Featured Corporate Member

MACAA is a statewide service organization dedicated to strengthening community arts throughout Missouri. Founded in 1979 with the belief that the arts make communities better places to live, MACAA programs are designed to enhance the ability of local leadership to address the distinct artistic and cultural needs of their community.

MACAA’s Goals Are:

• To increase the effectiveness of community arts agency boards, staff and volunteers with professional development opportunities and direct technical assistance.
• To encourage networking among Missouri community arts agencies and artists to share information and to facilitate the development of working partnerships.
• To articulate the views and interests of Missouri community arts agencies and artists and to communicate issue of state regional and national significance.

“Through the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies I have learned that communities – large and small – are home to MANY champions for the arts. Leaders in the arts – individuals who give of themselves and whole-heartedly believe in the role the arts can, should and do play in their community. From an all-volunteer artist guild in Southwest Missouri presenting their annual member’s exhibit to a multi-staff metropolitan arts agency presenting a comprehensive public art program for residents and visitors alike.

An important lesson here is that there is no mold for what a community arts agency has to be or the programs it has to present. Regardless of the location, scope of programs and the organizational structure…arts leaders learn to listen, to do alot with a little, to be resilient and flexible. Our work is sometimes out front and is sometimes behind the scenes – it is ALL important!” – says Michael Gaines
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MACAA supports The Best of Missouri Hands, because like community arts agencies, local artists play a role in the community and they too work to enhance the communities they live in. Our agencies work hand in hand with the Best of Missouri Hands members through local gallery exhibits, festivals, art workshops and artist in residence programs – they serve on boards and committees of community arts agencies – and they too make our state a better place to live! MACAA is proud of the work of BOMH and gladly supports another organization who holds a similar belief that: The Arts Strengthen Communities.

MACAA is led by:

• Teresa Fankhauser, President
• Michael Gaines, Executive Director
• Kristi Kittleson, Project Coordinator
• Kerrie Green-Otten, Office Assistant