FAQs on 'The Hill' Report of a Funding Threat to the National Endowment for the Arts

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Category: 
On January 19, The Hill newspaper carried a troubling report related to funding for the arts in the incoming administration. The article said that transition team advisors to the President are calling for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities and privatizing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. There are many decision-making points in our federal process, and each of these branches and stages need to be informed so that good decisions result. What we do know is that the arts are a great investment in our national economy

New website launched for National Arts Marketing Project

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

From the beginning, the goal of the NAMP program has been to connect, strengthen, and advance our nation’s growing community of arts marketers. The new website provides arts marketers with an improved and dynamic digital space to grow and connect in their community, with four distinct spaces to get smarter, get together, get involved, and get inspired. 

Vans Kicks Off Eighth Annual Custom Culture Art Competition for High Schools Across the U.S.

Art Students Nationwide Create Custom Shoe Designs to Raise Awareness for Arts Education and Compete to Win $50,000 for Their Art Program

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Category: 

Vans invites high school art students throughout the country to join in the eighth annual Vans Custom Culture art competition to embrace youth creativity and support arts education. Starting today, high school art teachers can register their classes to compete for the grand prize of $50,000 towards their art program by creating their most artistic and inventive designs using blank Vans shoes as their canvas.

Americans for the Arts Statements: The Arts Put America to Work

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

As Congress and the Trump Administration prepare the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018, Americans for the Arts is working to remind our elected officials about the economic importance of federal funding for the arts, specifically through the National Endowment for the Arts. This morning, ads appeared in the New York Post and The Hill newspapers with the bold headline “The Arts Put America to Work.”

Promoting and Preserving our Public Art

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Category: 

Murals, sculptures and even sound scores adorn our cities, exposing and exploring our histories and cultures. With these Public Art works comes the innate challenge of how to preserve and promote the works themselves, their conceptions and their creators. Donna Bryson explores this challenge and attempts to answer the question: "how can public art be preserved and shared?" in her article published in The Christian Science Monitor, Arts and Culture.

Americans for the Arts Unveils New Program to Advance and Strengthen Arts Marketing in Pennsylvania

Arts and Cultural Professionals Must Apply by April 29 Deadline

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Americans for the Arts, the leading organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America, today announced Arts Marketing and Audience Engagement in the 21st Century: Building the Capacity of Pennsylvania’s Cultural Sector, a new, five-year initiative to strengthen and advance the arts marketing and audience engagement skills of Pennsylvania-based arts and cultural professionals. The first cohort of participants will start in July 2017.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Consider Arts Ticket Tax in Budget Impasse

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Category: 

The Pennsylvania state budget has been locked in a stalemate now for 154 days. Governor Tom Wolf (D) and the predominantly Republican General Assembly continue to disagree on a state funding stream during the budget negotiations. Senate and House Republicans have rejected both a proposed increase in the state’s personal income tax and, most recently, an increase in the state sales tax.

U.S. House Names Conferees for ESEA Reauthorization - Another Step Closer!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Category: 

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives formally agreed to form a conference committee to reauthorize the federal K-12 education law (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA), which has been expired since 2007.

The rule in today’s House floor debate formally allowed the House to request a conference with the Senate.

2015 Council Elections: Voting for Advisory Council Members is Now Open!

Monday, October 26, 2015

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

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Adopts National Arts & Humanities Month Resolution

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Category: 

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted HR 537, “A Resolution recognizing the month of October 2015 as 'National Arts and Humanities Month' in Pennsylvania,” on Tuesday, October 20. Introduced by State Representative Stan Saylor, the noncontroversial resolution had 45 co-sponsors and states “...therefore be it RESOLVED,The House of Representatives recognize the month of October 2015 as "National Arts and Humanities Month" in Pennsylvania, call upon residents to celebrate and promote the arts and culture in our nation and encourage greater participation by residents of this Commonwealth in the arts and humanities in their local communities.”

Americans for the Arts Celebrates 30th Anniversary of National Arts & Humanities Month

Americans Are Encouraged to Explore the Role of Arts in Their Communities

Thursday, October 1, 2015

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. 

Top 10 Best Downtowns by Livability.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Category: 

Livability.com has just identified the top 10 best downtowns in America. Here is the list:

1.Pittsburgh, PA
2.Minneapolis, MN
3.Indianapolis, IN
4.Greenville, SC
5.Salt Lake City, UT
6.Alexandria, VA
7.Fargo, ND
8.Lincoln, NE
9.Somerville, MA
10.Evanston, IL

In developing the list Livability.com used the following criteria:

Americans for the Arts Making Headlines in The Hill, Politico, and Roll Call

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

To celebrate and thank our more than 550 advocates who are on the Hill today, and to recognize the invaluable support of our friends in Congress, Americans for the Arts placed full page ads running today in The Hill, Politico, and Roll Call. The ad highlights the more than 200 members of the Congressional Arts Caucus, the Senate Cultural Caucus, and the Congressional STEAM Caucus for their support of the arts and arts education in America. View the ad.

Americans for the Arts Celebrates Arts Advocacy Day March 24

Nancy Hanks Lecture March 23 to Feature COMMON, Norman Lear, Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Nolan Williams, Jr.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Americans for the Arts is gearing up for the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy and Arts Advocacy Day—part of the National Arts Action Summit—held on March 23-24. Now in their 28th year, the events are presented by Americans for the Arts and co-sponsored by more than 85 national organizations representing hundreds of thousands of arts, culture, business, civic, and education institutions and individuals nationwide. 

Americans for the Arts Announces Six Recipients of Annual Leadership Awards

Awardees to be Honored at Americans for the Arts Annual Convention June 12

Monday, May 18, 2015

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. 

Senate Unanimously Passes ESEA Reauthorization Out of Committee

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Category: 

After 3 days of considering bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and nearly 60 amendments, the Senate HELP Committee advanced the legislation, enabling it to be next considered on the Senate floor under an open amendment process. Floor action is now expected before the end of May.

Best Arts Districts Contest Winners Announced by USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Northeast Minneapolis Named Best Art District

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Category: 

In February, USA Today asked the public to vote for their favorite art and cultural districts based on a set of hand-picked districts and neighborhoods within the U.S. and the results are in.

The winners in the 'Best Art District' contest category for USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice are as follows:

Americans for the Arts Presents 2016 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for State Arts Leadership to the Founding Chairs of Pennsylvania Legislative Arts & Culture Caucus

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Category: 

Americans for the Arts and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) today presented the Public Leadership in the Arts Award for State Arts Leadership to the four founding chairs of the Pennsylvania Legislative Arts & Culture Caucus—Sen. Patrick Browne (R-16, representing part of Lehigh County), Sen. Jay Costa (D-43 representing part of Allegheny County), Rep. Tim Briggs (D-149, representing part of Montgomery County), and Rep. Stan Saylor (R-94, representing part of York County). The annual award was presented at the NCSL Fall Forum in Washington, DC, and honors public officials who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts at the state level. 

Arts professionals, join us for Annual Convention 2015!

...and so are Convention scholarship applications!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

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! 

Council Elections Open Until November 12

AFTA Members: Cast your ballot today!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

In September, we held a call for nominations for our Network Councils. Now it's time for you, our members, to cast your vote to determine which nominees will be elected to the following four Americans for the Arts' Network Councils.

Staten Island Museum director Elizabeth Egbert passes away at 69

Monday, September 1, 2014

Category: 

Artist Elizabeth Egbert, recently director of the Staten Island Museum, passed away on Saturday at the age of 69. She had worked around the country as a public artist with pieces in Mesa, Arizona and shown at the Socrates Sculpture Park in New York City. She was an artist, sculptor, and community activist. She was also an educator and taught at Hunter College and the College of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Shepard Fairey Mural Unveiled in Philadelphia

First of three murals completed by internationally known street artist Shepard Fairey

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Category: 

After 16 arrests throughout his career, street artist Shepard Fairey is completing the first of three murals as a commission through the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.

The wait is over: Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Preparations Under Way!

Don't miss your chance to participate!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

It's that time again: Americans for the Arts is seeking at least 200 partners to make this Arts and Economic Prosperity Study larger and more comprehensive than ever before--and we invite YOU to be a part of it!

Announcing the 2014 BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America

Monday, June 2, 2014

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.

John Legend Delivers Commencement Speech at the University of Pennsylvania

On Arts, Music, and Love

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Category: 

Musician and arts advocate John Legend delivered the commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania on May 19th, where he discussed the link between art and social justice. He also elaborated on the role the arts played in his childhood, particularly as a way to cope after his parents’ divorce.

“If I didn't fall in love, no one could ever betray me like that again,” said Legend. “The only thing I allowed myself to really love without reservation was music.”

National Core Arts Standards to Launch June 4th!

Register now to attend the virtual event

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Americans for the Arts, a leading partner in The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS), will launch in partnership with NCCAS the 2014 National Core Arts Standards in a streaming webinar on Wednesday, June 4, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Join arts education leaders from around the country to learn more about the new standards. The event will feature interviews with a broad spectrum of arts education providers, including certified educators, teaching artists, administrators, national/state policy makers, and arts education advocates.

U.S. House Congressional Arts Caucus Grows

Check Out Their New Website and Facebook Page!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Category: 

The Congressional Arts Caucus, co-led by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ),  is one of the largest and most active on Capitol Hill, and is central to supporting the arts and arts education in the U.S. House of Representatives. Recently, 10 new members of Congress have signed up!

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Pennsylvania