Local arts agencies—arts councils, arts commissions, cultural affairs departments—are an essential tool for community leaders as they rebuild their economies and promote social cohesion. The nation’s 4,500 local arts agencies (LAAs) support, present, and promote the dynamic value of the arts. Through their partnerships and leadership, LAAs are building healthier communities through the arts.

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community—strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times.

"Why Am I Writing This Book? There are many aspects of Hip Hop culture that exceeds beyond just the beat, a dance, or a catchy hook. The Hip Hop Lectures (Volume 1) & The Hip Hop Lectures (Volume 2) are books that were created to make a connection between the past and the present, as it relates to Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop culture has been able to accomplish so much in such a very short period of time, most of which includes the bridging of generational and racial gaps locally and internationally. The hope; however, is that the culture continues to grow and evolve to a point where...

This article is a historical treatment of censorship focusing on the impact of Christianity on censorship and copyright regulation in English-speaking countries.

This chapter reprints excerpts of Britain's Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship report, originally submitted in 1979. The authors explore the boundaries and meanings of the terms pornographic, obscene, and erotic. After discussing the terms' relationship to freedom of expression, they discuss at length the relationships among pornography, eroticism, obscenity and art.

This paper argues for an expansion of First Amendment interpretation to protect art works that appropriate visual images. The paper examines the inadequacy of current copyright infringement provisions as applied to the visual arts and contrast how an expanded First Amendment defense would better protect free expression in artistic discourse.