All Posts By

Natalie Scherlong

Jul 01
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Celebrating 50 Years of WESTAF

By News, Special Projects, Technology, WESTAF News
This year marks a monumental milestone as we celebrate 50 years of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF)! As we look back on five decades of impactful work, we are filled with gratitude for the support and collaboration of our partners, supporters, and communities. As part of this celebration, our own Natalie Villa is creating a "WESTAF at 50" documentary series highlighting the beginnings of WESTAF, to the development of our technology services and more. Tune in below to learn more! WESTAF Turns 50 Playlist
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Jun 04
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Renowned Samoan artist Reggie Meredith Fitiao shows her siapo, or tapa cloth, accompanied by her husband Su'a Ulisone Fitiao, a traditional Samoan tattoo artist.

FestPAC is Here: Notes on the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture

By Articles, News, WESTAF News
FestPAC is Here: Notes on the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture. Where do we go from here? What do we do with our desolation? How obscene is it that communities with the smallest carbon footprint—like low-lying islands and atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean—are paying the steepest price for a crisis we had almost no hand in creating? How do warm-blooded longings for equity and justice figure into global discourse dominated by the cold language of mitigation and adaptation? How do we stay sane as well as sentient? – Julian Aguon, The Properties of Perpetual Light  ...
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Jun 03
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Announcing A New Grant Opportunity: Cultural Sustainability

By Grants Awards and Programs, News, WESTAF News
Cultural Sustainability is made possible by support from The Wallace Foundation in partnership with the six US Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs). This opportunity is part of The Wallace Foundation’s Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative, which funds arts organizations founded by, with, and for communities of color to advance their well-being, enhance understanding of their contributions to community, and ultimately help to build a more equitable and sustainable arts ecosystem. Cultural Sustainability offers general operating grants to arts and culture organizations led by and serving communities of color with budgets under $500,000. The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) will select...
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Apr 15
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WESTAF’s 2024-25 TourWest Grant Accepting Applications

By Grants Awards and Programs, News, WESTAF News
WESTAF’s 2024-25 TourWest grant application is officially open! For nearly 30 years, TourWest has provided subsidies to arts and community organizations for the presentation of touring performers and literary artists in the 13 states and 3 jurisdictions in the WESTAF region. Through TourWest, WESTAF and the National Endowment for the Arts aim to encourage the presentation of performing arts programming to culturally diverse audiences and those that do not typically enjoy ready access to the performing arts. Presenters can include but are not limited to community cultural organizations, community centers, churches, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, film festivals/series, and performing arts centers....
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Feb 15
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WESTAF Origins: Supporting Creativity in the West

By News, Programs, Special Projects, WESTAF News

WESTAF Origins: Supporting Creativity in the West Establishing itself as a supporting conduit for creativity in the ever-evolving landscape of the West, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), known at the time as the Arts & Humanities branch of the Federation of Rocky Mountain States, was born of a collective vision and unwavering commitment to equitable access to the arts for everyone. The mission of WESTAF crystallized around advocating for the arts, facilitating cultural exchange, and providing support systems for the myriad of artists and cultural organizations scattered across the Western states. A Founding Member’s Impact A founding member of…

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Dec 11
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Introducing the Second Cohort of the National Leaders of Color Fellowship Program

By Programs, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, WESTAF News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leah Horn 720.664.2239 leah.horn@westaf.org   54 Fellows Announced for U.S. Regional Arts Organization-Supported National Leaders of Color Fellowship Unique Eight-Month Leadership Development Experience Begins this Month Dedicated to the Advancement of BIPOC Leaders in the Arts Denver, CO, December 11, 2023—The six United States Regional Arts Organizations (US RAOs) Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts, and program convener WESTAF are excited to announce the 2023-24 National Leaders of Color Fellows. Fifty-four leaders from communities across the country will participate in a transformative eight-month leadership development experience designed…

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Nov 15
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Announcing ArtsHERE: New Initiative Supports Increased Opportunity for Arts Participation

By News, Programs, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, WESTAF News

For immediate release: Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m. ET Contacts: Liz Auclair (NEA), auclaire@arts.gov, 202-682-5744 Ivan Schustak (South Arts), ischustak@southarts.org, 404-874-7244 x829 Rachel Roberts (Cultural Counsel), rachel@culturalcounsel.com, 501-400-4090 New Initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts Supports Increased Opportunities for Arts Participation ArtsHERE Statement of Interest Deadline: Friday, January 19, 2024   Washington, DC—A new initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced today aims to expand access to arts participation in our country. A partnership with South Arts and in collaboration with the other five U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, ArtsHERE will provide non-matching  grant support…

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Sep 14
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US Regional Arts Organizations Welcome Shannon Daut as National Director

By Articles, News, WESTAF News
The United States Regional Arts Organization (US RAOs) has announced the appointment of Shannon Daut as the US RAO Collective’s first ever National Director. The US RAOs are a national collective of six, place-based, nonprofit arts service organizations that strengthen America’s infrastructure by increasing access to creativity for all. The six RAOs are Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts, and WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation), with a combined  reach that spans across state, national, and international borders. "We are thrilled to welcome Shannon Daut as the National Director of the...
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