local arts agencies

What Do Local Arts Agencies Do?

Americans for the Arts has defined five areas that the majority of local arts agencies are involved in:

Cultural Programming
LAAs produce some form of cultural programming, including cultural events, arts education, art in public places, and “gap programming.” Gap programming targets a specific underserved segment of the community or fills an arts discipline void that may exist due to the absence of particular arts organizations in a community.

Grantmaking
LAAs provide financial support to arts organizations and/or individual artists in the form of grants and contracts. LAAs provide funds to both emerging and established organizations for general operational support or the production of a special project. LAAs typically require that their grants be matched by another funding source. Funding to individual artists may include fellowships, public art commissions, and support to artists who work in community settings.

Services to Artists and Arts Organizations
LAAs provide non-funding-related services to artists and/or arts organizations. These services may include seminars and workshops, technical assistance, central accounting, group health insurance, and advocacy.

Facility Management
LAAs manage one or more cultural facilities. These facilities can include performance and exhibition space, museums, and/or arts incubators.

Community Cultural Planning
LAAs are conducting or updating their cultural plans regularly.  Cultural planning is a community-inclusive process of assessing the cultural needs of the community and mapping an implementation plan.