Photographer Ashley Merlin recently talked to the Arts Council about publishing her new book, Statuesque New Orleans. In this quick interview, Ashley talks about:

• The book publishing process.
• Publicizing her book.
• Online sales.
• Working with bookstores.
• What artists should know before publishing their book.

Check it out!

Want to see it full screen? Click here.  

Americans for the Arts urges all individual artists and arts organizations to register online for a free Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) number—or if they already have a D&B number, to ensure that they are accurately coded as an arts-related business. 

Since 2004, Americans for the Arts has produced the Creative Industries: Business & Employment in the Arts report, a study of the nonprofit and for-profit arts-related businesses in America. In 2008, our analysis revealed that roughly 612,095 arts businesses employed 2.98 million people. But we know this is an undercount! 

The Creative Industries research uses D&B data to document the number of arts-related businesses and employees in any geographical region or political jurisdiction. If you don’t have a D&B number, then you are not represented in the data. Do your part to help advance the arts in America—SIGN UP AND BE COUNTED.

Americans for the Arts has compiled step-by-step directions that will guide you through the process of registering with Dun & Bradstreet using their website. The application process takes less than 10 minutes. It’s fast and it’s free.

To take the next step, click below to obtain more information:

• If you’re ready to Sign Up and Be Counted, view instructions for signing up with Dun & Bradstreet.
• If you already have a DUNS number, view directions for updating your business profile.
• If you still have questions, view our FAQs page or download the Sign Up and Be Counted resource guide.

To Preserve the City’s Culture with Government as a Partner

Study after study has proven that at least 85% of artists are active in their community and VOTE! The Arts Council of New Orleans represents our unique community of artists. The cultural economy is the 2nd largest employer in Louisiana, and the culture of New Orleans is known worldwide.

The Arts Council of New Orleans encourages the creation of a Cultural Policy for the City of New Orleans to preserve, encourage, support and promote the cultural traditions of New Orleans. The Cultural Policy should provide culture stature and credibility, and act as a guide for city officials, artists of all mediums and for the public at large. The Arts Council recommends that the new Mayor and City administration acknowledge and undertake the following:

More information below, or to download this as a PDF, please click here.

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The National Arts Index is a highly-distilled annual measure of the health and vitality of arts in the U.S. using 76 national-level indicators of arts and culture activity. This report covers an 11-year period, from 1998 to 2008. This National Arts Index encompasses one of the largest collections of data on arts and culture in the U.S. ever assembled. The information has been gathered from reputable government and private sector sources and covering multiple industries--nonprofit and for-profit arts organizations, artists, funding and investment, employment, attendance and personal creation, and much more. Click here to download the pdf. 

The National Endowment for the Arts has released its 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. This report describes U.S. adult arts participation in 2008. It shows attendance at live arts events (such as concerts, plays, and dance performances), as well as the number and percentage of adults visiting art museums and reading literature. The survey also investigates arts participation through broadcast and recorded media, the Internet, and personal participation such as singing in choirs or making photographs. In addition, the report discusses demographic and geographic differences in arts participation, compares 2008 rates to those found in 1982, 1992, and 2002, and summarizes 2008 results by art form.

To download the report, please go to www.nea.gov/research/2008-SPPA.pdf 

Network for Good is excited to share 7 Steps to Better Email Fundraising and Communications.

To download the guide, please visit www.fundraising123.org/ebook. 

New from the Wallace Foundation, "The Qualities of Quality: Understanding Excellence in Arts Education". Harvard researchers at Project Zero explore what first-rate arts education entails and offer tools to help educators and others make smart choices about arts education in schools and communities.

To download your free copy, please visit
www.wallacefoundation.org/KnowledgeCenter 

On June 4, 2009, the Arts Council's Cole Bernstein and Gene Meneray sat down with Kristen Evans and Dennis Monn of New Orleans Fringe Inc for a conversation about the successes of the Fringe Festival, plans for future festivals and performances, the state of the performing arts community in New Orleans, and tips and ideas for others looking to create a start-up arts organization.

This conversation is available for free streaming through our website. The conversation lasts roughly 15 minutes, and can be listened to by clicking here.  

To learn more about filing for tax exempt sales of original works of art within a defined Louisiana Cultural Disrict, please see these instructions from the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism.

For the Original Works of Art form from the Dept of Revenue, please click here.

For City of New Orleans Sales Tax Information click here.