On Monday, September 15, 2014, a series of press releases announced a long awaited wave of funding specifically for the arts and education of Brooklyn.  While arts and education funding is usually channeled elsewhere, this support was championed by local leaders and advocates who firmly believe in the ability and promise of their local institutions.  All together, over $175 million will be split between local arts and cultural institutions, schools across the borough, and the largest expansion ever for afterschool programming that will be available for more than 34,000 students.&n

Arts education is getting an extra push from some big names.  Celebrities, and artists themselves, Kerry Washington, Kevin Spacey, Monica Horan, and violinist Joshua Bell all took a moment this week to herald the need for greater access to arts education for young people across the country.  In a nod to their own successes and opportunities, these stars have taken up the cause – either via their own personal foundations, programs, or public speaking – to promote and fight for arts programs in schools so that future generations might also have the chance to succeed.

A study from Michigan State University found a strong connection between childhood arts or crafts education and adult business ventures later in life.  In full, the findings were so surprising that researchers concluded that not only was there a link, but that arts and crafts in youth development are actually critical to economic innovation.  This research is a powerful piece of evidence that could disprove the commonly held theory that the arts are merely an extra-curricular for students and thus easy to add or cut. 

This August, officials from the White House, famous Hispanic artists, and Americans for the Arts staff were on hand to visit Meadow Homes Elementary School in Concord, California and observe its two year growth in a new arts-centered curriculum.

"Forty-four disasters worldwide caused at least $1-billion in damage last year," said Bob Ottenhoff, Chief Executive of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. He was speaking at a recent conference about developing guidelines for effective disaster philanthropy. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is working with state regulators to develop guidelines for disaster philanthropy.

In their first art exhibit specifically focused on the military life cycle, the Arts Council of Moore County, North Carolina, is planning to present “Homefront & Downrange: Witness the Art in Military Life” from June 5-July 10, 2015 in the Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines.  The soldier’s story is told through the combat photography of Hunter Rudd, a Special Forces veteran of Middle Eastern conflicts; military spouse and narrative textile artist Kristen La Flamme will exhibit works speaking to the families of those who serve; and the story of returning ho

October is the month to #ShowYourArt, meet up for Creative Conversations, and celebrate the role the arts and humanities have in shaping and improving our communities - it's National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM)! 

As people travelled over this summer and took selfies and photos with their friends, often times public art ends up part of the backdrop - or the main focus of instagram photos and the like, whether or not people realize it.

Our CEO, Bob Lynch, reminds people public art can be found anywhere and everywhere - and the value of public art to a community - in this month's Huffington Post article. 

Three weeks ago, the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) realized they must act on their $25m shortfall for next year; their solution was to cut 231 teachers targeting specific genres of educators like the fine arts. This angered groups of students and business owners (from creative industries like tattoo parlor owners), who went to the BISD board and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to protest in support of a TEA takeover of BISD which would have a better solution than targeting the fine arts teachers.

“Private Life” is a series of stories exploring the unique bonds, loyalties, and rifts of military and civilian life, the shared codes of conduct, and what it means to be a survivor. Choreographed and directed by Deborah Slater, the piece was written by Deborah Crooks, and features original music by Bruno Louchouarn.  It was inspired by a dancer who was a soldier throughout his whole career.

Another “Freedom Rock” was unveiled in Wapello County, Iowa, painted by muralist Ray "Bubba" Sorenson II in a partnership between the Ottumwa Area Arts Council and local Vietnam Veterans groups. The 11.5 ton boulder has been transformed into a Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the town of Ottumwa and will lead the way for a planned Freedom Trail, linking the town's veteran tributes to one another.

Arthur Bloom, founder of MusiCorps, and has been chosen as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2014. He will be honored at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” airing December 7 on the global networks of CNN.

On September 21^st, more than 400,000 people came out for the People’s Climate March in New York City.  And what could be found in that sea of thousands, carrying messages of fear and hope and action, was art. Ben Pomeroy from Hyperallergic was on the ground documenting the handmade creations—many collaboratively built—that were central to the march, acting as sounding boards and representing the diverse array of voices within the thousands.

Roberto Bedoya, cultural activist and Executive Director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council, recently wrote on creative resilience in communities of color, highlighting the Chicano practice of Rasquachification as a method of this resilience.  

Americans for the Arts congratulates State Arts Action Network (SAAN) member Anne Katz, Executive Director of ArtsWisconsin, on being selected for the third class of the National Arts Strategies’ (NAS) Chief Executive Program.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is the celebration and grand finale stage and art show, which are the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for Veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national health care system.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is the celebration and grand finale stage and art show, which are the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for Veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national health care system.

BASETRACK LIVE is a multidisciplinary work including theater, music, news media, journalism, and technology.  While embedded with the First Battalion, Eighth Marines in Southern Afghanistan, a group of photojournalists led by Teru Kuwayama started the online project that became the authentic dialogue of the performance.  Connecting Battalion members with their families and others around the world, the online project became a platform for documenting the range of perspectives and the emotional tolls of deployment and beyond.

Last Wednesday, New York City officials showed their support of arts organizations by announcing a new initiative called "Culture Active In Disasters" (CultureAID).

The program will be a "response and recovery network to reduce redundant communications, pool available resources and share best practices about emergency preparedness."

Canyon Ranch Institute, announced the October 1, 2014 application deadline for the Canyon Ranch Institute (CRI) Healthy World Scholarships. Twenty-five CRI Healthy World Scholarships, each of which includes a five-day, four-night stay at Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Arizona, will be awarded to people who work or volunteer in low-income and medically underserved communities, helping to enhance the health and well-being of their local populations.

In a new project by Family Service of Napa Valley called "Napa-Rocks," 9th grade students at the New Technology High School in Napa were given baskets with debris from the August 24 earthquake to create art from the rubble. “The goal is to preserve some historic buildings in Napa through art, and engage students in the healing process after the quake,” said Michele Farhat, Family Service’s Director of Development.

Arlington Sons, a moving musical performance accompanied by select ensemble members of the USAF Band, is currently touring the DC area, with performances at Arlington, VA on September 21 and the Bowie Theater in MD on September 25, 2014.

WHAM is a non-profit art organization in the West Valley - Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.  In addition to public art murals, art festivals, art walks, and community art programs, WHAM is offering a free one year art program for veterans.  The program, "Art: A Path to Healing"' features twelve four hour sessions in which participants will learn from professional artists.  Classes range from drawing, painting, and other mediums.  The goal of the program is to assist veterans of all ages to cope, through art and collaboration, with Post Traumatic Stress D

Join Americans for the Arts as we create the first directory of organizations and individuals across the countries who are actively working to promote awareness of the arts in health, healing, and healthcare for military service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers.  The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military invites all artists or local arts organizations who work to support the military in any capacity to please participate in our National Network and Directory.

The Right Brain Initiative is releasing new data that demonstrate the impact of rich classroom arts-integrated instruction on student test scores.

The riverbanks of Cumberland River in Nashville will be getting some new artwork along with the park in 2015. Seattle-based artists Laura Haddad and Tom Duggan are in design development of an artwork that will reflect the shape of the river. Forty-five feet high, artwork will be made of stainless steele and at night will be illumniated by multi-colored LED lights. Metro Nashville Arts Commission is commissioning the artwork and currentl has 38 public art projects in it's collection with six more in process over the next two years.

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.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs launched the app "MI Amazing Art Tour" in July, with 209 artworks currently and plans to grow. 

Commissioned by art produces Situation, German artist  Michael Sailstorfer buried 30 gold bars stamped with "Made in London" at Folkestone Beach.

Public Art Network Council member Constance White will be the next Vice President of Public Art at the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Originally from Texas, White earned her BFA in art history from Southern Methodist University and worked for nine years for the Percent for Public Art Program at the Office of Cultural Affairs with the city of Dallas. Most recently she has spent the last eight years as the Art Program Manager for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.