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.

Nominations Open for 2020 Arts and Business Partnership Awards!

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Americans for the Arts annually honors the best businesses partnering with the arts in America at the Arts and Business Partnership Awards based on nominations by individuals and organizations. These 10 awards recognize businesses of all sizes for their exceptional involvement with the arts that enriches the workplace, enhances education, and transform communities. For outstanding contributions, an individual arts-champion is honored with the Leadership Award and an extraordinary collaboration between a business and its arts partner is awarded the David Rockefeller Award. 

Americans for the Arts believes that encouraging creative thinking and leveraging creative expression through arts and business partnerships is essential for building healthy businesses and vibrant communities. The Arts and Business Partnership Awards highlight companies that embrace the transformative power of the arts. The awards celebrate companies of all sizes, from local coffee shops to large companies like Microsoft, Warby Parker, and Scholastic.

Individuals or organizations can:

  • Nominate a business for their exceptional involvement with the arts that enrich the workplace, education, and the community.
  • Nominate a businessperson for the Leadership Award which recognizes an individual for his/her extraordinary vision, leadership, and commitment to supporting the arts. (Past honorees include Chandrika Tandon, Raymond J. McGuire, and Robert Buchsbaum.)
  • Nominate a business and an art organization (or artist) for the David Rockefeller Award, which recognizes an exceptional project, program, or initiative that represents a true alliance, collaboration, or exchange between the two. Thanks to a four-year commitment from the David Rockefeller Foundation, the winning arts organization or artist will be awarded $2,500 in recognition of their work. (Past recipients include Uniqlo + Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Square + Cheyenne River Youth Project, and Gensler + Access Gallery.) 

Nominations for all awards close January 31, 2020.

To nominate or learn more, visit AmericansForTheArts.org/partnership-awards

All honorees will be celebrated at the Arts and Business Partnership Awards black-tie gala in New York City in October 2020.

Nine individuals in formal attire pose in front of a step and repeat with the Americans for the Arts logo, featuring a blue star