DIRECTIVE	:	TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 23-98
TO	:	ALL STATE JTPA LIAISONS ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES ALL STATE WORKER ADJUSTMENT LIAISONS ALL ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER SYSTEM LEADS
FROM	:	DAVID HENSON Director Office of Regional Management
SUBJECT	:	Department of Labor and the National Endowment for the Arts Initiative

1. Purpose. a) To provide information on the Department of Labor's (DOL) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); b) To announce the "Coming Up Taller" Awards; and c) To encourage States and service delivery areas (SDAs) to nominate arts programs for the 1999 annual awards.

2. Reference. Training and Employment Information Notice No. 35-97.

3. Background. On February 22, Deputy Secretary of Labor Kathryn Higgins and NEA Chairman Bill Ivey, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate a partnership between the DOL and NEA.

   The purpose of this MOU is twofold: 1) to establish a forum for the agencies to share information; and 2) to develop initiatives to increase arts-related activities in training programs for at-risk youth.

   Under the MOU, DOL through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will provide leadership, program information, and program contacts at the Federal, State and local levels to the NEA, informing the employment and training community of State and local based arts organizations to encourage the development of local SDA joint arts/job training programs. The arts can provide within the workforce development arena valuable skills and career opportunities.

4. Linkages Between ETA and Arts Program. There is much potential for the involvement of the ETA's programs at the State and local levels with arts-related/arts-education projects. The recently signed MOU builds on the cooperative efforts already established between these two agencies. Many SDAs have forged linkages with arts programs. The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities' publication, "Coming Up Taller", includes examples of arts and humanities programs for at-risk youth, combining arts and job training. A copy of this document and a list of State Art Agencies were provided to the employment and training community in TEIN No. 35-97.

5. Coming Up Taller. NEA sponsors annual "Coming Up Taller" awards to recognize arts programs for youth. These national awards, which include a $10,000 prize, honor the exemplary work of community-based arts and humanities programs for children, especially for those youth whose family and community circumstances place them at-risk. The awards program represents an investment in our youth's future. This is an opportunity for JTPA programs with an arts component to be recognized.

   Programs may self-nominate. The nomination form for the 1999 Coming Up Taller Awards is attached along with a brochure which presents highlights of the ten honored programs for 1998. NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 2.

6. Action Required. States are encouraged to:

   • Nominate job training arts programs for the 1999 awards. States and SDAs may apply themselves or may wish to submit a joint application with the arts program with which they are involved.

   • Duplicate the awards nomination form and distribute the forms to SDAs interested in applying for Coming Up Taller awards.

   • Facilitate joint arts/job training workshops at appropriate DOL sponsored conferences.

7. Inquiries.  Questions on this TEIN should be directed to your Regional Office.

8. Attachments. 

   1. "Coming Up Taller" 1998 Awards Publication

   2. 1999 "Coming Up Taller Awards" Nomination Form (JTPA liaisons only)

NOTE: Attachments not available to DMS