Stefani Germanotta, better known to us all as Lady Gaga, took home the Young Artist Award last night at Americans for The Arts 2015 National Arts Awards at Cipriani 42nd St. Lady Gaga was among six honorees who were recognized last night for their leadership in the arts and arts education. The Museum of Modern Art’s Klaus Biesenbach introduced the award winner, with a story about her genuine openess and generosity as an artist. 

Americans for the Arts invites all Americans to celebrate October as National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM). Towns and communities across the country are hosting special events that capture the spirit that the arts and humanities bring to everyday life. 

Nominate yourself or a colleague for one of six 2015 Annual Leadership Awards presented annually by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with Annual Convention! These awards recognize the achievements of individuals, organizations, or programs committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Americans for the Arts mourns the loss of blues legend B.B. King (born Riley B. King), who passed away on May 14, 2015. With a career that spanned 70 years and more than 50 albums, King was the undisputed king of the blues. He toured the world well into his 80s, often performing 250 or more concerts a year. In 2013, King was honored at Americans for the Arts' National Arts Awards with the Isabella and Theodor Dalenson Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Buddy Guy, fellow blues guitarist. 

Americans for the Arts is pleased to be holding its 2015 Annual Convention in Chicago, a diverse city that embraces artists, creators, and innovators. The largest national gathering of arts leaders and their partners in creative business, education, and government, the convention is expected to draw upwards of 1,000 attendees. 

WASHINGTON, DC—Americans for the Arts, the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America, will hold its annual convention in Chicago from June 12–14, 2015. It is the largest national gathering of arts leaders and their partners in creative business, education, and government, and is expected to draw upwards of 1,000 attendees.

Americans for the Arts has announced the recipients of the 2015 Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards. Presented each year, these awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching community through the arts. 

You already know Annual Convention will bring together more than 1,000 arts professionals with 150 speakers and 45 sessions, but there's a whole lot more to look forward to this year. Here’s a list of top ten things to see and do while in Chicago at the 2015 Annual Convention!

On the heels of Arts Advocacy Day, this year's Nancy Hanks Lecturer - Norman Lear - wrote to The Hill about how the arts can help solve our nations problems, both here at home and abroad. He highlights arts and diversity and the power of art in the face of recent events in North Korea.

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, honors 31 outstanding public arts projects created in 2014 through the Public Art Network (PAN) Year in Review program, the only national program that specifically recognizes the most compelling public art. The works were chosen from more than 300 entries across the country and recognized today at the 2015 Annual Convention in Chicago. 

This year, Americans for the Arts is honoring Ann Marie Miller with the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award. Since 2007, the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award has honored an individual whose arts advocacy efforts have dramatically affected the political landscape at the state level.

This year, Americans for the Arts is honoring the Association for Public Art (aPA) with the Public Art Network Award. Given annually since 2003, the award honors innovative contributions to, and exemplary commitment and leadership in, public art.

Learn about how art helps transform communities AND get the opportunity to write for Americans for the Arts’ ARTSBlog this Summer!

On February 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled - in a split (3-2) vote and along party lines - to reclassify broadband as a utility. The action gives the commission more regulatory power over Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Although reflective of many of the record number of public comments, the ruling has resulted in some members of Congress developing an alternative legislative response.

Today, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced 12 finalist cities in the running to receive up to $1 million each as part of the Public Art Challenge, a new program aimed at supporting temporary public art projects that engage communities, enhance creativity, and enrich the vibrancy of cities. Americans for the Arts president and CEO Robert L. Lynch applauds Bloomberg Philanthropies and comments on the news. 

Register today for the 2015 Annual Convention, taking place June 12–14, 2015 in Chicago!

The conference will take place at the Chicago Sheraton, with more than 40 breakouts, three keynotes, three preconferences, two Workshop Intensives, a dozen ARTventure Tours, and an opening reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art! 

American icon, political activist, comedy genius, national medal of arts honoree (Clinton Admin), and Emmy winner (All in the Family) Norman Lear will deliver the 28th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy on March 23, 2015.

Groundbreaking television producer, author and social activist Norman Lear will deliver the 28^th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on March 23, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Produced by Americans for the Arts, the Nancy Hanks Lecture provides an opportunity for public discourse at the highest levels on the importance of the arts and culture to our nation’s well-being.

Elizabeth Streb is an internationally acclaimed American choreographer, performer, and teacher of contemporary dance and movement. Her choreography, which she calls "POPACTION," challenges us rethink the interface between people, technology, and society.

Ben Folds, musician and arts education activist, will speak Friday, June 13 at 11:30 a.m. with Americans for the Arts' CEO and President, Bob Lynch, at our 2014 Annual Convention. He will share with attendees his personal history and transformation into an artist-acitvist, which has allowed him to witness the power of arts education in transforming the lives of young students.

This opening keynote session will also include Bob Lynch's State of the Arts speech, the Leadership Awards Lunch, and a welcome from Nashville mayor Karl Dean. 

American for the Arts CEO and President Robert L. Lynch wrote an article in The Tennessean on May 31 highlighting the recent Periscope: Arts Entrepreneur Training in Nashville as well as the economic impact of arts-related businesses, specifically in Tennessee. Lynch writes that Nashville is a perfect of example of how arts nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and the local government can work together to create a rich environment and a strong economy.

Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce the 2014 BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America, which recognizes 10 businesses of all sizes for their exceptional involvement with the arts. The awards will be celebrated on October 1, 2014 at a gala presentation and dinner in New York City, which will highlight the ways in which today’s businesses are using the arts to inspire employees, stimulate innovation, and foster creative collaboration all across the country.

Members of Americans for the Arts are invited to apply for several scholarships opportunities to attend the 2015 National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP) Conference in Salt Lake City, UT from Novemb

Americans for the Arts Annual Convention kicked off unofficially on June 12^th with the preconferences and their related field trips. The Public Art Preconference included a tour of repurposed artist studios and enclaves in Nashville, Tennessee. The tour, “Reclamation as Transition - From Factories to Churches: Creating Artist Spaces and Places,” illustrated ways cities can engage the creative class for a more vibrant community.

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, announced the recipients of the 2014 Americans for the Arts Annual Local Arts Leadership Awards.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, announced the recipients of the 2014 Americans for the Arts Annual Local Arts Leadership Awards. Presented each year, these awards recognize the achievements of individuals, organizations or programs committed to enriching their communities through the arts

Arts Advocacy Day 2014 on March 24-25 brought together 500 arts advocates from 45 states to Washington, D.C., last month for National Arts Advocacy Day, which is organized by Americans for the Arts and cosponsored by more than 85 national organizations. In a time where the arts are currently facing many challenges and there are many voices competing for the same pool of money on Capitol Hill, the timing of this event couldn't have been better.