The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies joined Americans for the Arts in announcing the Atlanta Arts Accords in Atlanta last month. The proclamation brought together local, state and national arts leaders who reaffirmed their belief in and commitment to the value of public support for the arts.

"The Atlanta Arts Accords reflect NASAA's belief that it is time to celebrate and acknowledge the arts contribution to our nation and to thousands of communities across the country, which is made possible in large measure by public dollars," said Carol Brown, NASAA chair. "It is time to re-commit ourselves to the values outlined in the accords by joining federal, state and local leaders to ensure that successes of the past will be sustained in the future through a new generation of leaders." Brown joined representatives from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Congressional Arts Caucus, the National Governors Association, the National League of Cities, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of Counties in signing the proclamation.

Through an infusion of public and private dollars leveraged through this partnership, our nation has witnessed an explosive growth of theaters, dance companies, museums, orchestras and other arts organizations in villages, towns and cities throughout the country. Today, the non-profit arts sector generates almost $37 billion and creates 1.3 million full-time jobs. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies is the membership organization of the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. NASAA's mission is to advance and promote a meaningful role for the arts in the lives of individuals, families and communities throughout the United States. For more information visit NASAA's website at www.nasaa-arts.org or call 202/347-6352.

Fifty-three teachers from around the state attended the Ohio Arts Council's Summer Media Institute, a one-week program of professional and personal enrichment on the campus of Ohio University in Athens. Now in its 12th year, the Summer Media Institute is an intensive workshop in media art making and writing. Participants work with filmmakers, digital artists, writers and poets to develop writing and media skills. The goal of SMI is to build a stronger bridge between initial ideas and final outcomes in the art-making process and give teachers ideas to share with students in the coming school year. Faculty for the institute includes nationally known media arts experts, assisted by staff from the Ohio Arts Council's Arts in Education Program and Ohio University.

The Ohio River Border Initiative, a partnership between the Ohio Arts Council and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, is a creative way for the two agencies to break down barriers and support communities along the river. ORBI will continue to serve artists, arts organizations and community arts programs in 21 counties that touch the Ohio River.

Ohio's Appalachian counties are Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingham, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.

Counties served by ORBI include Brooke, Cabell, Hancock, Jackson, Marshall, Mason, Ohio, Pleasants, Tyler, Wayne, Wetzel and Wood in West Viginia and Athens, Belmont, Columbiana, Gallia, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe and Washington in Ohio.