Thank you to the many people who have been blog contributors to, and readers of ArtsBlog over the years. ArtsBlog has long been a space where we uplifted stories from the field that demonstrated how the arts strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically; where trends and issues and controversies were called out; and advocacy tools were provided to help you make the case for more arts funding and favorable arts policies.

As part of Americans for the Arts’ recent Strategic Realignment Process, we were asked to evaluate our storytelling communications platforms and evolve the way we share content. As a result, we launched the Designing Our Destiny portal to explore new ways of telling stories and sharing information, one that is consistent with our longtime practice of, “No numbers without a story, and no stories without a number.”

As we put our energy into developing this platform and reevaluate our communications strategies, we have put ArtsBlog on hold. That is, you can read past blog posts, but we are not posting new ones. You can look to the Designing Our Destiny portal and our news items feed on the Americans for the Arts website for stories you would have seen in ArtsBlog in the past.

ArtsBlog will remain online through this year as we determine the best way to archive this valuable resource and the knowledge you’ve shared here.

As ever, we are grateful for your participation in ArtsBlog and thank you for your work in advancing the arts. It is important, and you are important for doing it.


Keely Saye

Deep Pocket Donors & Corporate Benefactors Stretched to the Limit

Posted by Keely Saye, Aug 11, 2010 5 comments


Keely Saye

Keely Saye

Is the failure of the arts to maintain market share among providers of contributed support a short-term problem related to increased social service, health, and educational needs, or will it persist?

In my opinion, the question must be considered from two different perspectives. In reference to the short term, the answer would appear to be an unqualified yes. This can be considered a "short-term" problem in that it is one that has arisen relatively recently. Fundraising in the non-profit/arts sector, particularly in the performing arts, has seldom been more difficult than it is right now.

Deep pocket donors and corporate benefactors are being stretched to the limit as even some of the more venerable arts institutions such as Pasadena Playhouse (The State Theatre Of California) are closing their doors due to lack of operating funds. Shrinking audiences, most likely kept away by the cost of admission, have forced many arts organizations to look to their donor bases for increased assistance. Unfortunately, that donor base is dealing with the same economy as the absent ticketholder, and must also make cuts. The arts are often the first (perceived) extras to be trimmed from most budgets. In this sense, the answer is clearly "yes, we are facing a short-term problem." The question that seems begged in the final four words of the initial query is how do we keep it from persisting?

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Michelle Dean

Inclusion of Art Therapists

Posted by Michelle Dean, Aug 10, 2010 1 comment


Michelle Dean

Michelle Dean

With the emphasis nationwide on access to health care for everyone, art therapists, creative arts therapists and other arts professionals need work to be included in the group of defined providers in national and local health care solutions. In the US, there are five major mental health professions that have occupational regulations, including: psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, counselors, and social workers. Lack of occupational regulations for art therapists in most states creates a challenge for inclusion in healthcare reform and insurance reimbursement.

Laura Greenstone, long-time, legislative advocate for art therapy, has worked tirelessly in her role as The Chair (and now Past Chair) of The National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations (NCCATA). As NCCATA Chair, Laura joined the National Arts in Healthcare Advisory Council, which was initiated by the Americans for The Arts, The Society for the Arts in Healthcare, The American Music Therapy Association, and other national arts organizations. The main task of the Advisory Council has been to create issue briefs for Arts Advocacy Day – an advocacy event held each year in DC where over 80 arts organizations and arts advocates gather to lobby in Congress. One can find the latest issue brief on Arts in Healthcare listed here: http://artsusa.org/get_involved/advocacy/aad/issue_briefs/2010/advocacy_issuebrief_011.asp

ARTS IN HEALTHCARE, is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to improving the healthcare experience for patients, families, and caregivers. This rapidly growing field integrates the arts, including literary, performing, visual arts and design, into a wide variety of healthcare settings for therapeutic, educational, and expressive purposes. 

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Tim Mikulski

Congress Declares Arts in Education Week (from Arts Watch)

Posted by Tim Mikulski, Aug 04, 2010 1 comment


Tim Mikulski

Tim Mikulski

On Monday, July 26,  the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring the week following the second Sunday in September (September 12-18, this year) as Arts in Education Week.  While there are a number of established arts education-related recognitions already (such as Music Education Week, or National Dance Week), this is the first congressional resolution to recognize all the disciplines: music, theater, visual arts, and dance.

Sponsored by Congresswoman, Rep. Jackie Speiers (D-California), the resolution  states many important advocacy messages that the arts education field has been touting for years including:

“Whereas arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students… 
Whereas arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways to communicate, and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom;
 
Whereas the nonprofit arts sector is an economic engine and plays a significant role in the economic health of communities large and small with direct expenditures of wages and benefits as well as goods and services;

Whereas attracting and retaining the best teachers is vital and can be achieved by ensuring that schools embrace the arts, becoming havens for creativity and innovation…”

The resolution ends by recommending that cities and states join the House in declaring the same week as Arts in Education Week across the country, so don’t let it end here. Write to your state and local officials, asking them to do the same!

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