During 2022’s Strategic Realignment Process, we worked with members and other stakeholders to identify the specific and unique role of Americans for the Arts within the arts and culture community. While we continue to evaluate and evolve our offerings, here’s the latest update on some of our flagship events, including the National Arts Action Summit, Annual Convention, and the National Arts Marketing Project Conference.

Americans for the Arts today launched a multimedia platform that will serve as a hub for results and information pertaining to its Strategic Realignment Process (SRP), which the organization undertook during 2022. With the SRP completed, the Designing Our Destiny platform represents Americans for the Arts’ new path forward to better serve the arts and culture field. 

Americans for the Arts and its partners are thrilled to announce the interns selected for the 30th year of the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) program. With equitable arts leadership at the center, DIAL provides undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who have a career interest in arts and cultural equity a hands-on introduction to working in the arts sector during a 10-week summer internship. From 360 applications received from candidates throughout the country, 39 were selected to participate for this summer’s program.

Americans for the Arts announced today the recipients of the 2022 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awards at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention. Given annually, the awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Americans for the Arts announced today that Adriane Jefferson, director of the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven and the executive director of New Haven Festival Inc, has been awarded the 2022 American Express Emerging Leader Award at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention. The award recognizes an exceptional new and/or young arts professional for their exemplary leadership, deep engagement with community, and strong commitment to advancing the arts.

The American Express Emerging Leader Award recognizes visionary leadership by an individual who is a new and/or young arts leader who demonstrates an ability to engage and impact their community. Adriane Jefferson is currently the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven and the Executive Director of New Haven Festivals Inc., where she is leading the city on cultural equity and anti-racism initiatives. 

Americans for the Arts is now accepting nominations of arts leaders from your community for the 2022 Annual Leadership Awards. The deadline to nominate an arts leader for the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award, the American Express Emerging Leader Award, and the Selina Roberts Ottum Award is Friday, April 8.

Registration is now open for the 2022 Americans for the Arts Annual Convention! A live, in-person event will be held May 18-20 in Washington, D.C., and recorded content from the live event will be made available for a fee in a limited time digital on-demand format in June 2022. To maintain health and safety protocols, there is a firm registration deadline of May 2, 2022, to attend the in-person event. 

Americans for the Arts has begun work to redefine its role as a national service organization and support of the field. To that end, we are pleased to announce two recent hires to fill pivotal roles for the organization. Adrianne R. Troilo joined as vice president of People and Culture in December 2021, and Daniel Fitzmaurice will begin as the chief of staff on April 4. Both positions are newly created to provide leadership in areas vitally needed to successfully accomplish our mission and achieve a people-first culture.

Americans for the Arts’ 2022 Annual Convention will take place May 18-20, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The event will be simplified, shorter, and more accessible, and the public may participate in a more open and equitable session submission process through Feb. 15, 2022.

After six months of hearing candid feedback from the field and internal planning, Americans for the Arts is set to begin the next phase of the Strategic Realignment Process toward redefining its unique role as a service organization to the arts and culture field and the public good. The organization has engaged the services of three consulting organizations to support the process: Arts Consulting Group, The Hewlin Group, and Hope Nation.

Americans for the Arts and its national partners are excited to announce that applications for the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) internship program are now open! Summer 2022 will mark the 30th year of the DIAL program, and host sites have expanded once again to six national locations: New York City, New Jersey, Nashville, Boston, Sarasota (FL), and Raleigh/Wake County (NC). The deadline for applications is January 14, 2022.

Arts & Cultural Equity Studio (ACES) centers the experiences of arts leaders of color navigating the field and offers attendees insights into various professional journeys the paths that have led to leadership roles in the arts sector.

At The Table is a new group of African-American arts leaders responsible for organizing dynamic discussions that showcase and leverage our collective cultural and philanthropic power. The group aims to offer opportunities for connection, a platform for financial growth, infrastructure for community building, and encouragement to engage in wellness.

Registration support opportunities are available for arts marketing professionals who are unable to access a paid registration to the 2021 virtual National Arts Marketing Project Conference, taking place December 7-8.

Individuals and organizations can use National Arts & Humanities Month as a starting point to advocate for the arts and raise awareness about its role in our communities and lives—not just for the month, but throughout the entire year! Here are a few of the ways you can join Americans for the Arts in celebrating NAHM.

Americans for the Arts announced today the recipients of the 2021 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awards at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention. Given annually, the awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

The American Express Emerging Leader Award is presented as part of Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention and recognizes visionary leadership by an individual who is a new and/or young arts leader who demonstrates an ability to engage and impact their community. The 2021 honoree is Christine Her, Executive Director of ArtForce Iowa.

The arts and culture field continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Americans for the Arts expanded access to the Annual Convention through extended scholarship opportunities. Submit a request by Friday, June 4.

Scholarships are available for those interested in attending the 2021 Annual Convention, happening virtually June 8-11. The deadline to request a scholarship is Monday, May 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

The Annual Leadership Awards recognize the achievements of individuals, organizations, or programs committed to enriching their communities through the arts and will be acknowledged in conjunction with the Annual Convention happening virtually June 7-11, 2021. Nominations close Monday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Americans for the Arts’ staff, board, members and councils are united by a common purpose: To build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America. We, as an organization, have taken multi-year steps towards making racial and cultural equity the guiding principle in everything we do. Those steps have not been enough. We need to do more – to increase our efforts and communicate those efforts to our stakeholders more effectively. 

Americans for the Arts today announced its annual National Arts Marketing Project Conference, held virtually for the first time December 7–8. The largest gathering of arts marketers in the country, the conference will provide ideas and tactics, strategies and inspiration to set the groundwork for surviving and thriving in the next 18-24 months. From changes in consumer behavior, to pricing strategies in the COVID era, to addressing bias in content, to targeting audiences and accessibility planning, the National Arts Marketing Project Conference aims to equip and prepare arts marketers for 2021.

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.

Americans for the Arts wants you to elect art professionals from the field to serve on one of four network advisory councils: Arts Education, Emerging Leaders, Private Sector, and Public Art. Voting closes November 23, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET and is restricted to members of Americans for the Arts at the Colleague level or higher. 

Americans for the Arts is pleased to offer a number of scholarship opportunities to those interested in attending the virtual 2020 National Arts Marketing Project Conference. The deadline to request a scholarship is Monday, November 16 at 9 AM (ET). Priority will be given to members of Americans for the Arts. (Not a member? Join today!)