AFTA Joins Handwork '26

Apr 18, 2024

Americans for the Arts announces its participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life.

Americans for the Arts Begins...

Mar 28, 2024

The Americans for the Arts’ Board of Directors announces the organization's next phase of transformation as it focuses on its service to the arts and culture sector.

Newly released AEP6 study

The newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 provides detailed findings on 373 regions from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, representing rural, suburban, and large urban communities. Click below to view the study's findings.

Americans for the Arts endorses...

Nov 09, 2023

Americans for the Arts supports new legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI). The STAR Act would allow local transit authorities to incorporate art into federally-funded transportation projects through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), promoting rider engagement, deterring vandalism, and enhancing community identity.

Creative Workforce Investment Act

Nov 09, 2023

Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund endorse the Creative Workforce Investment Act, legislation introduced by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA). The Senate companion of the Creative Economy Revitalization Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) along with Sen. Alex Padilla. The bill would help invest in the creative economy through the creation of a workforce grants program to employ artists and writers to create publicly available art.  

Watch the recording of the 35th...

Mar 15, 2024

Thanks for joining us for the 35th Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy delivered by Award Winning Actor and Oscar Nominee, Jeffrey Wright. Missed the event? Catch Jeffrey Wright's captivating lecture moderated by Symone Sanders Townsend, co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend, a special performance by Ben Folds, and the honoring of Congressman James E. Clyburn with the prestigious 2024 Congressional Arts Leadership Award. Watch the recording now and be part of the conversation.

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Edgar L. Smith, Jr. Elected Chair...

Mar 26, 2024

Board of Directors has unanimously elected longtime arts advocate and Board member Edgar L. Smith, Jr. as its next Chair. Smith assumes this new role, having served as a Vice Chair for five years and as former Chairman of the Executive Board of the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA) in New York, a division of AFTA.

Threats to Free Artistic Expression

Jul 17, 2023

The 2023 State Legislative Session saw over 45 pieces of legislation in 18 states being introduced to regulate drag performances with several becoming law. Check out Americans for the Arts’ Threats to Free Artistic Expression Web Page where we track, link to other resources and provide context to the various pieces of legislation as it impacts the creative sector.

Right: Veranda L’Ni reads to families at the Cleveland Chapter of Drag Story Hour’s performance at the Near West Theatre..

A person sits in a red chair on a stage holding a book. They are in a purple dress with golden hair.
Photo: Amber Patrick, Near West Theatre.

Designing Our Destiny

Throughout 2022, Americans for the Arts went through a Strategic Realignment Process to redefine our role as a service organization to the arts and culture field. The conversations we’ve had during this process have been enlightening and inspiring, and as we enter a new stage of growth, we’re proud to share the Designing Our Destiny platform for strategic planning and a transformative approach to our work in the new year..

Light blue graphic with white text that reads: Designing our Destiny. Swooping lines in orange and purple surround the text and form a star above the words: Americans for the Arts.
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The Latest News
April 18, 2024
Americans for the Arts Teams Up with HANDWORK 2026 to Celebrate Legacy of American Craft in Lead-Up to U.S. Semiquincentennial
Americans for the Arts News

(WASHINGTON, DC— April 18, 2024)—Americans for the Arts (AFTA) announces its participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a na

March 28, 2024
Americans for the Arts Begins Leadership Succession Planning
Americans for the Arts News

The Americans for the Arts’ Board of Directors announces the organization's next phase of transformation as it focuses on its service to the arts and culture sector. A CEO selection committee has been formed to commence a national search to find a successor to the current President & CEO, Nolen Bivens. Americans for the Arts board members Torrie Allen, President and CEO, Arts Midwest, and Kristina Newman-Scott, Inaugural Executive Director for The Jerome L.

March 26, 2024
Edgar L. Smith, Jr. Elected Chair of Americans for the Arts’ Board of Directors
Americans for the Arts News

(WASHINGTON, DC— March 26, 2024)— Nolen Bivens, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts (AFTA), announces that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected longtime arts advocate and Board member Edgar L. Smith, Jr. as its next Chair. Smith assumes this new role, having served as a Vice Chair for five years and as former Chairman of the Executive Board of the Business Committee

March 12, 2024
Race Forward and Americans for the Arts Announce ‘Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy’
Americans for the Arts News

Activities to be held across the country from September 27-October 5