Americans for the Arts News
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Each April, National County Government Month, celebrates the work of county government employees in communities across the country. This year’s theme, “Counties RISE!,” stands for Resiliency, Inclusion, Solvency, and Empowerment. And the exclamation point captures the enthusiasm and passion for local county stories. From events to social media to proclamations, get to know more about your local county this month! For the second year in a row, Americans for the Arts is thrilled to sponsor NACo's “I Love My County Because” wall calendar, composed of artwork from students in grade K-12.
On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, poet Jeanne-Marie Osterman met with Americans for the Arts President & CEO Nolen Bivens at the Yale Club in New York City to discuss her recent poetry book, Shellback. During the meeting, Osterman donated royalties from her book to Americans for the Arts to help support the National Initiative for Arts & Health Across the Military.
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.
Having launched the Animating Democracy program in 1999, Co-Directors Barbara Schaffer Bacon and Pam Korza have decided that 2022 completes their tenure providing program leadership for this transformative initiative. In 2023, Americans for the Arts will determine Animating Democracy’s next chapter by assessing what the organization can uniquely offer and exploring possible partnerships. We will also continue to promote Animating Democracy’s tools and resources.
As a key strategy in supporting the development of inclusive creative economies across the nation, this database provides a distilled jumping off point for learning and growth related to community- and asset-based approaches for equitable development.
Americans for the Arts and lifestyle brand Free People today announced a first-time partnership, which includes a Creative Spirit Fund that empowers public school arts educators to fund the next generation of diverse creators. The partnership advocates for the importance of arts in early public education. Through this program, Free People will be distributing 10 awards of $4,000 each to public school educators across the United States in great need of support in teaching art, music, dance, theater, and creative writing and other artistic disciplines.
Americans for the Arts mourns the loss of beloved Artists Committee member Dame Angela Lansbury, who passed away in her Los Angeles home on October 11, 2022, at the age of 96. Born in London on October 16, 1925, she graced Broadway stages and Hollywood screens, but was most broadly recognized for her leading role in the long-running television series Murder, She Wrote.
Americans for the Arts is thrilled to collaborate with musician India Carney as our 2022 Ambassador for National Arts & Humanities Month. India will use her platform throughout the month of October to advocate for artists and share her love of culture and journey to becoming a professional musician as we promote the crucial role of the arts and humanities.
Arts ARE Education recognizes that all pre-K through grade 12 students have the right to a high-quality school-based arts education in dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. Advocates are invited to join a virtual town hall, “Arts Education for all Children in 2022-23,” Monday, Sept. 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce that Mariaesmeralda Paguaga has joined the organization as its new Vice President of Strategic Communications. Paguaga comes to Americans for the Arts with a broad and deep cultural foundation from which to build Americans for the Arts’ strategic communications plan that meets the needs of the organization’s diverse audiences internally and externally. Bringing over two decades of social impact leadership, Paguaga has an extensive and proven record in achieving transformational change via strategic communications, program innovation, brand positioning, integrated marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships, celebrity and dignitary relations, creative production, and mission-driven events.
