Americans for the Arts Announces An Updated Directory of More Than 2,100 Local Arts Agencies

The updated site also includes new resources around Disability & the Arts

[WASHINGTON, DC, October 25, 2024]-Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the leading national advocacy organization for the arts, today released an updated directory of more than 2,100 local arts agencies (LAAs) who serve communities across the United States. Information about these LAAs is provided through an interactive map, the Local Arts Agency Wayfinder, which will allow AFTA to continue to work with and on behalf of them, as well as allow the LAAs to find their peer organizations and colleagues.

Information about the work of LAAs is available through the Arts Impact Explorer, a tool that shares projects across 30 categories and has been updated to include new resources about Arts & Disability. These stories are designed to be used as case-making resources to help LAAs educate local decision-makers about the social, cultural, educational, and economic impact of the arts.

LAAs are a vital part of the complex, interconnected networks of relationships among arts organizations, artists, audiences, communities, and other partners that exist in every rural, suburban, Tribal, and urban community. They are a diverse set of organizations in name, size, and focus, encompassing a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines. Each LAA is uniquely tailored to its community, evolving to meet local needs and making the arts accessible to all.

"Americans for the Arts recently commissioned an independent public opinion study that found that 86% of Americans believe the arts improve their community's quality of life and livability, and nearly 72% believe the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, or ethnicity," shared Suzy Delvalle and Jamie Bennett, Interim Co-CEOs of Americans for the Arts. "These updated resources bring new data and resources to illustrate how local arts agencies support artists and other arts organizations in strengthening their communities."

By studying the arts' wide-ranging impact, AFTA can create necessary advocacy tools and resources for its partners. These new resources - and all our work - will continue to evolve as the arts and culture field does, and we will foster collaboration and innovation among their peer organizations nationwide.

For more information, follow @Americans4Arts.

Media Contact:
Mariaesmeralda Paguaga
[email protected]