see what you discover! 

Annette Bening, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ariana DeBose, Ben Folds, Todrick Hall, Javier Muñoz, Bebe Neuwirth, Storm Reid, Alfre Woodard, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, and Nina Ozlu Tunceli Join 'Stars in the House' Special Episode Dedicated to Americans for the Arts

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Host Sept. 22 in Support of Americans for the Arts

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Stars in the House

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley of "Stars in the House" announced today the incredible line-up of artists and activists who will join them live Sept. 22 at 8 PM ET for a very special episode dedicated to the essential work being done by Americans for the Arts. Annette Bening, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ariana DeBose, Ben Folds, Todrick Hall, Javier Muñoz, Bebe Neuwirth, Storm Reid, Alfre Woodard, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, and Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs & Executive Director at Americans for the Arts Action Fund, will come together for an evening of conversation, music, and celebration of the transformative power of the arts.


Mrs. Kelly Fey Bolender


Rena A. Cohen

10 (Newer!) Arts Education Fast Facts

Posted by Mrs. Kelly Fey Bolender, Rena A. Cohen, Sep 18, 2020


Mrs. Kelly Fey Bolender


Rena A. Cohen

During this year’s National Arts in Education Week celebration, we’ve heard hundreds of #BecauseOfArtsEd stories from students, parents, and educators about the transformative power of the arts in education. The stories we share demonstrate the social and emotional impact of the arts, and are a vital part of effective advocacy. Great stories should be paired with compelling data and facts to help round out your advocacy strategy. In honor of the 10th anniversary of National Arts in Education Week, we’ve put together 10 new fast facts—exclusively featuring data collected within the last five years—illustrating the benefits of, support for, and challenges facing arts education in America today. You can put these facts to good use as part of your personal advocacy plan to make the case for arts education in your local schools and communities. 

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Americans for the Arts and Over 775 Cultural Organizations and Creative Workers Come Together to Propose Plan for Putting Creative Workers to Work After Pandemic

Endorsers include major cultural organizations in all genres, national service organizations, and influential individuals including former National Endowment for the Arts Chair Jane Alexander and Academy, Tony, and Emmy-nominated Actress Annette Bening

Thursday, September 10, 2020

There is no recovery without creativity.
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Americans for the Arts, in partnership with over 775 cultural organizations and creative workers, has proposed a 15-action national recovery strategy that the next Administration can use to put creative workers to work—activating the creative economy and drawing upon the creative energies of the country’s 5.1 million creative workers to energize Americans, reimagine how communities can thrive, and improve the lives of all. Organizations and creative workers who wish to endorse this proposal can do so via the Creative Workforce Proposal Endorsement form.


Mr. Jay H. Dick

How to Secure a Local Proclamation for National Arts & Humanities Month

Posted by Mr. Jay H. Dick, Sep 08, 2020


Mr. Jay H. Dick

Proclamations are a wonderful way that your mayor, city council, or your city (or county) in general can easily show its support for the arts and culture. Each year, Americans for the Arts encourages advocates to work with their local and state elected officials to issue a proclamation declaring October National Arts & Humanities Month in their city, county, or state. They allow elected officials to easily demonstrate their support for the arts, offer a written document for advocates to use year-round to demonstrate the value of the arts and culture, and serve as a tool to engage other arts advocates in their local communities. For those who have never done this before, I thought that I would offer a how-to guide help you understand the process of obtaining a proclamation.

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Weekly Web Roundup: Aug. 17-21, 2020

Friday, August 21, 2020

Several Artists Committee members participated in a pre-show event at the Democratic National Convention to discuss ways that artists are getting involved in the 2020 election. Also this week, meet one of our youngest members and our new Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fellows, learn about an innovative arts + healthcare festival, and join us in saying goodbye to visual artist Luchita Hurtado, who passed away at age 99.

Americans for the Arts Action Fund Launches ArtsVote ‘Make Your Vote Count’ Campaign and Shepard Fairey ArtsVote Image

Arts Action Fund Urges Voters to Sign Pledge to ‘Make Your Vote Count,’ Use Customized Voter Resources for Every State to Begin Now

Friday, August 14, 2020

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Americans for the Arts Action Fund today presented its ArtsVote “Make Your Vote Count” campaign and pledge with artwork designed by renowned contemporary artist and Americans for the Arts Artists Committee member Shepard Fairey, as well as customized voter fact sheets for every state and U.S. territory. The fact sheets provide the latest details and deadlines on vote-by-mail ballots, early voting, and in-person voting. These resources can be found at www.ArtsActionFund.org/ArtsVote. 

Weekly Web Roundup: Aug. 3-7, 2020

Friday, August 7, 2020

We are excited this week to have launched #ArtsCreateHope, a new social media campaign designed to remind the public that the arts are essential to the fabric of our lives. We hope you will watch and share our short, uplifting video with your networks and friends, and please take to social media to share your stories of how the arts create hope for you. We could all use a little lift from each other!

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment with #19SuffrageStories

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

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The Smithsonian, National Archives, and Library of Congress have launched a social media campaign for the month of August, #19SuffrageStories, to bring stories of suffragists and their fight for voting rights to social media. The campaign marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment and features stories of suffragettes who often have been overlooked.

Weekly Web Roundup: July 27-31, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

As we close out July and begin to round the corner toward the end of summer, things are heating up on the arts advocacy front. Congress is currently negotiating a new coronavirus relief bill, and two letters asking for relief for the arts went to Capitol Hill this week: one signed by one of our longest-standing strategic partners, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and another led by our Artists Committee and signed by more than 260 artist advocates.

Artists Committee Leads National COVID-19 Relief Advocacy Letter to Congressional Leadership

Thursday, July 30, 2020

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More than 260 artists and creative economy leaders signed on to a relief advocacy letter sent to top leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including Annette Bening, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, Vijay Gupta, Moisés Kaufman, Jeff Koons, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Gabourey Sidibe, Holland Taylor, and Alfre Woodard.

A First Look at America’s Arts Industries Success in Accessing PPP Loans

While the arts sector was effective in securing PPP loans, the $1.8 billion received by 9,917 nonprofit arts organizations severely lags its $9.1 billion in pandemic losses

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Americans for the Arts logo

The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on America’s arts sector. Nationally, financial losses to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are an estimated $9.1 billion as of July 13, 2020, and 62% of artists have become unemployed. An analysis by Americans for the Arts reveals the how the arts and creative economy sector performed in securing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. 

Americans for the Arts Mourns the Passing of Representative John Lewis

Sunday, July 19, 2020

“Without the arts, without music, without dance, without drama, without photography, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.” These were the words the late Representative John Lewis of Georgia shared the many times he addressed crowds of arts advocates of all ages at Americans for the Arts’ annual Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. Americans for the Arts feels deep loss at the passing of Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights hero and a true champion for the arts, and we celebrate the vast contributions he made to our country.


Mr. Jay H. Dick

National League of Cities Takes Message of Arts, Racial Equity, and Healing to Mayors

Posted by Mr. Jay H. Dick, Jul 15, 2020


Mr. Jay H. Dick

Americans for the Arts partners with a range of associations of elected officials at all levels of government to promote the arts and culture as solutions to cities’ various issues or problems. The National League of Cities (NLC) is one such partner. NLC represents mayors and city council members of approximately 2,000 cities of all sizes in the United States. Recently, the League reached out to Americans for the Arts to write an article on how the arts can help cities through this time of social and civil change and the need for racial equity and healing. We work with NCL and similar organizations to promote arts and culture at the national level in order to get the attention of elected officials, which allows you, the local advocate, to follow up. In other words, the elected official hears our message from their national association (at conferences, through blog posts, and other channels), and then hears it again from their local residents. This two-pronged approach shows the elected official that the arts are indeed a powerful tool and an organized political constituency.

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Introducing the Arts Education Action Kit: Make the Case for Arts Education In Your Schools

Monday, July 13, 2020

The kit features information on advocacy strategies, messaging, and research to improve the availability and quality of arts education in schools and communities. With these resources, anyone can become an arts education advocate and make the case for why arts education is essential.

Americans for the Arts Honors Six Arts Leaders for Enriching Communities Through the Arts

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Americans for the Arts logo
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Americans for the Arts announced today the recipients of the 2020 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awards at Americans for the Arts’ digital Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference. Given annually, the awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Ann S. Graham Honored with Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award

Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards presented as part of Annual Convention + Public Art & Civic Design Conference

Friday, June 19, 2020

Ann S. Graham brings a strong set of leadership skills to her work as the Executive Director of Texans for the Arts and she has demonstrated a deep passion for the arts and the role that they play in building and strengthening our communities. 

Violinist and Social Justice Advocate to Deliver 2020 Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy June 23 at 11:30 AM ET

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Vijay Gupta

The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy will be presented live as the opening keynote presentation of the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. ET. Americans for the Arts is pleased to welcome as its speaker Vijay Gupta, acclaimed violinist, social justice advocate, 2018 MacArthur Fellow, and Americans for the Arts board member. The lecture is free and attendees can register online. Gupta will be introduced by the Honorable Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

Americans for the Arts Honors Juneteenth

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Americans for the Arts’ offices will be closed this Friday in recognition of Juneteenth, and staff will be using this day to better inform ourselves of the historical significance of Juneteenth and to reflect on the systems of racial injustice that have been set in this country for centuries. We urge you and your organizations to also use this day to learn, reflect, and take action.

Americans for the Arts to Host Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference Virtually

Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy to Be Opening Keynote

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

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Americans for the Arts will host its first-ever virtual Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference, which will take place June 23-25, 2020. Through more than 40 sessions, participants will gather to better understand how the arts field is responding to the COVID-19 crisis, how the field can move toward recovery, and the role of the arts in healing during and after crises.

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