Preconference gatherings are scheduled for the following groups. Check back soon for more information.
With continuing pandemic concerns and state budget strictures, we understand that not everyone is able to join us in Kansas City this year. To keep non-attending members informed and part of the larger community, NASAA will be live streaming select sessions free of charge.
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Central: Helping Nonprofit Arts Organizations Adopt Stronger DEI Practices
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Central: Artist Showcase: What is a Chickasaw Composer?
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Central: National Endowment for the Arts Plenary
11:15 am – 12:30 pm Central: Closing Session & Business Meeting
For more information about these sessions, and login information, please check out our Streaming Content page.
12th Street Meeting Room, Main Level
Enjoy a special lunch presented by The Richard J. Stern Foundation and Mid-America Arts Alliance and hear leaders of three nonprofit organizations share their efforts to connect the public to history, art, and culture through collaboration and the use of technologies that are open to all.
Dr. David Trowbridge, William T. Kemper Associate Research Professor of Digital and Public HumanitiesUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City, offers an introduction to Clio, a free website and mobile application that guides people to a growing library of 39,000 landmarks throughout the United States and hosts more than1500 interpretive walking tours, virtual tours of museums, hiking trails, and more.
Meg Davis discusses her work with Explorable Places, an online platform designed to help teachers discover and schedule virtual learning experiences and field trips.
Brent Lager shares his work with Uncover KC, an organization dedicated to civic engagement and programs that connect people and spark action.
Ballroom Foyer, Second Level
Experiment with animation techniques and become a star in a NASAA family film! Drop by the temporary home of The Edge of Imagination Station to create a short animated video that will be edited into a short film shown at the Closing Session. Expert animator and editor Johnny Villarreal will be there to help you with your work and edit the film into this Assembly’s blockbuster release!
Motion designer and illustrator
Count Basie Ballroom C & C1, Second Level
Raise your voice and participate in a NASAA tradition: the roll call of the states and jurisdictions!
Business Meeting Materials and Virtual Participation Instructions
Count Basie Ballroom A, Second Level
This session focuses on the distinct needs of small/midsize organizations and identifies how state arts agencies can tailor support—learning, networking or grants—to be useful to them. It draws on insights from 10 years of collaboration between Mid-America Arts Alliance and 80 cultural organizations in Houston, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Founder and Executive Director
Culture of Health-Advancing Together (CHAT)
Director of Organizational Development
Mid-America Arts Alliance
Culture and Arts Advisor
Former Director, Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Curator and Program Director
Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum (AYAM)
Managing Director
4th Wall
Mary Lou Williams A & B, Third Level
The scale of losses and the impact of permanent changes triggered by COVID-19 are more than any one agency or organization can address on its own. This session features examples of state arts agencies in Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Vermont that are entering into innovative partnerships to leverage resources and help people and communities heal as we move into a postpandemic era.
David PlattsExecutive Director
South Carolina Arts Commission
Karl BlischkeExecutive Director
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Michele BaileySenior Program Manager
Vermont Arts Council
Julia Lee A & B, Third Level
Approximately 25% of all Americans live with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, some are not; some are temporary and some permanent. State arts agencies have an important leadership role to play in helping their communities to create more inclusive spaces and programs for people with disabilities. This session provides a look at the Breaking Barriers cultural accessibility project, a unique partnership between Art Access and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, to provide disability accessibility training and mentorship for Utah’s cultural institutions.
Gabriella HugginsExecutive Director
Art Access
Jason BowcuttCommunity Programs and Performing Arts Manager
Utah Division of Arts and Museums
Stan Clawson (he/him)Community Education Facilitator
Art Access
Bennie Moten A & B, Third Level
What technical assistance, training or consulting services can state arts agencies provide to strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work at the grantee/community level? What strategies tend to be effective, and what could be counterproductive? Hear about various approaches that different states are pursuing. The Delaware Division of the Arts, Nevada Arts Council and North Carolina Arts Council share their experiences in working with constituents.
To make this session more accessible, NASAA will be streaming it live for free.
Jessica BallDirector
Delaware Division of the Arts
Margie Johnson ReesePrincipal
MJR Partners Arts Management and Leadership Development
Tony ManfrediExecutive Director
Nevada Arts Council
Dr. Tamara Holmes BrothersDeputy Director
North Carolina Arts Council
Andy Kirk A & B, Third Level
State arts advocacy organizations and state arts agencies each have distinct roles to play when it comes to cultivating support for the arts. This session showcases ways that state arts agencies and citizen advocacy groups have joined forces to attain policy wins in today’s challenging legislative landscape.
Victoria Panella BournsDirector
Utah Division of Arts & Museums
Nicholas CohenExecutive Director
Maryland Citizens for the Arts
Steven Skerritt-DavisExecutive Director
Maryland State Arts Council
Crystal YoungExecutive Director
Utah Cultural Alliance
Kelly J. BarsdateChief Program and Planning Officer
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Count Basie Ballroom C & C1, Second Level
What Is a Chickasaw Classical Composer?
Join our showcase artist, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw), as he discusses and demonstrates his dedication to the development of American Indian classical composition. A dedicated Chickasaw classical composer and pianist, Tate expresses his native culture in symphonic music, ballet and opera. He will enlighten Assembly participants on the depth and breadth of his native culture and how it intertwines with his European classical music training.
To make this session more accessible, NASAA will be streaming it live for free.
American Jazz Museum 1616 E 18th St. Kansas City, MO 64108
Join your colleagues from around the nation for a special NASAA family reunion at the American Jazz Museum, located in Kansas City’s Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Interactive exhibits, mingling, and a musical performance by Pablo Sanhueza and the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra in the famous Blue Room all come together in this special evening!
Many thanks to the regional arts organizations for sponsoring this event.
Shuttles depart hotel’s Central Street entrance beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Final shuttles depart museum at 9:00 p.m.
State arts agency board members and staff gather in job-alike groups to discuss current issues and challenges. For details, visit the Peer Groups page.
Count Basie Ballroom C & C1, Second Level
Join NASAA and new National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., for a presentation on her vision and her dedication to inclusivity, collaboration, and the importance of the arts in our nation as we continue to recover from the pandemic and mend the rifts in our communities. Time will be provided for audience questions at the end of the session.
To make this session more accessible, NASAA will be streaming it live for free.
Belger Crane Yards Studios, 2011 Tracy Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108
Visit 100-year-old brick buildings that were transformed into a center for contemporary art and have some of the best views of Kansas City. Belger Crane Yard Studios is an arts complex dedicated to providing studio and exhibition space for artists, and a range of programming in ceramics education.
Your visit includes:
We hope you will visit all three of the Belger Arts locations–Belger Crane Yard Studios, Belger Arts Center and the Belger Glass Annex–while you are in Kansas City.
Shuttles depart hotel entrance at 2:00 p.m.
Shuttles depart Belger at 5:00 p.m.
Charlotte Street Foundation, 3333 Wyoming St. Kansas City, MO 64111
Charlotte Street centers Kansas City’s most forward-thinking visual artists, writers and performers, acting as the primary incubator, provocateur and connector for the region’s contemporary arts community, and its leading advocate on the national stage. Attend this session for a chance to see their incubation/collaboration space, enjoy an artistic experience and meet to speak with some of their artists on their changing needs.
Shuttles depart hotel entrance at 2:00 p.m.
Shuttles depart Charlotte Street at 5:00 p.m.
Bennie Moten A & B, Third Level
State arts agencies play an important role in the development, engagement, employment and empowerment of teaching artists across the nation. A vital part of their work is equipping teaching artists with the skills to adapt to new learning environments, and that should include responding to the unique needs of distinct populations or exploring practices rooted in particular cultural traditions. A few states have programs in place that assist teaching artists and help support social equity in their work, but what about states that cannot put a full-fledged program in place? This session explores some ways that state arts agencies can equip their teaching artists with skills to work within cultural groups that differ from their own.
Abby WittAdministrative Assistant and Teaching Fellow
Butler Community Arts School
Alejandro ReynaAssistant Conductor
Butler University Chorale
Christie DobsonAccessibility Specialist
Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission
Ivonne Chand O’Neal, Ph.D.Founder and Principal
MUSE Research
Jasmine Hung (they/them)Guitarist, Composer and Teacher
Lauren SheltonDirector
Butler Community Arts School
Seth DavidComposer, Pianist, Music Educator and Content Creator
Arts KC, 106 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Working toward racial equity takes dedication and a willingness to admit and learn from our failures. There are no foolproof guides or programs, nor is there one correct way to take on the work. Many times, for state arts agencies, that journey starts by looking closely at our programs and policies. Taking a closer look at public art programs often means identifying who is creating the artworks, whose voice is heard and uplifted, and what barriers exist, then engaging the increasingly diverse audience for which it is created. When done well, this can lead to more equitable spaces, deeper conversations on racial equity, and momentum toward achieving the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals of your agency in other areas. This session takes a look at the work of ArtsWA, the Maryland State Arts Council, New Mexico Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council, and includes a moderated discussion.
Sponsored by The Richard J. Stern Foundation
Shuttles depart hotel entrance at 2:00 p.m.
Shuttles depart Arts KC at 5:00 p.m.
Michelle Laflamme-ChildsExecutive Director
New Mexico Arts
Amber SharplesExecutive Director
Oklahoma Arts Council
Valerie PetermanProjects Manager, Art In Public Places
Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA)
Jarica WalshDirector of Visual and Public Art
Oklahoma Arts Council
Ryan PattersonPublic Art Project Manager
Maryland State Arts Council
Historic Lobby, Lower Level
Films often take years to make, involving dozens of tireless cast and crew. They become a visible expression of the artists who have spent years crafting their vision and those who have joined them in their quest to bring their vision to life. But there are multiple noncreative hurdles filmmakers have to clear to get to a final film. The good news is that state arts agencies and regional arts organizations have the ability to engage with filmmakers and provide support in a variety of ways throughout the process. This dialogue-driven session explores how state arts agencies and regional arts organizations can better support filmmakers in their region. It features a panel with representatives from the Iowa Arts Council, Produce Iowa, South Arts and independent filmmakers. There is also an opportunity to watch the films of the filmmakers on the panel and talk to them about their process. Snacks will be served!
Bruce BalesDirector of Photography and Film Producer
Michelle DavidsonFilmmaker, Actress, Writer
President, Missouri Motion Media Association
Liz GilmanExecutive Producer
Produce Iowa
Jordan YoungDirector of Media Arts
South Arts
A gathering of NASAA’s professional community for people of color in the state arts agency network. Open to all state arts agency and regional arts organization staff and council members who identify as persons of color. Contact Marisa Summers for more information.
Kansas City dining embodies the city’s diverse influences, from international flavor and home-style cooking to unrivaled craft beer breweries. Many galleries and music venues will be open late this evening.
Photo by Kim Golding
Mid-America Arts Alliance, 2018 Baltimore Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108
Join your fellow NASAA supporters to enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, celebrate our community and raise a toast. Multi-instrumentalist and composer Amado Espinoza shares music rooted in the spiritual traditions of the Andes. All individual donors and conference supporters are invited.
Shuttles depart hotel entrance at 6:00 p.m.
Final shuttles depart Mid-America Arts Alliance at 7:30 p.m.
Count Basie Ballroom A, A1, B & B1, Second Level
Celebrate the outstanding work and exemplary leadership of our state arts agency field! Let’s give three cheers to the 2022 NASAA Leadership Awards winners: the Distinguished Public Service Award for a council member; the Luminary Award for Transformative Executive Leadership for an executive director; and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards, one for an individual and one for an agency.
Bennie Moten A & B, Third Level
There are many new state and national advocacy cohorts emerging, all working to grow support for the arts. This session offers a primer on who’s who in the arts advocacy landscape and how state arts agencies can stay apprised of their efforts.
David HollandDeputy Director
Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF)
Ernesto BalderasCommunications Director
Utah Cultural Alliance
Jean CookProgram Associate, Technology and Society
Ford Foundation
Cofounder & Coexecutive Director
Arts Workers United (home of the Be An #ArtsHero campaign)
Joshua ReynoldsGovernment Affairs Coordinator
Americans for the Arts
Julia Lee A & B, Third Level
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant income losses for independent artists and creative workers. This trend is concerning not only because of the hardship it caused for artists and their families, but also because the creative economy relies on the robust production and engagement of artists. Attend this session to learn how a number of states and localities have launched new artist workforce programs to employ artists and lift up how they help communities address timely issues.
Ayanna L. Kiburi (she/her)Deputy Director
California Arts Council
Bella DesaiDirector of Strategic Initiatives, Artist Employment Program
Creatives Rebuild New York
Margaret HuntDirector
Colorado Creative Industries
Josy Miller, Ph.D.Arts Program Specialist
California Arts Council
Andy Kirk A & B, Third Level
Rural communities face challenges that are unique to their geographic and cultural settings. These often include impacts from increasing ecological changes, population shifts, resource limitations and complex cultural contexts. This session features a facilitated dialogue on the challenges and opportunities that state arts agencies face now and will face over the next decade with regard to the shifting landscape of their rural communities and the needs of the organizations and people that live there.
Beth FlowersCreator and Executive Director
Air Collaborative
Mary Lou Williams A & B, Third Level
Most of the focus around climate change has centered on the environmental impact, but, in addition, cultures and communities will also experience displacement—predicted to be twice as large as the Great Migration from the U.S. South or flight during the Dust Bowl. State arts agencies, and the communities they serve, can be valuable allies in supporting cultural preservation for communities at risk and in preparing other communities to receive newcomers.
Director
Louisiana Division of the Arts Folklife Program
Lester Young B, Third Level
The Equitable Grant Making Assessment Pilot (GAP) project examined the Ohio Arts Council’s general operating support grant-making systems to learn how that funding could better serve all Ohio communities, with a special focus on assisting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and/or people of color), rural, low-income and disabled populations. This session shares insights and lessons learned that may be relevant to other states.
Kelly J. BarsdateChief Program and Planning Officer
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Donna CollinsExecutive Director
Ohio Arts Council
Feby EmelioExecutive Associate to the Chief Program and Planning Officer
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Angela HanPartner
Third Eye Cultural Collaborative
Count Basie Ballroom C & C1, Second Level
After some brief business, the closing ceremonies include the first showing of the new member-created NASAA blockbuster film, Animating NASAA.
To make this session more accessible, NASAA will be streaming it live for free. Email Eric Giles for log-in instructions for this session.
Business Meeting Materials and Virtual Participation Instructions