Update on Americans for the Arts Events

It is an exciting time at Americans for the Arts, full of change and new energy. During 2022’s Strategic Realignment Process (SRP), we worked with members and other stakeholders to identify the specific and unique role of Americans for the Arts within the arts and culture community. Knowing that how we do our work is as important as what we do, we have adopted an Equitable Advocacy approach, which centers equity in all organizational practices, interactions, and programming in both approach and outcomes. While we continue to evaluate and evolve our offerings, here’s the latest update on some of our flagship events.

  • National Arts Action Summit—We are reimagining the Summit as a year-long advocacy program, complete with webinar trainings, D.C.-based Legislative Fly-ins to lobby members of Congress, and Fly-outs for advocacy training throughout the country. We invite you to take a brief Arts Policy Survey and share your top five federal legislative priorities by February 22, 2023, to help us focus federal advocacy efforts on the arts policy issues that mean the most to you.
  • Annual Convention—After two years of a virtual format during the pandemic, we were excited to come back together in person in 2022. For 2023, we are going to pause our Annual Convention as we recreate it for the future. Over the years, a large part of the Annual Convention was public art programming. For 2023, we will also be pausing public art programming as we evaluate our offerings.
  • National Arts Marketing Project Conference—In 2022, we paused the National Arts Marketing Project Conference (NAMPC) to focus on the conclusion of the SRP. As we continue to dive deeper into how we can best serve the field, we are reviewing all our programming. At this time, we don’t see NAMPC moving forward, and we are identifying resources that will continue to support the arts marketing community.

Event FAQs

Information and FAQs about the evolution of the National Arts Action Summit into the 2023 year of advocacy, can be found on this webpage.

Q: What is the reason that Americans for the Arts is making this programmatic change now?
A: In 2022, Americans for the Arts staff was asked to re-imagine our work to ensure it conforms to our values and mission, namely: 

  • Does the work address the priority needs of the field? 
  • Are we working as effectively as possible? 
  • Is the programming that we advocate for equitable? 
  • Are we partnering with organizations to elevate diverse voices?

Q: Is the Annual Convention being phased out?
A: As we continue to move through a year of design and planning, we are building out our engagement and convening strategies for connection with the field, and the field with each other. We understand the importance of convening, which is still a strong pillar of our work, however we have more work to do before we commit to future events. We look forward to engaging with you throughout the year to better understand how in-person and virtual events and convenings can support you and your communities.  

Q: Is the National Arts Marketing Project Conference (NAMPC) being canceled for good?
A: We learned a lot through the Strategic Realignment Process and have more to go. As we continue to dive deeper into how we can best serve the field through Equitable Advocacy, we are reviewing all our programming. At this time, we don’t see NAMPC moving forward, and we are identifying resources that will continue to support the arts marketing community.

Q: What’s happening to the overall programming of the National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP)?
A: The National Arts Marketing Project (NAMPC) was created by the Arts & Business Council/Arts & Business Council of New York, and became an Americans for the Arts program in 2005 when the two organizations merged. NAMP has helped arts marketers acquire and implement sophisticated marketing, technology, and entrepreneurial skills to increase earned income through greater audience engagement. Over the years, arts marketing has changed significantly. Social media and e-newsletters are now common tools, marketing staff at nonprofits are larger and more strategic, and other organizations have entered the space to offer training and resources. Throughout the Strategic Realignment Process, we learned that what the arts and culture sector wants most from Americans for the Arts is a focus on research and advocacy. As a result, we are currently discussing the best approach to sunset NAMP programming in a thoughtful way that ensures relevant resources remain available. We will also point to other resources and organizations best filling this need. We will share updates as this plan develops. Thank you to all those who participated in NAMP or NAMPC programming over the years.

Q: What about other Americans for the Arts events, like the Nancy Hanks Lecture, National Arts Awards, and Arts & Business Partnership Awards?
A: We are evaluating our other events to ensure they are equitably serving the needs of the arts & culture sector, and we will continue to update you as events and programs evolve. If you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected].  


ArtsU Webinars

Click on the buttons below to access Americans for the Arts online webinar content all year round. A selection of live webinars and on demand content is available. If you have any further questions about accessing Americans for the Arts webinars please emails us [email protected].

Please refer back to this page for the latest on Americans for the Arts events.