State arts agencies were established to promote quality arts programs that reach diverse audiences. But many are now contending with tightening budgets and a lack of broad awareness of their public value. This first in a series of RAND reports traces the history of these organizations, explains what some innovative Wallace-supported state arts agencies are doing to broaden audiences, build legislative support and measure their own progress, and offers suggestions on how they can arrive at more robust missions that can help strengthen their public and political support.