RESOURCES & PARTNERS
The Commission maintains active partnerships with federal, regional, and state arts service organizations through receipt of funds, delivery of funds, and joint programming. This allows us to broaden services and to ensure broad access to the arts throughout Idaho.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA), an independent agency of the federal government, was created in 1965 to encourage and assist the nation’s cultural resources. The mission of the NEA is to foster the excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts in the United States, and to help broaden the availability and appreciation of such excellence, diversity, and vitality. The Endowment funds a significant percentage of the Commission’s annual budget through a state partnership grant. In addition, we receive funds in competitive Endowment grant programs 202-682-5400; www.arts.gov.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF STATE ARTS AGENCIES (NASAA) is the membership organization of the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Their mission is to advance and promote a meaningful role for the arts in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. They empower state arts agencies through strategic assistance that fosters leadership, enhances planning and decision making, and increases resources. For the past 30 years, the state arts agencies have invested in our nation’s cultural life by nurturing artistic endeavors and affording millions of people a greater opportunity to participate 202-347-6352; www.nasaa-arts.org.

WESTERN STATES ARTS FEDERATION (WESTAF) is a nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to the creative advancement and preservation of the arts. WESTAF fulfills its mission to strengthen the financial, organizational, and policy  structure of the arts in the West by providing innovative programs and services. WESTAF works in partnership with the NEA and twelve participating western state arts agencies. WESTAF is engaged in an array of internet-related projects designed to benefit the arts community of the West. 303-629-1166; www.westaf.org.

ARTS NORTHWEST is the Northwest’s performing arts consortia supported in part by the Arts Commissions of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; as well as WESTAF and the NEA. It is a membership organization facilitating professional interaction among performing arts presenters, artists, management, and arts service providers throughout the western US and Canada. Arts Northwest produces the Annual Northwest Booking Conference, hosts the industry’s Virtual Exhibit Hall, manages professional development and workshops for the field, produces publications such as NW on Tour, a juried roster of available performing artists and the Annual Membership Directory and Resource Guide. It is central to performing and touring life in the western United States. 360-457.9290; www.artsnw.org.

ARTS FOR IDAHO, founded in 1987, advocates on behalf of more than 50 arts agencies statewide. Its mission is to enhance the state of arts in Idaho by fostering a unified cooperative spirit among artists and art advocates; increase the level of awareness and appreciation of Idaho's quality artists and arts organizations and encourage greater funding for the arts from public and private sectors. Building arts awareness depends upon getting a consistent message to lawmakers and finding champions for the arts in our legislature. Except for a paid lobbyist, Arts for Idaho is a volunteer-based organization funded by membership fees. www.artsforidaho.org.

 

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