Shortly before the National Endowment for the Arts came into being in 1965, a group of enterprising people got together to create what is now known as Americans for the Arts. Since its first iteration in 1960 up until the present, Americans for the Arts has striven to ensure that arts education and leadership are available to all. Their work spans many disciplines and even now involves the business sectors of America to help ensure that the arts has a lasting place in our American way of life.
Before today, I had never heard of this group, which is quite honestly sad considering the work that they are doing. But like many things in the world, there are a lot of people wanting to create organizations to promote the things they care deeply about; so, it's easy to miss something if you're not out there searching for it. Part of the reason I started this "Causes to Celebrate" series was so that I could learn more about organizations that support causes that I believe to be important and also to highlight some of the ones I already knew about and share them with the rest of you. So even if you've never heard of some of these groups and organizations, rest assured that I'm right there with you learning and growing, too.
Americans for the Arts has some serious money behind it, too--philanthropic donations coming from both domestic and international investors. And while that may be off-putting to some, the mission of the organization is something worth promoting:
Our mission is to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America.
Connecting your best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.
What I like most about their approach is that they are working with leaders from all walks of life to ensure that the arts are appreciated and promoted. Having not only civic leaders involved, but also business leaders and the public, Americans for the Arts gains traction from places where they might not otherwise be found. And while it may seem obvious that promoting the arts in our schools, work, and play are vitally important, sometimes this can get forgotten in the rush to cut costs, save money, and make a profit. Sometimes there are investments that don't offer a monetary benefit, but which offer benefits to the hearts, minds, and souls of people. And that is what Americans for the Arts is seeking to promote and remind us about with their work.
There is so much work that they're doing that even I find it daunting to try and find everything there is to do and be involved in, but from what I can see, Americans for the Arts is looking to provide information on the arts to people in so many ways. They also have programs to encourage the arts in the world, and I feel like if more people knew about their existence, there is a lot more that could be done all throughout America--things they could help with, things people could benefit from. And that is why, today, I am really excited to promote Americans for the Arts as a cause worth celebrating.
