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Yo-Yo Ma Spins an Emotional Tale of “Art for Life’s Sake”

As I have been sitting back at my desk at Americans for the Arts this afternoon, I’ve had a hard time coming up with a way to describe what I experienced last night at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It could be the lack of sleep, the lack of coffee, or […]

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10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2013

There is an old quote attributed to John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich: “If any man will draw up his case, and put his name at the foot of the first page, I will give him an immediate reply. Where he compels me to turn over the sheet, he must wait my leisure…With the 2013 arts advocacy season once again upon us, the following is my updated Top 10 Reasons to Support the Arts:

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5 Ways You Benefit from Writing Poetry! (from The pARTnership Movement)

April is National Poetry Month, inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets to celebrate poetry and its vital role in American culture. The academy sponsors events such as the star-studded Poetry & the Creative Mind Gala (April 17 at Lincoln Center in New York City) and mass-appeal activities like Poem in Your Pocket Day (April […]

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Ask Yo-Yo Ma About Arts Education

Have you ever chatted with someone about the importance of the arts in our schools? Would you like the chance to discuss it with Yo-Yo Ma? Yo-Yo Ma will deliver the 26th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. EDT and, for the first time, Americans for […]

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Public Art Year in Review Spotlight – “Your Essential Magnificence” in Austin, TX

Americans for the Arts’ Public Art Network Year in Review program is the only national program that specifically recognizes public art projects. Up to 50 projects are selected annually through an open-call application process and selected by two to three jurors. The projects are available on CD-Rom in our bookstore and include a PowerPoint, data […]

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Art…and the Stagnant Business of Art (an EALS Post)

What happens when an arts organization’s business model no longer works? Well, as with the metaphor of the shark, it must continue to move forward or it will die. For decades, the arts organization model has remained largely unchallenged, because there was no reason to challenge it. It almost served as a microcosm of “The American […]

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The Strength of Diversity: The Strength of the Arts

One of our great American leaders, Congressman John Lewis, has been celebrated in the news quite a bit recently. It is the 48th anniversary of the civil rights march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, AL. The march was led by a young John Lewis—his skull was fractured, and for that sacrifice an enormous […]

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Share Your Arts Education Story at Arts Advocacy Day

Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC is less than a month away and with the recent sequester cuts and still-looming budget battle to come, it is vitally important that members of Congress hear how important the arts are to you and your community in person. Even the staunchest supporters of a tight fiscal policy believe […]

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Arts & Business Partnerships Beyond Mere Aesthetics (from The pARTnership Movement)

When I was asked—strike that—begged, to sit on our in-house committee to renovate our offices, it was explained that someone was needed to bring my department’s voice to the designing table. And knowing to play to my vanity, I was told, “Your artistic eye is sorely needed.” Yet even so, I reluctantly agreed. “Besides,” it […]

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The Arts Are Patriotic, Too

Imagine this scene: there is a band playing as you walk in. As the musicians wrap up their piece and take their seats, a large choir pops up, featuring top-notch a cappella performers. This performance segues into rousing solo performances from vocalists backed up by beautiful orchestrations. Great writers are celebrated. Poetry is recited. And […]

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