Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading arts advocacy organization, will publish a book series that explores the power of the arts and humanities to foster civic engagement and dialogue, based on the findings from its Animating Democracy initiative. The program, funded by the Ford Foundation from 2000 to 2004, supported a wide range of arts and cultural organizations across the country to develop arts and humanities activity that encouraged civic dialogue on important contemporary issues. The seven titles study the role of these cultural institutions, highlight best practices and outcomes from their endeavors, and identify the challenges and complexities in arts-based public dialogue work. The series is timely as there is growing interest among civic leaders and community developers in utilizing the arts as civic agents. Artists and cultural organizations are bringing their creative energies in encouraging and facilitating greater civic participation on issues that affect communities, the nation, and the world. Th above information was provided via Cultural Commons Member Announcements. For further information, CLICK HERE