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News

Sep 11
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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...
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Aug 01
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Multiple shapes of orange, pink and green float in front of a beige background. Text reads that the six United States Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) are currently seeking fellows

Leaders of Color Fellowship Application Now Open

By News, Programs, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, WESTAF News
We are thrilled to announce the National Leaders of Color Fellowship (LoCF) application is now accepting applications. The LoCF is a strategic leadership development program for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) leaders throughout the western region who are committed to the advancement of cultural equity in the arts. Using a cohort structure, the program emphasizes experiential learning, community building, and service to the field. Since 2010, and in partnership with South Arts for the past two years, the Western States Arts Federation’s (WESTAF) Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) program has promoted diverse, representative leadership and equity in the...
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Jun 14
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2022 Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar image

WESTAF Announces 2022 Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar

By Advocacy, News, Policy, WESTAF News
WESTAF is happy to announce that registration is open for the 2022 Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar (ALAS)! This year's virtual event will be taking place on Monday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Held annually between 2011 and 2017, ALAS brought arts leaders from the West to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and their staff, engage in briefings regarding the status of and future prospects for federal arts support, and to discuss with the WESTAF trustees ways to generate more state government support for the work of state arts agencies. This year’s ALAS will expand...
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Jun 14
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TourWest Impact Survey image of a person playing the saxophone

WESTAF Announces Plans for a More Accessible TourWest Program

By News, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, WESTAF News

TourWest is WESTAF’s competitive grant program that has historically provided subsidies to arts and community organizations for the presentation of touring performers and literary artists within the 13-state WESTAF region. Since its inaugural year, TourWest has allocated approximately $500,000 a year in small amounts throughout the region. Through its longstanding efforts, TourWest has brought touring to a region covering nearly a quarter of the continent but holding only about 3% of the population in the 1960s. Cultural leaders in the Western states pursued a way of making tours more affordable for rural communities in addition to making them more attractive…

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Jun 12
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Creative Vitality Summit 2021 Report Image of a camera with pink and blue lighting

WESTAF Announces 2021 Creative Vitality™ Summit Report

By Advocacy, News, Policy, WESTAF News
The 2021 Creative Vitality™ Summit report is here! The Summit brought together thought leaders and creative economy experts to discuss opportunities and challenges for creative workers and entrepreneurs, as well as building a more community-centered creative economy. Topics ranged from opportunities for, and threats to, creative workers and entrepreneurs, in addition to impact investing and building creative economy infrastructure through networks and policy. We recently compiled all of the resources and recommendations generated during the Creative Vitality™ Summit into a single report to share with you. To learn more about the convening, as well as how we hope to build...
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Jun 09
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WESTAF alliances, advocacy, and policy team headshots

WESTAF Expands its Alliances, Advocacy, and Policy Team

By Advocacy, News, Policy, WESTAF News
WESTAF is excited to announce a newly expanded and reimagined Alliances, Advocacy, and Policy (AAP) team. Led by WESTAF Deputy Director David Holland, the expanded team will allow for a deeper investment in year-round state and federal arts advocacy and support of the 13 state arts agencies in the West, as well as increased capacity to facilitate regional and national dialogue on contemporary policy issues that affect the arts. The Alliances, Advocacy, and Policy (AAP) division leads a variety of efforts, including conducting arts policy research, delivering professional development programs for state arts agencies, advancing and supporting the work of arts...
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Nov 12
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WESTAF Update Notes #105 | September 2019

By News, Newsletter, Staff, Updates, ZAPP

This is the 105th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF.   2019 Emerging Leaders of Color Program  WESTAF’s ninth Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) program will take place October 7-9 in Denver. WESTAF will host 15 ELC alumni for this year’s convening. Alumni participants include: Christy NaMee Eriksen (Alaska), Yvonne Montoya (Arizona), Abraham Flores (California), Laili Gohartaj (California), Mariana Moscoso (California), Alexandria Jimenez (Colorado), Julz Bolinayen Ignacio (Washington/Hawai‘i), Anastacio Del Real (Nevada), Michelle Patrick (Nevada), Sandra Margarita Ward (Nevada), Gabrielle Uballez (New Mexico), Candace Kita (Oregon), Humberto Marquez Mendez (Oregon), Renato Olmedo-González (Utah), and Moana…

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Aug 02
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Director of Public Policy

By News, Policy, Staff, Updates
WESTAF Welcomes David Holland as Director of Public Policy David Holland will join WESTAF later in August 2019 as director of public policy, a new role that will guide WESTAF’s public policy and arts advocacy programs and services. Holland previously served as associate director of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, a chapter of Americans for the Arts. Prior roles include management positions with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) da Vinci Center for Innovation, VCU School of the Arts, Arts & Business, and the UK innovation think tank Nesta. Holland began his career with BOP Consulting, a global consulting firm...
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Oct 04
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New Executive Director Selected

By News, Staff
Christian Gaines Named New Executive Director of WESTAF   DENVER, CO — The WESTAF trustees are pleased to announce that Christian Gaines has been selected to serve as the organization’s new executive director. Gaines was hired following a national search that was initiated in May, 2018. He will move to Denver and begin work at the organization in mid January, 2019. WESTAF is a nonprofit organization that weaves together technology, thought leadership, and innovation to energize, network, and grow funding for public sector arts agencies. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, it is one of six regional arts organizations in the United...
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Mar 05
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Update Notes #96 | March 2018

By Convenings, Events, GO, IMTour, News, Newsletter, PAA, SAAs, Tech, Technology, Updates
WESTAF Update Notes #96 | March 2018 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 96th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF. Public Art Archive™ Collection Management System In March of 2018, the public art field will have access to a collection-management system developed by the Public Art Archive in collaboration with technology partner CollectionSpace. The tool has been built specifically for public art collections and will accommodate the workflow of the public art process from commissioning through conservation. The system is designed to reduce staff time while increasing the flow of information to administrators,...
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