This initiative is based upon a report coordinated by RMC Research Corporation that scans innovative state-level cultural policy. It explores factors that can influence the spread of new cultural policies from state to state and how good ideas in cultural policy development can be effectively documented and shared.

Advisors from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, National Humanities Alliance, and National Trust for Historic Preservation were actively involved throughout the study process, producing background papers and aligning policy and practice in their respective fields with the methodology of the feasibility study. 

The Center for Arts and Culture is collaborating with the Pew Charitable Trusts and project advisors to actively disseminate the findings of the study as well as to help state policy actors successfully utilize these findings. 

Other project partners include the American Folklore Society, the Federation of State Humanities Councils, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The following project-related papers and publications are available in PDF format for immediate download:

• Policy Partners: Making the Case for State Investment in Culture — a discussion and action guide for cultural activists, community leaders and policymakers

• Executive summary of Policy Partners
  
  
• The Current State of the Arts … and Culture
  A brief for state legislators produced by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Outlines the advantages of robust cultural activity, the current funding situation for state cultural agencies, and strategies for increasing support.
  
  
• Investing in Culture: Innovations in State Policy
  
  
• State Supplemental Arts & Cultural Funding: An Appropriations Update
  
  
• Background paper on folklife from the American Folklife Center
  
  
Background paper on the arts from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies


• Background paper on the humanities from the National Humanities Alliance
  
  
• Background paper on historic preservation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
  
  

Panels on innovative state policy and the project will be held at the following annual meetings:

• National Humanities Alliance — 2002 Annual Meeting, May 2-3, Philadelphia, PA
  
  
• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies — 2002 Annual Meeting, October 17-20, Detroit, MI
  View proceedings from the conference session.
  
  
• American Folklore Society — 2002 Annual Meeting, October 16-20, Rochester, NY
  View proceedings from the conference session.
  
  
• National Trust for Historic Preservation — 2002 Annual Meeting, October 8-13, Cleveland, OH
  
  
• Federation of State Humanities Councils — State 2002 National Humanities Conference, November 15-17, Minneapolis, MN
  

• 2002 Annual Meeting — July 23-27, Denver, CO
  
• December 2002 meeting, Washington, DC
• July 2003 meeting, Denver, CO — includes full panel
  

The National Governors' Association publication and other relevant materials at will be disseminated at the NGA meeting in Washington, DC.

Project findings were also presented at the Museum Trustee Association/Getty Leadership Institute Joint Meeting in San Diego, California on October 10-12.
View proceedings from the meeting session.

Additionally, two or more state-level meetings will be held with local partners.

• Kentucky, December 19-20, 2002
  View a press release about this event.
  
• Pennsylvania, January 30-31, 2003