News

Last week, the Travel Promotion Act passed through the U.S. Congress and has now been sent on to the president to be signed into law. The legislation proposes a nationally coordinated campaign to promote and communicate to an audience abroad the benefits of tourism in the United States, including cultural tourism. It would also set up a nonprofit board consisting of travel-related industry representatives to advise promotional strategies. For more information on this legislative please visit the U.S. Travel Association's website, visit www.poweroftravel.org.

All this week on ARTSblog, the Private Sector Initiatives team at Americans for the Arts is leading a special blog salon. Follow the Private Sector Blog Salon from March 8-12 as more than twenty leaders from across the country discuss issues related to private sector giving and the arts.

Join bloggers Janet Brown, Colin Tweedy, Larry Thompson, Mark Brewer, Mary Trudel, John Killacky and many others in discussing why and how the private sector supports the arts. We’re hoping that these discussions will be provocative and inspire some new thinking on the future of arts support.

Visit http://blog.artsusa.org/category/private-sector/ to be part of the conversation.

Last week, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan appeared before the House Budget Committee to review the administration's FY 2011 budget request. Committee Chairman John Spratt (SC-5) asked the secretary about concerns that the current consolidation proposal may leave the arts "on the back burner" and squeezed by emphasis on some of the other subjects that will also be funded by this program. Secretary Duncan said that he has heard loud and clear around the country how subjects like the arts have been affected by the narrowing curriculum of the school day, and that the overall education budget has been increased and can expand on subjects like the arts. Americans for the Arts will continue to monitor this proposal and urge Congress to pause any consolidation plans until a full discussion of the reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act can occur.

 As a way to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years in the arts field, Americans for the Arts has collected Green Papers from a variety of national arts service organizations and peer groups representing more than 20 different perspectives and disciplines. These Green Papers are short, easy to read, visions of the future meant to inspire a nationwide dialogue on the future of the arts. You can participate in one or more conversation topics by visiting the Green Papers section of the ARTSblog at http://blog.artsusa.org/category/greenpapers/.

Green Papers are a chance for you to talk about a particular discipline or interest area in a facilitated, open forum. Each participating organization who authored a Green Paper also selected an emerging leader Ambassador to facilitate discussion about the related Paper. The Green Papers ambassadors will continue this dialogue throughout the year--capturing and synthesizing the ideas, changes, and themes that arise from online discussions. Ambassadors will be led by a group facilitator, Eric Booth, and at the end of the year, new Green Papers will emerge that will reflect the overarching changes and ideas proposed through this open forum.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is scheduled to appear before the House Budget Committee this week to review the administration's FY 2011 budget request. Arts advocates will be watching the Duncan's testimony and looking for clarification on the proposed consolidation of the Arts in Education Programs. The president’s budget request proposes consolidating the Arts in Education program into a new, broader funding pool entitled “Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded Education.” The budget proposal does not indicate exactly how or how much of this funding would be available to support arts education, as the fund would also support other subjects of learning.

Arts and Economic Prosperity III Chicago Press Conference

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off at a Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. The Congressional Arts Breakfast featured brief talks by Members of Congress and celebrity guests.

President Obama today released the final details of his FY 2011 budget request to Congress which includes the nation’s cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute for Museums and Library Services, and the Department of Education’s Arts in Education program.

In a press statement Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch said, "The Administration’s FY 2011 budget request of $161.3 million for the National Endowment for the Arts—while just a fraction of the $6.3 billion of direct expenditures for all arts nonprofits in the U.S.—is unfortunately a $6 million decrease from what Congress appropriated for FY 2010. We now turn to Congress to continue its investment trend in providing additional appropriations for the NEA."

Today the White House released President Obama's budget recommendations for FY 2011. Below is a statement from Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts on arts and arts education funding in the budget:

“At a time when the Americans for the Arts National Arts Index shows that because of the current economy support for the arts is at its lowest point in a decade, arts organizations have been relying on one area where funding has been on the increase—the leveraging power of federal funding for the arts and humanities. The Administration’s FY 2011 budget request of $161.3 million for the National Endowment for the Arts—while just a fraction of the $6.3 billion of direct expenditures for all arts nonprofits in the U.S.—is unfortunately a $6 million decrease from what Congress appropriated for FY 2010. We now turn to Congress to continue its investment trend in providing additional appropriations for the NEA. The FY 2011 NEA budget also includes an announcement of a new agency program called Our Town. We are excited to see that this important initiative is designed to strengthen communities through the arts. The backbone for the arts starts at the local level and having the federal government strategically invest in this kind community-based direction will spur further support for the arts. But why hamper the potential impact of this new initiative by reducing the NEA’s overall budget?

“The President’s budget also includes a number of new proposals to strengthen our education system and build a 21st workforce. However, the consolidation of the Arts in Education (AIE) program within the Department of Education’s new ‘Effective Teaching and Learning for Well-Rounded Education’ category puts us at unease and could lead to a diminished focus on arts education. This consolidation of the only identified arts-specific education program at the Department of Education seems to be in contradiction to the Administration’s previous strong vocal support of the arts. While the total available AIE grant funds are unknown at this time, it is an unbeneficial move at a time when arts education cuts are happening across the country. The arts are a proven integral part of every child’s development, preparing them for school, work, and life in the competitive 21st century global economy.

“The nation’s creative industries and arts workers are ready to continue to play their role in assisting with economic recovery, job training and creation, and the development of a well-rounded education that includes robust learning in the arts in order to provide workers of tomorrow with the creative and innovative skills they need today. The 5.7 million jobs and $166 billion in economic impact from the nonprofit arts sector alone hang in the balance. Further commitment from the federal government is needed to allow these groups to reach their full potential.”

Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce that Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has renewed its support for Americans for the Arts' Professional Development Fund for Emerging Arts Leaders of Color. A total of five Joyce Fellows from the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) will be selected to participate in this program.

Fellows will receive stipends of $3,000 to support their attendance at the 2010 Americans for the Arts Half-Century Summit, 2010 National Arts Marketing Project Conference, and Arts Advocacy Day 2011. In addition, fellows will have special opportunities to meet field leaders, work alongside mentors, and receive individualized career coaching.

In order for our sector to remain healthy and vibrant, we need to ensure that we are identifying and retaining young professionals within our workforce. Further, we need to actively cultivate, expand and support talented, culturally diverse, emerging leaders. Based upon recommendations from the Emerging Leaders Council, Americans for the Arts has been working to enable more emerging leaders to fully participate in national meetings and events for their own development and so they can connect with the broader community of arts professionals from across the country. Therefore, this Professional Development Fund has been designed to target an important segment of our workforce: emerging arts leaders of color.

Download application materials and eligibility information here, or for more information contact Stephanie Evans at leadership@artsusa.org or by phone at 202-371-2830 ext 2036.

Americans for the Arts has announced the National Arts Index at a press conference held at the National Press Club and kicking-off its 50th anniversary year. The National Arts Index is the first study designed to measure the health and vitality of the arts industries in the United States. The index is composed of 76 national-level research indicators produced by the federal government and private research organizations.  To read and download the full report, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/go/ArtsIndex.

Today, Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors presented the 2010 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and musician Michael Feinstein. The awards honor elected officials and artists that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts.

• Gov. Kulongoski receives the 2010 Award for State Arts Leadership for advancing both policy and budget initiatives that brand culture and creative endeavors as critical to the state’s economy and future. 
• Mayor Hannemann receives the 2010 Award for Local Arts Leadership for creating opportunities to use the arts as a catalyst for economic development and community revitalization in Honolulu.
• Michael Feinstein receives the 2010 Award for Artist-Citizen. He is a multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” and is considered one of the premiere interpreters of American popular song.

This evening, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is also honoring Americans for the Arts with the President’s Award. The award is in honor of Americans for the Arts’ 50 years of outstanding work in promoting, serving, and advancing arts and culture throughout the country.

For more information about both awards, visit the online press room.

Americans for the Arts today announced the National Arts Index at a press conference held at the National Press Club and kicking-off its 50th anniversary year. The National Arts Index is the first study designed to measure the health and vitality of the arts industries in the United States. The National Arts Index is composed of 76 national-level research indicators produced by the federal government and private research organizations.
The National Arts Index fell 4 points in 2008 to a score of 98.4, reflecting losses in charitable giving and declining attendance at larger cultural institutions, even as the number of arts organizations grew. The 2008 downturn in the Index was not wholly unexpected. With 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations and 600,000 more arts-related businesses, 2.24 million artists in the workforce, and billions of dollars in consumer spending, the arts industries largely track the nation’s business cycle. 
  Want to Learn More

• To read and download the full report, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/go/ArtsIndex.
• Go to ArtsBlog to and hear Randy Cohen's blog cast
  
• Are your an Americans for the Arts member? Sign-up for the National Arts Index webinar
• Watch out for more conversation on ArtsBlog