public partners
Recipients of the Public Leadership in the Arts Award
Americans for the Arts partners with various associations of elected officials to educate their members on the importance of the arts and arts education in their state, city or region. Beginning almost 25 years ago, these partnerships have proven to be a valuable tool in our efforts to promote the arts in America.
In addition to providing speakers to their conferences and writing articles in their newsletters, Americans for the Arts annually presents its Public Leadership in the Arts Award to each level of official. Further, Americans for the Arts serves as a resource to the associations' staff and members. Lastly, the associations partner with Americans for the Arts on research reports and projects such as the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study.
Elected officials are inundated with information, but they are more likely to read an article published by their own association and are more likely to trust a research report that is endorsed by their group. These public partnerships play a vital role in communicating the value of the arts and arts education to elected officials.
Learn more about our partners' support of the arts by clicking the plus signs below.
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To be eligible to join the SAAN your organization must first be an Americans for the Arts organizational member, please visit the Membership area of the website for more information. SAAN members receive all of the listed benefits as well as a weekly newsletter and access to SAAN Members-Only webpage. The SAAN is governed by an elected council based upon the operating procedures.
To view the SAAN Operating Procedures, please click here.
The United States Conference of Mayors
The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the oldest Americans for the Arts public partner, dating back almost 25 years. Each year, Americans for the Arts sponsors an arts breakfast at the USCM’s Winter Meeting in Washington, DC where we present our Public Leadership in the Arts Award to two mayors (one of a city with a population of 100,000 or greater and one with a population of less than 100,000), a governor and one or two nationally known artists.
At the USCM, the arts and culture come under the authority of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports (TAPES) Committee chaired by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Americans for the Arts works with Mayor Landrieu and the TAPES committee to submit various arts related resolutions for consideration and adoption by the committee, and then the entire conference. We use these resolutions throughout the year to encourage other elected officials to support the arts in their community or state.
2012 Resolutions Passed by the USCM Supporting the Arts:
National League of Cities
The National League of Cities (NLC) and Americans for the Arts established a public partnership in 2007 when they agreed to become a national partner for the Arts & Economic Prosperity III report. Since then, Americans for the Arts has written articles for NLC’s monthly newspaper (now a blog) and has spoke at their annual conference. NLC also recently renewed its support of our Arts & Economic Prosperity IV report by acting as a sponsor.
At the NLC, the Human Development Committee proposes policies relating to the arts and culture. The committee is chaired by Mayor Van R. Johnson, Sr. of Savannah, Georgia. The adopted federal policy positions guide the NLC’s federal advocacy efforts and focus on federal actions, programs, and proposals that directly impact municipalities.
2012 Policy Position Adopted by the NLC in Support of the Arts
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To be eligible to join the SAAN your organization must first be an Americans for the Arts organizational member, please visit the Membership area of the website for more information. SAAN members receive all of the listed benefits as well as a weekly newsletter and access to SAAN Members-Only webpage. The SAAN is governed by an elected council based upon the operating procedures.
To view the SAAN Operating Procedures, please click here.
National Association of Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) and Americans for the Arts established a partnership in 1999 when the first annual award presentation for County Arts Leadership, part of Americans for the Arts' Public Partnership Awards series, was presented at the NACo Arts Luncheon at their annual conference. Since then, Americans for the Arts has gone on to write articles for NACo News, their monthly publication, provided speakers at their conferences and serve as an arts resource to their staff and members.
The NACo Arts Commission was established in 1997. The current Commission chair is William Doherty, Commissioner of Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Americans for the Arts’ Senior Director of State and Local Government Affairs has served on the Commission since 2006 and is a full voting member. Each year, Americans for the Arts sponsors a Commission dinner and awards ceremony at NACo’s annual conference.
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)and Americans for the Arts have partnered to present a state legislator with an award for State Arts Leadership at NCSL’s annual conference each year beginning in 2006. The award is part of Americans for the Arts Public Partnership Awards series and is presented at a general session during their annual conference in front of approximately 3,000 legislators and legislative staff.
NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee has jurisdiction over arts and culture within the organization. The current co-Chairs are Representative Anna Fairclough of Alaska and Senator Gary D. LeBeau of Connecticut. Each year, Americans for the Arts sponsors a committee luncheon/session focusing on the arts and culture.
Every third year, NCSL debates and renews a policy statement on the arts and culture. The current policy expires in 2013 when Americans for the Arts will work with NCSL to renew the policy.
2010 Arts and Culture Policy Position Adopted by NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee
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To be eligible to join the SAAN your organization must first be an Americans for the Arts organizational member, please visit the Membership area of the website for more information. SAAN members receive all of the listed benefits as well as a weekly newsletter and access to SAAN Members-Only webpage. The SAAN is governed by an elected council based upon the operating procedures.
To view the SAAN Operating Procedures, please click here.
National Lieutenant Governors Association
The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) and Americans for the Arts established a Partnership in 2006. Each year at the NLGA Annual Conference, Americans for the Arts hosts a reception and presents a Lieutenant Governor with a State Arts Leadership Award as a part of the Public Leadership in Arts Awards series.
Americans for the Arts holds a unique position at NLGA being the only organization that is officially recognized as a partner of NLGA. Every 5 years, most recently in 2011, NLGA reviews and renews this partnership. It is because of this partnership, Americans for the Arts staff is allowed to present the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, attend every national meeting and suggest speakers.
NLGA is currently chaired by Massachusetts Lt. Governor Tim Murray.
Resolutions Passed by the NLGA Supporting the Arts:
National Governors Association
Within the National Governors Association (NGA), the Economic Development and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over arts and culture. The current committee chair is Governor Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania. The NGA Center for Best Practices provides governors with information about how to use the arts effectively in their states to unite communities, create economic opportunity, and improve the quality of life. They also produced a report in 2012 titled, New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design.
Each year, Americans for the Arts presents a State Arts Leadership Award as a part of the Public Leadership in Arts Awards series to a Governor. Further, Americans for the Arts staff works with NGA to produce periodic research reports in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts.
