All Posts By

Natalie Scherlong

Apr 15
Love0

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....
Read More
Feb 15
Love0

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…

Read More
Dec 11
Love0

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…

Read More
Nov 15
Love0

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…

Read More
Sep 14
Love0

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...
Read More
Sep 11
Love0

2023-24 National Leaders of Color Fellowship Application Launching Soon

By Articles, News, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, WESTAF News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leah Horn 720.664.2239 leah.horn@westaf.org   Second Round of National Leaders of Color Fellowship to Launch with Support from United States Regional Arts Organizations Application Opens September 18 for Unique  Eight-Month Leadership Development Experience Denver, CO, September 11, 2023—Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) has partnered with its five United States Regional Arts Organization (USRAO) counterparts in continued support for the National Leaders of Color Fellowship, a transformative leadership development experience curated by WESTAF in order to establish multicultural leadership in the creative and cultural sector. By partnering with the other RAOs (Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid...
Read More
Jul 06
Love3

WESTAF Now Newsletter | June 2023

By Newsletter
Thought Leadership and reach            WESTAF Leadership Visits the Pacific Jurisdictions During the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month of May, a delegation of WESTAF’s leadership undertook a two-week trip to Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and American Samoa to learn about and celebrate the cultures of these vibrant yet isolated Pacific communities that are now a part of the WESTAF region. The trip covered more than 18,000 miles from Los Angeles to Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi to Guam and CNMI, then back to Hawaiʻi to get to American Samoa, with a return...
Read More
Jun 20
Love0

Exciting News: WESTAF Welcomes Expanded Social Responsibility and Inclusion Team

By Social Responsibility & Inclusion, Staff, WESTAF News
WESTAF’s Social Responsibility and Inclusion (SRI) team is growing! Led by Director of Social Responsibility Anika Tené, the expanded team will support existing equity work in the region as well as new initiatives, including new technical assistance grant programs, deeper investment in the Leaders of Color Network, and the development of equity-centered tools and resources to further the work of WESTAF-region states and jurisdictions. In the coming months, the expanded team will unveil new approaches and philosophies around their work and share the different ways for the region to engage with them. Josh Ellis, Grants and Inclusion Manager With a...
Read More
Apr 26
Love3

WESTAF Now Newsletter | April 2023

By Newsletter
Thought Leadership and reach            FestPAC Returning in 2024 Arts The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC, the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders) will convene in Hawaiʻi, June 6–16, 2024. The South Pacific Commission (now The Pacific Community - SPC) launched this dynamic showcase of arts and culture in 1972 to halt the erosion of traditional practices through ongoing cultural exchange. While originally scheduled to take place in 2020, FestPAC was the first major festival in Hawaiʻi to be postponed as the COVID-19 pandemic grew. This decision was made early on in...
Read More