State Arts Action Network
Americans for the Arts’ State Arts Action Network (SAAN) serves as the meeting place for statewide arts advocacy organizations. The SAAN currently includes 72 members from 46 states including the District of Columbia. The SAAN is governed by an elected council and work with Americans for the Arts’ State & Local Government Affairs team.
The network was formed on March 29, 2004, when Americans for the Arts announced that two previously independent national arts organizations, the State Arts Advocacy League of America and the National Community Arts Network, had ratified an agreement to become part of Americans for the Arts.
The joining together of these two organizations with Americans for the Arts is consistent with the bold five-year strategic plan recently developed by Americans for the Arts as a result of a $120 million gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly. In that plan, Americans for the Arts identified the need for a statewide advocacy organization and a statewide service organization in every state. In 2009, the members of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education joined the SAAN as affiliate members.
Membership and Operating Procedures
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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.
Awards
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In 2006, Americans for the Arts established the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award. This award is presented to an individual who, at the state level, has dramatically affected the political landscape through their arts advocacy efforts. The award is named for Alene Valkanas, who is widely seen as the preeminent authority on state arts advocacy. Alene, the first recipient of the award, was an original SAAN member and served as the first co-chair of the SAAN Council.
The 2012 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award Winner is Sherron Long.
See a complete list of winners here.
Contact AFTA Staff
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The SAAN is coordinated by Americans for the Arts’ Arts’ State & Local Government Affairs staff.
Jay Dick, Senior Director of State & Local Government Affairs
Kim Kober, State and Local Government Affairs Coordinator
