Idaho Commission on the Arts

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Boise, ID
Idaho Commission on the Arts

The official state agency for the support and development of the arts in Idaho.

The Commission promotes excellence, education in the arts, access to the arts, and community investment in the arts. Its professional staff administers and develops the programs and services of the agency, assists grant applicants, and provides technical assistance. The board of thirteen commissioners, appointed to four-year terms by the Governor, sets policy for the agency and makes the final determination on grants and awards.

10/29/2026

Big news... Steven is leavin'!🤠👋 After 13 years as State Folklorist, Steven Hatcher is leaving the Idaho Commission on the Arts.

During his time with Arts Idaho, Steven uplifted our state’s folklife in countless ways. He oversaw the Folk Arts Fellowship and the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, which allow tradition bearers to strengthen and pass down their skills. He took on multiyear projects that documented the evolution of different aspects of Idaho’s folklife through in-depth interviews, performances and demonstrations, such as the Mexican Music Project and Expressive Idaho radio series. He’s traveled throughout the state for rodeos, festivals, performances, fairs and any other place where traditional arts are found to support this crucial aspect of Idaho’s living culture.

We are grateful for Steven’s valuable work and his dedication to artists across Idaho, and we’re so excited to see where his next adventure takes him!🐎

The Folk and Traditional Arts are a priority at the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and artist support and programming remain in place. At this time, any folk art and folklife inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

10/19/2026

Another session of Arts Learning Lab is just around the corner! 🥳 Join us online this Wednesday, October 21 for Supporting Every Learner in the Arts with special guest Sara Lucas-Dreiss!

Sara Lucas-Dreiss is a National Board-Certified Teacher in Exceptional Needs and an accessible arts specialist whose work has helped shape inclusive arts education at the state and national levels. She is the author of the Adapted Arts Teacher Knowledge Framework, which is being implemented by state education agencies to support visual and performing arts educators serving students across the spectrum of disabilities. A 2026 recipient of the Beverly Levett Ge**er Special Education Lifetime Achievement Award, she brings nearly three decades of professional expertise and lived experience as a disabled artist and educator.

Learn more and register at the link in our below, and we can't wait to see you there!

https://arts.idaho.gov/all/

10/15/2026

Good news! If you haven’t signed up for Poetry Out Loud yet, you now have until November 1😎

Each school year, Poetry Out Loud invites thousands of students and teachers to deeply engage with poetry and performance. This helps students build confidence, strengthen public speaking skills and experience poetry as something spoken, shared and alive. We are so excited to see what the 2026-2027 season has in store!

The winner of each institution-level contest is invited to the state final in Boise, and our Idaho champion goes on to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Final for prizes totaling $50,000 in cash awards and school stipends.

Schools will need to register by a staff member who will serve as the Poetry Out Loud lead, acting as the primary contact and coordinating the competition in your school. Other organizations, such as home school cooperatives and non-profits, are also welcome to host Poetry Out Loud contests.

Learn more at arts.idaho.gov at the link in our bio🔗

09/22/2026

Calling all high school educators in Idaho to register their schools for Poetry Out Loud! 📣‼️

Poetry Out Loud is a state and national level poetry recitation competition for high schoolers that promotes creativity, public speaking skills, self-confidence and more. It's an opportunity for students to deeply engage with poetry as something written, spoken and alive. Visit the link below to explore all this unique opportunity has to offer, from cash prizes to free resources to set students up for success and more. Registration deadline is Thursday, October 1.

https://arts.idaho.gov/poetry-out-loud/

09/15/2026

Have you heard? This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Northern Idaho, and it needs ornaments!🎄

Our nation’s Capitol is seeking handmade ornaments for the 2026 Christmas Tree by Monday, September 21. For the opportunity to have your ornament displayed on the tree at its final home on the West lawn of the U.S Capitol in Washington, D.C., all your ornament needs is...

✨Bright Colors
✨Ability to withstand any weather
✨Decoration on front and back
✨9-12 inches in size

For information on where to send ornaments and other important details, visit https://www.uscapitolchristmastree.com/make-an-ornament/linked in our story. Please note, the deadline for ornament submissions has not been updated on this site. Happy crafting!🤗

09/10/2026

Are you an arts educator looking to explore practical classroom management strategies to foster engaging, positive learning environments? Register for our upcoming session of Arts Learning Lab with special guest Terra Feast!🎨👩‍🎨🎻

Terra Feast is the K12 Professional Development Manager for Boise State’s Division of Extended Studies and an adjunct professor of art education. She began her career in museum education and has more than 20 years of experience developing interdisciplinary visual art content for learners of all ages. Terra holds a BA in Fine Arts from the College of Idaho and a Masters of Art in Art Education from Boise State University. She received the Idaho Art Education Association’s Idaho Art Educator of the Year award in 2015 and a Governor’s Award in the Arts for Innovation in the Arts in 2022. We are so excited for her to lead this session!

Register for this virtual session and learn more about upcoming sessions of Arts Learning Lab at the link below:

https://arts.idaho.gov/all/

09/09/2026

Join us in welcoming our newest Commissioner, Chenele Dixon!🥳

Chenele brings a broad background in public service, nonprofit leadership, education, and community engagement. She currently serves as Executive Director of Idaho Solutions and as a campaign consultant, and previously represented District 24 in the Idaho House of Representatives.

Her commitment to strengthening Idaho communities is reflected in her extensive volunteer leadership. She has served with the Kimberly School Foundation, the College of Southern Idaho Music Fest, the Magic Valley Youth Orchestra, Kiwanis and the Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho. During her legislative service, she was appointed to the Idaho Behavioral Health Council and continues to serve on its working groups.

Chenele believes the arts enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, preserve our history and create opportunities for people of all ages to connect across different backgrounds and perspectives. She is passionate about ensuring that artists, arts organizations and communities throughout Idaho have the support and resources they need for creativity and culture to flourish.

We are thankful for everything Chenele does for the arts in Idaho and are so excited to have her on our team!

09/01/2026

‼️Calling all Idaho high school students‼️ It's time to register for Poetry Out Loud!

Each school year, Poetry Out Loud invites thousands of high school students and teachers to engage with poetry and performance through this national poetry recitation competition. This helps students build confidence, strengthen public speaking skills and experience poetry as something spoken, shared and alive. We are so excited to see what the 2026-2027 season has in store!

Follow the link below to learn more about this exciting opportunity and register.

https://arts.idaho.gov/poetry-out-loud/

08/31/2026

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program!👯🎭

The Idaho Commission on the Arts has awarded seven mentor artists and their qualified apprentices $3,000 as part of the annual Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. For decades, this program has promoted learning partnerships between recognized mentor artists and an apprentice to perpetuate cultural traditions. Art forms specific to Idaho include saddle making, silversmithing, Nez Perce weaving, leatherworking and many more. Across the state, these art forms evolve in tandem with the communities they’re rooted in. Arts Idaho is committed to uplifting the state’s unique cultural legacy by recognizing over 500 Idaho native, folk and immigrant mentor artists and apprentices, who carry on these traditions and skills. As mentors share their knowledge, they strengthen the program by ensuring cultural continuity for future generations of tradition bearers.

Click the link below to learn more about the 2027 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship awardees.🔗

https://arts.idaho.gov/press/2027-traditional-arts-apprenticeships-awarded/

08/27/2026

Haven't had time to submit a nomination? No problem! The deadline to submit nominations for the 2026 Governor's Awards in the Arts has been extended to Tuesday, September 15. 🥳

The Idaho Commission on the Arts, on behalf of Governor Brad Little and First Lady Teresa Little, is seeking nominations for the 2026 Governor’s Awards in the Arts. The awards recognize and encourage excellence in the arts in Idaho and support awareness of the arts throughout the state. Nominees must be Idaho residents, businesses based in Idaho, organizations or communities that have, through creative accomplishments or distinguished service, made a significant contribution to the culture of Idaho.

To cast a nomination, you'll need...
⭐A brief description on why the nominee merits the award
⭐2-3 letters of recommendation
⭐Support materials (press articles, bio, resume, etc.)
⭐Artwork examples, if applicable

Visit the link below to learn more and submit a nomination🔗

https://arts.idaho.gov/opportunities/governors-awards-in-the-arts/

Address

2537 W. State Street Ste. 130
Boise, ID
83702

Telephone

+12083342119

Website

http://arts.idaho.gov/

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