Advocate

AFTA Joins Handwork '26

Apr 18, 2024

Americans for the Arts announces its participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life.

Americans for the Arts Begins...

Mar 28, 2024

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.

Americans for the Arts endorses...

Nov 09, 2023

Americans for the Arts supports new legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI). The STAR Act would allow local transit authorities to incorporate art into federally-funded transportation projects through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), promoting rider engagement, deterring vandalism, and enhancing community identity.

Creative Workforce Investment Act

Nov 09, 2023

Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund endorse the Creative Workforce Investment Act, legislation introduced by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA). The Senate companion of the Creative Economy Revitalization Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) along with Sen. Alex Padilla. The bill would help invest in the creative economy through the creation of a workforce grants program to employ artists and writers to create publicly available art.  

Watch the recording of the 35th...

Mar 15, 2024

Thanks for joining us for the 35th Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy delivered by Award Winning Actor and Oscar Nominee, Jeffrey Wright. Missed the event? Catch Jeffrey Wright's captivating lecture moderated by Symone Sanders Townsend, co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend, a special performance by Ben Folds, and the honoring of Congressman James E. Clyburn with the prestigious 2024 Congressional Arts Leadership Award. Watch the recording now and be part of the conversation.

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Edgar L. Smith, Jr. Elected Chair...

Mar 26, 2024

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 for the Arts (BCA) in New York, a division of AFTA.

Threats to Free Artistic Expression

Jul 17, 2023

The 2023 State Legislative Session saw over 45 pieces of legislation in 18 states being introduced to regulate drag performances with several becoming law. Check out Americans for the Arts’ Threats to Free Artistic Expression Web Page where we track, link to other resources and provide context to the various pieces of legislation as it impacts the creative sector.

Right: Veranda L’Ni reads to families at the Cleveland Chapter of Drag Story Hour’s performance at the Near West Theatre..

A person sits in a red chair on a stage holding a book. They are in a purple dress with golden hair.
Photo: Amber Patrick, Near West Theatre.
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Here are the top legislative issues affecting the arts. Read about each and then take action to support their positive outcome.

Arts Education Policy and Funding
Improving Access to Arts Education for All Students

Charitable Giving & Tax Reform
Encouraging Charitable Gifts and Tax Provisions to Support Community Access to the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts
Promoting Creativity and Public Access to the Arts

Artists, Entrepreneurs, and the Creative Economy
The CREATE Act and investing in the nation's workforce and creative economy

Veterans and Military Service Members
Healing Trauma Through Community Arts Engagement

Visit the Legislative Issue Center to learn about other legislation impacting the arts.

Want to advocate for the arts but don't know where to start?

Looking for ways to take action right now? Check out these resources:

Arts Action Fund - Join over 400,00 other citizen activists to advance the arts at the federal, state and local levels.

Federal Arts Advocacy Captains - Learn about Federal Arts Advocacy Captains and find out who the captain is for your state

House and Senate Cultural Caucuses - Find out which members of Congress have committed to support the arts with their membership on the House and Senate Cultural Caucuses

The Latest News
November 3, 2023
Victory for the arts in the U.S. House of Representatives!
Americans for the Arts News, Legislative News

On November 3, two attempts to eliminate federal funding for the arts and humanities in the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior Appropriations were both soundly defeated!

Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA-10) sponsored two floor amendments:

August 3, 2023
FY24 Appropriations Update
Legislative News

The amazing Congressional outreach efforts by arts advocates last helped produce the following in the FY’24 Senate Appropriations bills passed in the full committee mark-up last week:

A glass jar is on it's side on a table. Coins are spilling out of it and are laying in front of it.
July 18, 2023
Representatives Moore and Pappas Introduce The Charitable Act to Incentivize Charitable Giving
Legislative News

Charitable giving is crucial to maintaining the health of arts throughout our country. Key findings from the 2023 Giving USA Report, released last month, showed that an estimated $499.33 billion was given to charities in 2022. This represents a decrease of 10.5%, when adjusted for inflation, from 2021 giving levels.

June 21, 2023
Congresswoman Kuster Introduces Early STEAM Achievement Act To Strengthen Early Childhood STEAM Education
Legislative News

On Tuesday, May 16th, Congresswoman Ann Kuster (D-NH-02) introduced the Early STEAM Achievement Act (H.R. 3374) which aims to strengthen STEAM education for children ages eight and under. The legislation would establish a competitive grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to support early childhood STEAM programs and provide professional development in STEAM education for teachers. Americans for the Arts and Americans for the Arts Action Fund endorse this legislation and will continue working with arts advocates to build support among members of Congress.