Category

Programs

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
Jan 30
Love0
WESTAF State Arts Agency Innovation Fund Announcement Featured Image

WESTAF Announces the State Arts Agency Innovation Fund

By Advocacy, Policy, Programs, WESTAF News
WESTAF is thrilled to share the launch of WESTAF’s State Arts Agency Innovation Fund. In an ongoing effort to inspire innovative and transformative practices within the 13-member state arts agencies in the West, the Fund aims to support state arts agency efforts to enhance their service to individuals, families, and communities and the arts and cultural industries in their states in ways that were previously difficult to achieve.  WESTAF has committed an initial $500,000 investment from the $8 million MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett gift received in 2021.The Fund has been structured to offer support to the transformative work of...
Read More
Jan 23
Love0

WESTAF Announces the Launch of the Public Art Archive’s New Engagement Portal

By PAA, Programs, Special Projects, WESTAF News
WESTAF is thrilled to announce the launch of the reimagined and expanded Public Art Archive™ (PAA) website! Designed by Bilberrry, a full service digital agency and product studio behind websites such as David's Bridal and GoFundMe.org, the new site provides an immersive public art experience to better facilitate sustained public engagement with cultural assets across communities. Visitors are greeted with an optimized visual experience on the new home screen, drawing users in from the moment they land on the site. Discover the multitude of artworks spanning lived experience, geographic boundary, subject matter, and worktype in this centralized resource where street...
Read More
Sep 09
Love0

WESTAF Celebrates Launch of Public Art Archive’s 2nd Edition of Have You Seen My Public Art? Map!

By PAA, Programs, Special Projects, WESTAF News
Join the Public Art Archive™ (PAA) as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Have You Seen My Public Art? map with a brand new version! The original map was created in 2013 and quickly became the program’s most recognizable visual. Since that time, the PAA team has continued its mission to make public art more public, archiving over 20,000 public artworks around the U.S. in the process. This new map, illustrated by artist Kara Fellows, highlights a diverse array of public artists and their artworks from across the country. The second edition of the map includes 144 artworks across...
Read More
Aug 22
Love0
leaders of color network logo

National Leaders of Color Fellowship Launches with Support from United States Regional Arts Organizations

By Programs, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, WESTAF News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leah Horn 720.664.2239 leah.horn@westaf.org   National Leaders of Color Fellowship Launches with Support from United States Regional Arts Organizations August 31 Application Deadline for the Program Dedicated to the Advancement of BIPOC Leaders in the Arts Denver, CO, August 22, 2022—Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) has partnered with its five United States Regional Arts Organization (USRAO) counterparts to support the National Leaders of Color Fellowship, a leadership development program for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) leaders committed to the advancement of cultural equity in the arts. An expansion of WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC)…

Read More
Aug 16
Love0
various photos of westaf's completed women's suffrage mural

WESTAF Announces Completion of Women’s Suffrage Mural

By PAA, Programs, Special Projects, WESTAF News

To mark the centennial of the landmark legislation that granted women the right to vote, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) has commissioned the creation of a mural related to Women’s Suffrage in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood. Created by local artist Adrienne “Adri” Norris (www.afrotriangledesigns.com), the mural is located at the Montbello Branch of the Denver Public Library. The artwork centers an overlooked history and aims to expand the narrative of Women’s Suffrage and the passing of the 19th Amendment to include the larger and more inclusive story of the fight for voting rights for Black, Hispanic, and minority communities. This…

Read More
Aug 01
Love0
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...
Read More
Jul 06
Love0
WESTAF blue and green Graphing Announcing Pacific Jurisdictions Partnership

WESTAF Announces Partnership with Pacific Jurisdictions

By Advocacy, Policy, Programs, WESTAF News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leah Horn 720.664.2239 leah.horn@westaf.org WESTAF Announces Partnership with Pacific Jurisdictions New agreement creates pathway for Pacific jurisdictions to join western Regional Arts Organization   Denver, CO, June 30, 2022—To demonstrate its continued focus on equitable grantmaking and diverse arts ecosystems throughout the western region, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) has partnered with the Pacific Jurisdiction (PJ) region through an unprecedented agreement. Historically, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam (collectively, Pacific Jurisdictions/PJs) have been underrepresented as a region within the U.S. arts sector and in conversations surrounding arts advocacy. With this new…

Read More