Americans for the Arts proudly announces violinist Adrian Anantawan and multidisciplinary artist Rise Nerissa Osby as recipients of the 2025 Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities. The fellowship, supported by the Laurel Johnson Living Trust in loving memory of Yankee Johnson, honors their belief that artists, when given opportunity, create real paths for change.
Hudson steps into her new role at the nation’s premier arts advocacy organization following a 13-year tenure at the National Endowment for the Arts and previous leadership roles at Local Arts Agencies across the country.
As threats to arts funding intensify nationwide, hundreds of arts leaders will gather in Cincinnati this June to protect and advance a sector that drives $1.2 trillion in economic activity and accounts for 4.2% of U.S. GDP—surpassing transportation, construction, and agriculture. The Americans for the Arts Annual Convention (AFTACON), June 11-14, brings together cultural leaders, advocates, and organizations at a crucial moment when the arts face unprecedented challenges, including widespread National Endowment for the Arts grant cancellations.
“Any attempt to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – by eliminating funding, reducing staff, or canceling grants – is deeply concerning, shortsighted, and detrimental to our nation. NEA grants have touched every American, supporting projects in every Congressional district and helping the arts reach parts of the country, including often overlooked rural communities."
As a leading advocate for the arts, Americans for the Arts is deeply concerned by the current Administration's efforts to politicize and reduce essential federal support for the arts. The dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which has placed staff on administrative leave, along with significant cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)—including a directive to reduce staff by 70% and to cancel current and future grants—marks a severe attack on our cultural infrastructure.
Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the leading nonprofit for advancing the arts in America, announces its first wave of dynamic programming for AFTACON, taking place June 11-14, 2025 in Cincinnati. The national convention, presented in partnership with local host ArtsWave, will bring together arts leaders from across the nation to connect, share, and shape the future of arts leadership.
Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors will present the 2025 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards on Sunday, January 19, at the 93rd Winter Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. These awards honor three distinguished leaders' steadfast support and advocacy for the arts.
Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is proud to host 16 national arts and culture leaders from 13 states for its third Legislative Fly-In of the year. On December 9-10, representatives from California, Florida, Idaho, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington will meet with members of Congress in both the Senate and the House to advocate for stronger federal support for the arts and culture sector.
Americans for the Arts and the National League of Cities present Councilman Kevin Conwell of Cleveland, Ohio, with the 2024 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for a City Council Member. This award honors city council members who have consistently advocated for pro-arts legislation, funding, and promotion in their communities.
Congratulations to the candidates who won their elections on November 5th. Americans for the Arts has a long and robust working relationship with both political parties, which is essential to advancing federal policy goals. We will continue to advocate for the creative sector at the federal level to showcase how the arts are an economic engine of opportunity and job creation for the nation.
Craft in America is pleased to announce the launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life. Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
The vote defeated amendments proposed by Republican Josh Brecheen, who has called for cuts to “woke, weaponized, and wasteful” government spending.
Fourteen local organizations, from Alaska to Alabama, are set to lead thought-provoking programs that advance a multiracial democracy throughout the week of September 27 to October 5, 2024.
(WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024)—The Board of Directors of Americans for the Arts (AFTA) announce that beginning June 1, Suzy Delvalle and Jamie Bennett will serve as Interim Co-CEOs while a national search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is underway. Both Ms. Delvalle and Mr. Bennett have extensive experience and proven track records of leadership in the arts & culture fields.
On May 14, Americans for the Arts’ President and CEO Nolen Bivens submitted written testimony supporting increased federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
[WASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 2024]—Americans for the Arts (AFTA) and Anacostia BID (ABID) announced a new strategic awareness partnership to further develop and support the District of Columbia’s Art to Go-Go Arts & Culture District, in Historic Anacostia within Ward 8, with a focus on awareness, access for artists, development, education, world-class activations and initiatives, innovation and collaboration opportunities, and infrastructure beautification with art at its core.
The co-chairs of Americans for the Arts' (AFTA) CEO Search Committee, Kristina Newman-Scott and Theo Edmonds, are delighted to announce that agreements have been finalized with two esteemed national arts administrators who will serve as co-
(WASHINGTON, DC— April 18, 2024)—Americans for the Arts (AFTA) announces its participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a na
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.
(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