Samantha Ortega, Author at WESTAF

Jul 01

American Rescue Plan Now Accepting Applications

WESTAF is Now Accepting Applications for its American Rescue Plan (ARP) Fund for Organizations

By Samantha Ortega Grants, WESTAF News

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts (Arts Endowment), WESTAF will manage the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Fund for Organizations. WESTAF ARP is a competitive grant program that provides general operating support to arts and cultural organizations in the West that are most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apply!

Jun 22

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WESTAF Receives Transformational Gift from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett

By Samantha Ortega WESTAF News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Leah Horn 303.629.1166 leah.horn@westaf.org DENVER, CO—The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) is the recipient of a one-time, unrestricted gift of $8 Million from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett. The gift is part of a new round of 286 grants from the philanthropists, totaling $2.74 billion. In her most recent post, Mackenzie Scott writes: “Arts and cultural institutions can strengthen communities by transforming spaces, fostering empathy, reflecting community identity, advancing economic mobility, improving academic outcomes, lowering crime rates, and improving mental health, so we evaluated smaller arts organizations creating these benefits with artists and audiences from culturally...

Jun 15

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14 Western Organizations Receive National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Grants

By Samantha Ortega Grants, WESTAF News

Fourteen organizations in the WESTAF region are part of a group of 61 organizations nationwide selected to receive a 2021-2022 NEA Big Read grant. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Read the Full Release

Jun 08

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Performing Arts Discovery Call Featured Image

The U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, Led by WESTAF, and the Western Arts Alliance (WAA) are Pleased to Announce the Performing Arts Discovery Program

By Samantha Ortega Programs, WESTAF News

The National Endowment for the Arts launched the PAD program in 2015 to promote U.S. artists to international programmers, festival directors, and venue managers. Read the Full Release

May 07

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WESTAF’s CVSuite™ and Public Art Archive™ Announce 6 Can’t-Miss Public Art Stops of the Southwest

By Samantha Ortega Special Projects, WESTAF News

New Creative Vitality™ List showcases creative cities with full public art collections DENVER, CO, May 7, 2021—Following up on its Top 10 Music Cities and 30 Most Creative Small Cities lists, Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), a nonprofit arts service organization and leading provider of innovative web services for the arts, is excited to announce the newest Creative Vitality List: 6 Can’t-Miss Public Art Stops of the Southwest. The third in a series of data-driven lists that profile and celebrate the arts, culture, and creativity of America's most vital and vibrant places and spaces, 6 Can’t-Miss Public Art Stops of...

Mar 24

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WESTAF Welcomes New Director of Social Responsibility and Inclusion Anika Kwinana

By Samantha Ortega Staff, WESTAF News

Anika Kwinana will join WESTAF in early April 2021 as director of social responsibility and inclusion, to inform and develop a range of equity-centered learning experiences that connect and inspire leaders and communities to build a more inclusive arts and culture sector. Anika joins WESTAF from her position as manager of national education initiatives at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she has worked since 2018. There, Anika ensured that arts professionals were equipped with relevant professional learning and support as they sought to provide equitable access to the arts among public school students. This work...

Mar 23

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WESTAF Welcomes the 2021 Emerging Leaders of Color Cohort

By Samantha Ortega Programs, WESTAF News

Since 2010, WESTAF's Emerging Leaders of Color program has convened nearly 100 racially and ethnically diverse leaders working in the arts in the western United States for high-level leadership seminars that have impacted the field of arts administration. Due to the ongoing pandemic and necessary program modifications, we moved our 2021 ELC program online. The virtual convening is currently underway, taking place March 18-19 and 22-24, 2021. We are pleased to announce that the following participants have been selected for WESTAF’s 2021 Emerging Leaders of Color program. 2021 Emerging Leaders of Color Cohort Delbert Anderson, Artist/Educator, DDAT Management | San...

Mar 22

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WESTAF Statement on Murder of Asian American Women and Others in Georgia

By Samantha Ortega WESTAF News

WESTAF stands with our colleagues, friends, associates, partners, and constituents in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, particularly Asian and Asian American women, who are facing escalating hatred, xenophobia, and violence in a climate of racial animus and scapegoating across the nation. We express our condolences to the families of the eight people confirmed to have lost their lives and others who have been affected by the senseless acts of violence in Atlanta—Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and...