Fostering Innovations in State Cultural Policy was a two-phase project commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts to encourage cultural policies that enhance resources for the arts and culture at the state level.
Phase 1: Phase one of the project began in March, 2001 with a feasibility study coordinated by RMC Research Corporation, beginning with a field scan of innovative state-level cultural policy in the arts, the humanities, folklife and historic preservation. Representatives from the various cultural fields, as well as policy experts, gathered to discuss what is needed to translate policy innovations into increased public support for culture and to encourage the transfer of ideas across the domains of culture as well as across state lines. The study was led by a partnership of national cultural organizations including: the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress; the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (the project grantee); the National Humanities Alliance; and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A report of the study titled "Policy Partners: Making the Case for State Investments in Culture", was released by Pew in July, 2002.
Phase 2: Beginning in March, 2002, the Center for Arts and Culture led phase two of the project, a one-year effort to assist cultural leaders and policymakers nationally to learn from, replicate or modify the success stories in Policy Partners. Partners in this effort included the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Humanities Alliance, the National Federation of State Humanities Councils, the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress and other national and state-based cultural groups.