All Posts By

Ben Casalino


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Bi-Weekly Recap: April 20, 2020

By Board of Trustees Bi-Weekly Recap
Hello WESTAF Trustees: Really hope that all of you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. Like me, you may have whiplash thinking how quickly priorities have shifted in just weeks. I hope you are finding ways to maintain your physical, mental and emotional resilience. That can be especially hard when life consists of juggling uncertainties and letting go of the things that can’t be controlled. It’s a lot! At WESTAF, our work community has moved to Slack — conversation threads, topic channels, daily check-ins, video calls, music playlists, snack tips, recipes and pet photos. Everyone on the WESTAF...
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Update Notes #90 | January 2017

By Advocacy, Convenings, Events, News, Newsletter, Policy, SAAs, Updates, ZAPP
WESTAF Update Notes #90 | January 2017 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 90th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF Sixth Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar For the sixth consecutive year, WESTAF will bring 60 arts advocates from the West to Washington, DC. During the January 30 through February 1 meeting, participants will learn more about the current and planned future work of the NEA, hear updates on federal-level advocacy efforts, and meet with their members of Congress. The speaker for the Seminar’s opening dinner is Sam Stein, senior politics editor at the...
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Update Notes #87 | April 2016

By Advocacy, Articles, CaFE, Convenings, CVSuite, Events, Newsletter, Policy, SAAs, Tech, Updates, ZAPP
WESTAF Update Notes #87 | April 2016 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 87th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF Hessenius Report on Nonprofit-Arts Communications Released Last year, Barry Hessenius, the editor ofBarry’s Blog, surveyed the nonprofit arts field to obtain information about how administrators in the nonprofit arts use communications within the sector. The inquiry explored a variety of subjects, including: a) which communications tools are currently used by arts-organization personnel; b) which sources of information are most valued and trusted by arts-organization personnel;  c) how arts administrators are managing the high...
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Update Notes #86 | January 2016

By Advocacy, Convenings, Events, Newsletter, Updates, Videos
WESTAF Update Notes #86 | January 2016 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 86th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF. Speaker Announced for 2016 Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar In early February, WESTAF will bring 60 arts advocates from the West to Washington, DC for the fifth consecutive year. During the meeting February 2-4, the participants in WESTAF's Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar will learn more about the current and planned future work of the NEA, update themselves on federal level advocacy efforts, and meet with their members of Congress. The speaker for...
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Update Notes #85 | October 2015

By Advocacy, Convenings, Newsletter, Policy, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, Tech, Updates
WESTAF Update Notes #85 | October 2015 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director 
This is the 85th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF Performing Arts Discovery Advisory Committee Formed The NEA-initiated and funded Performing Arts Discovery project is moving forward. WESTAF has partnered with the Western Arts Alliance (WAA), the region's stand-alone presenter service organization, to realize the project's goals. One of the first action steps is convening an advisory committee in Denver October 29-30. The committee, composed of experts from the United States and abroad, will advise WESTAF and WAA on the most productive methods...
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Update Notes #84 | July 2015

By CaFE, Convenings, Events, Newsletter, PAA, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, Tech, Updates
WESTAF Update Notes #84 | July 2015 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 84th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF Applicants Sought for 2015 Emerging Leaders of Color Program Applicants are currently being invited to apply to participate in the WESTAF seminar for emerging leaders of color. The seminar will be held October 26-28, 2015, in Denver. Selected participants are invited to attend the seminar at no cost, and travel and lodging expenses are paid by WESTAF. Organized by Chrissy Deal, WESTAF's program associate for multicultural initiatives, participants work with a core faculty...
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Update Notes #83 | May 2015

By CaFE, CVSuite, Events, GO, Newsletter, PAA, Tech, Updates, ZAPP
WESTAF Update Notes #83 | May 2015 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 83rd in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF Visit Our Exhibitor Table at the AFTA Convention in Chicago Several WESTAF staff will be attending the Americans for the Arts Convention June 12-14, in Chicago. We invite you to stop by our table and say hello! Program, technical, management, and sales staff will be available to answer questions about current WESTAF projects and to provide updates on some of our latest projects as well. This year’s table will feature the recently launched...
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Update Notes #82 | March 2015

By CaFE, Convenings, CVSuite, GO, Newsletter, Policy, Updates
WESTAF Update Notes #82 | March 2015 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 82nd in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF WESTAF-Region Arts Advocates Convene in Washington, DC For the fourth consecutive year, WESTAF brought 50 arts advocates to Washington for an advocacy and leadership seminar. The purpose of the seminar was for participants to learn more about federal arts funding and also for them to communicate the value of federal support for the arts to their members of Congress. The meeting opened with a presentation by political strategist and former Obama campaign official...
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Update Notes #81 | December 2014

By Convenings, Newsletter, SAAs, Social Responsibility & Inclusion, Updates
WESTAF Update Notes #81 | December 2014 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 81st in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF WESTAF Convenes Emerging Arts Leaders of Color In early October, WESTAF hosted its fourth annual Emerging Leaders of Color Professional Development Seminar. The program brings together diverse cultural leaders recognized for their professional achievements and also their strong commitment to advancing the arts in the region. Coursework and activities are designed to strengthen competencies and prepare participants for leadership positions in the field. The coursework is also designed to deepen participants’  understanding of...
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Update Notes #80 | July 2014

By Advocacy, CaFE, CVSuite, Newsletter, Policy, SAAs, Updates
WESTAF Update Notes #80 | July 2014 From Anthony Radich, Executive Director This is the 80th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF Resolutions Project Prepares for Public Launch To help state leaders understand how to make more and better use of their state arts agencies, WESTAF has launched the Resolutions Project. The project is designed to inform elected officials and other leaders of ways they can partner with state arts agencies around education reform, economic development, tourism development, and other key state agenda items. Currently, the project is being introduced to the governing boards of the...
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