Our Mission:
Advancing the arts as essential to life and learning for all Nebraskans. 

·       Nebraska is known for its many cultural opportunities and for a vibrant and creative environment that nurtures the development of students, artists, arts organizations and ethnic groups.  

Accomplishments:

Over the past few years, Nebraskans for the Arts and the Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education (now one organization) have...

-Developed a statewide arts advocacy network, which is called on for action regarding legislation at the state and national levels.

-Worked to propose legislation that will benefit arts organizations, individuals and communities in Nebraska. Such proposed legislation has included funding for the Cultural Endowment and tax breaks for art museums. Click here for more information.

-Attended Arts Advocacy Day in Washington DC, at which members were given the opportunity to meet with Nebraska's representatives about the importance of the arts in our state.

-Conducted and disseminated "The State of Arts Education in Nebraska" online survey that is used in advocacy efforts with elected officials.

-Developed a strategy, in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Education, to reinstate the Fine Arts Coordinator position in that agency.

-Created and maintained relationships with national organizations such as Americans for the Arts and the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.

-Co-hosted the Legislative Lunch and the Governor's Arts Awards with the Nebraska Arts Council. At the Legislative Lunch, we award the LaVon Crosby Award to a state senator who has shown outstanding support of the arts. The 2005 winners of the Crosby Award were Senator Roger Wehrbein (District 2) and Senator Don Pederson (District 42).

-Presented the Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award and Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Awards to districts and schools with noteworthy arts programs. Omaha Public Schools was awarded the 2006 Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award; Kearney Public Schools was the 2005 recipient. The 2006 Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Award winners are Catlin Arts Magnet and St. Cecilia Cathedral School, both in Omaha.

-Co-sponsored students to attend the Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Institute in Washington DC. The 2006 Nebraska representatives include Matthew Boring on trumpet and Yvonne Lin on violin. Both students are from Lincoln. In addition, Lauren Cook, a clarinetest and former Lincolnite, will be representing Indiana.

-In June of 2005, Senator Ben Nelson joined the Senate Cultural Caucus. The caucus was created to highlight the work of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

-Launched StateWide Advocacy Teams (SWAT) to promote arts education across the state.