National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Maria Rosario Jackson and a small team of NEA staff visited Alaska August 20 through August 23, 2024. This was Chair Jackson’s first trip to Alaska and included site visits to organizations and the opportunity to meet with artists and arts leaders in Anchorage, Bethel, and Juneau. The group learned about the challenges artists are facing and opportunities for the future, as well as how the integration of arts and culture is supporting the health and well-being of individuals and communities throughout the state. 

A big thank you to Alaska State Council on the Arts’ (ASCA) Chair Ben Brown and Executive Director Andrea Noble for working to plan such a meaningful trip. The following slide show represents some highlights. All photos courtesy of NEA staff

“It’s a big beautiful place and it’s humbling to be here,” Chair Jackson told KTOO in Juneau. “One can be in awe and wonder on so many fronts.”