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Related publications from the Center for Arts and Culture


The Pew Charitable Trusts sponsored a Mt. Auburn Associates survey of Maine Legislators on the arguments that convinved them to increase funding for culture through the New Century Community program (described at right). Click on the title to download a PDF copy of the survey report, Cultural Policy: The Voices of State Legislators.

The National Endowment for the Arts has supported a partnership between the National Governors Association and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies to collaborate and produce a series of issue briefs that illustrate the value of the arts in achieving states' public policy goals. Two issue briefs are now available:

The National Conference of State Legislatures has produced many briefs on economic and cultural development. These publications are available to members free of charge. Non-members may order online at http://www.ncsl.org/programs/arts/publicat.htm or download PDF versions of the most recent titles. Publications include:

  • Retooling State Economic Development Policy for the New Economy
  • Travel and Tourism: A Legislator's Guide
  • Creative Solutions for Funding the Arts
  • Transforming Education with the Arts
  • Reinventing the Wheel: A Design for Student Achievement in the 21st Century
  • Cultural Tourism
  • The Arts and Education Reform
  • State Tourism Taxes
  • The Current State of the Arts . . . and Culture

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies provides strategic analysis of policy issues, information and leadership development services that support the advancement of arts policy across the nation. NASAA's Web site contains policy-related news and model programs from the states. Related publications include:

University of Chicago working paper series

The Pew Charitable Trusts has recently released a paper called Optimizing America's Cultural Resources that described challenges for arts and cultural advocates and the role of The Trusts in supporting cultural policy innovation.
http://www.pewtrusts.com/pdf/culture_national_strategy.pdf

In 1978, the California Arts Council commissioned a study by Don Adams and Arlene Goldbard.  This study, Comprehensive Cultural Policy for the State of Californa is available online from Webster's World of Cultural Democracy:
http://www.wwcd.org/policy/US/proposals/CA_policy.html.

In 2001, these same authors wrote Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development for the Rockefeller Foundation.  A short description of the publication and ordering information are available through the Rockefeller Foundation web site: http://www.rockfound.org/

In 2000, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) hosted a symposium on Cultural Policy in the West.  The proceedings of this symposium (and an executive summary) are available online at:
http://www.westaf.org/proceedings/cultpol.html

 

The following organizations focus on a diverse array of policy issues as they affect the states.  Look for areas where the arts, humanities, historic preservation and folklife intersect with other policy streams such as: urban sprawl, transportation, workforce training, education, and housing.

  • Oregon Cultural Trust
    The Cultural Trust is a state-wide cultural plan to raise significant new funds to invest into Oregon’s arts, humanities and heritage. Through a competitive grant process, the Trusts supports local cultural projects of regional and statewide significance. It also provides funds to Oregon’s cultural agencies to support collaborative partnerships and ongoing statewide efforts.  Enacted in August 2001, the legislation that established Oregon’s Trust for Cultural Development was the culmination of over two years of work by statewide arts, humanities, heritage and historic preservation leaders to increase collaboration and public funding for cultural initiatives. The legislation provides for a tax credit for direct contributions to the Oregon Trust for Cultural Development, a long-term public/private funding initiative designed to preserve and strengthen culture for all Oregonians. Additional funding for the Trust will also come from revenue derived from the sale of a new "cultural" license plate and from the sale of surplus state-owned assets. http://www.culturaltrust.org/

  • Maine's New Century Community Program
    The New Century Community Program is a 1998 legislative initiative of the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council that partners the Maine Arts Commission, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Maine State Library, Maine State Museum, Maine Historical Society, Maine State Archives, and the Maine Humanities Council in order to: further the preservation of the state's historic resources, properties, artifacts and documents; expand access to educational resources; and strengthen community and economic development efforts by increasing access to cultural resources and institutions. In 1999 the program received State funding, and has continued to receive funding every year since.
    http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/27/title27sec558.html

    Read also an executive summary of an evaluation and case study of the progam sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
    http://www.pewtrusts.com/pdf/culture_new_century.pdf

  • Denver Scientific & Cultural Facilities District
         In 1988, greater Denver metropolitan area voters created the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) to provide a consistent source of unrestricted funding to scientific and cultural organizations. With an annual distribution of $38 million, the SCFD has funded over 300 organizations that provide for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, preservation, exhibition, advancement or preservation of art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history or cultural history through since its inception. http://www.scfd.org/home.shtml

  • The Creative Economy Initiative, a project of the New England Council
    The Creative Economy Initiative is a partnership of New England's business, government, cultural and educational leaders committed to strengthening the region's economic by fostering its creative industries, creative workforce and creative communities.  In June 2000, the New England Council released a study that radically redefined the region's creative economy:  The Creative Economy Initiative: The Role of the Arts and Culture in New England's Economic Competitiveness. This report shows that the creative economy provides jobs for 245, 000 people or 3.5% of the New England workforce; generated more than $4.4 billion in payroll alone; and surpasses both employment and job growth rates of other leading industries.  A year later, the New England Council released a second document, The Creative Economy Initiative: a Blueprint for Investment in New England's Creative Economy, which challenges the region's businesses and governments to implement a forward-thinking regional strategy designed to maximize the power of New England's creative economy.  http://www.creativeeconomy.org/

  • Oklahoma State Cultural Plan
    Produced by the Oklahoma Cultural Coalition—a consortium of arts, humanities and cultural service agencies and organizations—in 1995 as a plan for supporting and strengthening the arts and humanities in Oklahoma and enhancing their accessibility to all Oklahomans. http://www.youroklahoma.com/~arts/resources/stateculturalplan.html

  • Center on Budget and Policy Priorities -- Focus on the States
    In its state work, the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities works with nonprofit organizations and state policymakers to foster sound budget, tax and low-income program policies through research, analysis, and disseminiation of information, with particular emphasis on policies affecting low- and moderate-income people.  The Center's state-focused reports examine issues of interest across states and often contain state-by-state data and analysis.
    http://www.cbpp.org/state/index.html

  • Stateline.org
    Stateline.org is operated by the Pew Center on the States, a research organization administered by the University of Richmond, and funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.  Stateline.org was founded in order to help journalists, policy makers and engaged citizens become better informed about innovative public policies. Stateline.org provides a weekly round-up of news from the states concerning particular policy areas.  Stateline.org has produced important information for state cultural policy makers, particularly a March 2002 piece titled, "Preservation Tax Credits Working... Too Well?"
    http://www.stateline.org

  • Center for Policy Alternatives
    The Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is a nonpartisan progressive public policy and leadership development center serving state legislators, state policy organizations, and state grassroots leaders.  It's nation-wide initiatives focus on themes important to the states: Work and Family Investment; Women & the Economy; Healthy and Safe Communities; Democracy and Technology; and Sustainable Economic Development.
    http://www.cfpa.org/

  • Rivers of Steel
    Rivers of Steel was designated in 1996 as both a National Heritage Area (one of 23 total) and a State Heritage Area. Encompassing seven counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, Rivers of Steel celebrates the region's history as the Steel Making Capital of the World from 1875-1980. Rivers of Steel is committed to preserving, interpreting, and managing the historic, cultural, and natural resources related to Big Steel and its industries. Its mission includes: historic preservation, cultural conservation, education, recreation and resource development.
    http://www.riversofsteel.com/

  • City Lore
    City Lore is New York City's "Museum Without Walls." A diverse partnership dedicated to documenting, preserving, and presenting New York City's living cultural heritage, City Lore collaborates with many cultural organizations such as: Poets House, Bank Street College of Education, Rincon Criollo, the Municipal Arts Society and the New York Folklore Society. One of City Lore's major projects, Place Matters, is a partnership with the Municipal Art Society of New York to expand the boundaries of historic preservation in New York beyond architecture. During the aftermath of September 11, City Lore responded to honor the responses of New Yorkers by documenting their spontaneous memorials in public places, and developed with the New York Historical Society the traveling exhibit "Missing: Streetscape of a City in Mourning."
    http://www.citylore.org/

  • Arizona ArtShare
    Arizona ArtShare was created by the Arizona state legislature and the state's governor in 1996 as a cultural trust fund to advance the future of the arts in Arizona through both public and private contributions and partnerships that build a foundation of long-term support for the arts in Arizona. Partnerships include nonprofit arts organizations, the arts education community, the Arizona State Legislature and Governor, the business and commercial entertainment sectors, the Arizona Commission the Arts, the Arizona Arts Stabilization Committee, Arizona Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. The trust will receive state funds until 2008 to help build the fund's principal.
    http://www.arizonaartshare.org/

  • Cultural Institutions Trust Fund (Florida)
    The Cultural Institutions Trust Fund is a dedicated and sustainable public funding source for cultural institutions in Florida, based on portions of proceeds from a variety of corporate filing fees. Started in 1998, funding is pooled through the redirection of existing resources. Administered by the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the trust funds 65 organizations throughout the state. These filing fees now yield $12 - $16 million annually.
    http://www.dos.state.fl.us/dca/
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