Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts Institute for Community Development and the Arts, fosters arts and cultural activity that encourages and enhances civic engagement and dialogue. It is based on the premise that democracy is animated when an informed public is engaged in the issues affecting people’s daily lives. The arts and humanities can contribute unique programs, settings, and creative approaches that reach new and diverse participants, stimulate public dialogue about civic issues, and inspire action to make change.

Goals

Americans for the Arts works to strengthen the role of artists and cultural organizations in civic life. Animating Democracy supports this intent through these goals:
  • Advance aesthetic and programmatic experimentation and innovation in civically engaged arts and humanities.
  • Strengthen the role and organizational capacity of arts and cultural institutions engaged in this work.
  • Build the body of knowledge about this work and increase access to information and resources for arts and civic dialogue/engagement fields.
  • Increase understanding and exchange across artistic disciplines and with civic dialogue leaders about the philosophical, aesthetic, and practical aspects of arts-based civic dialogue/engagement.
  • Increase public understanding of the role of artists and arts and cultural institutions in civic life.

Activities

Animating Democracy helps to build capacity of artists and cultural organizations involved in a wide sphere of civic engagement work, including arts-based civic dialogue, through an integrated set of programs and services including:
  • News and Events on current arts- and humanities-based civic engagement activities.
  • Project Profiles and Case Studies describing recent arts-based civic engagement projects nationally.
  • Publications featuring books, essays and reports exploring arts- and humanities-based civic engagement.
  • Directories listing artists, cultural institutions, and dialogue professionals with experience designing creative civic engagement and dialogue programs on a wide range of contemporary issues.
  • Professional Development Programs and learning exchanges that offer opportunities to learn and share pioneering practices and innovative methods in arts- and humanities-based civic engagement work.
  • Resources and Technical Assistance Services for cultural and community organizations, museums and historic sites, seeking to develop arts- and humanities-based civic engagement activities.

Americans for the Arts is seeking new funds to continue making grants that support arts-based civic engagement efforts, but is not distributing grants at this time. Interested in future opportunities? The best way to learn about them is through subscription to our e-news. Visit the Register section of the site to be added to the list, or view past issues by checking out the e-news archives.

Leadership

Based at Americans for the Arts within its Institute for Community Development and the Arts, the Animating Democracy project staff includes: Barbara Schaffer Bacon and Pam Korza, co-directors; Michael del Vecchio, project associate; and Mara Walker, Americans for the Arts' Chief Planning Officer.

In addition, staff draw extensively upon a cadre of artists, cultural leaders, dialogue professionals, and community leaders who have come through the Animating Democracy learning network to help design, plan, implement, and assess Animating Democracy activities.

Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With a 40-year record of service, it is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.