Economic impact studies can be an important tool for arts advocates and have been effective in convincing some policymakers and community members about the value of arts and culture as an industry and employer. However, after some 25 years ...more

The NAMM Foundation along with a wide range of partners release its annual survey of the best communities for music education. Click here to view the press release and see the list, which as expected, is almost all suburbs. Anyone want to see ...more

Why the Popular STEM Acronym (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Should be Converted to STEAM, Adding Arts Future Leaders Need Arts Education by John Eger, as published in the San Diego Business Journal and reblogged on HASTAC Ege...more

Brian Kaufman and Michael Reichman of New England Conservatory in Boston have created Musical Diplomacy, an ongoing project bringing together leading policymakers, teachers, musicians, and concerned citizens for an inspiring evening of music and d...more

In an easy-to-replicate example of outreach and relationship building with the business community, the California Alliance for Arts Education is featuring a guest blogger on its website--Chris Cochran, the head of Community Affairs for Stone Bre...more

Josie Rourke, artistic director of the Bush theatre, and Observer writer Sean O' Hagan discuss whether funding matters in a provocative point/counterpoint piece published in The Observer (UK). www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/30/agen...more

Performing arts organizations might be interested in an initiative launched by the National Endowment for the Arts that offers free admission to over 700 museums this summer. This goodwill gesture could be a smart advocacy move to reach out...more

An interesting policy discussion is arising around proposed legislation in California to change the way that the director of the California Arts Council is appointed from a gubernatorial appointment to an appointment made by the Council members, who ...more

Russell Willis Taylor, President and CEO of National Arts Strategies, explored the extraordinary opportunities that arts organizations have today in her keynote address at the joint annual conferences of Chorus America and The League of American Orc...more

This brief OpEd from Maria Shriver, California's first lady and award-winning journalist, focuses on supporting the California arts license plate campaign, but there are some quotes that might be useful to arts advocates nationwide.   &quo...more