The Council on the Arts, founded in 1966, sponsors tours by performing artists, supports artists' residences in the schools, aids local arts projects, and purchases the works of living Alaskans for display in state buildings. In 2000, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded grants totaling $1,001,864 to 11 Alaska organizations. In 2003, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded grants totaling $789,200 to Alaska arts organizations. The funds were used for arts education and assistance for the nearly 90,000 artists who contributed to Alaska's art programs. Alaska is also a member state of the regional Western States Arts Federation.
By 1996, there were about 250 arts-related associations in Alaska and about 32 local art groups. Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage have symphony orchestras and Anchorage has a civic opera. The Alaska Repertory Theater tours the state. The annual Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau (est. 1975) is one of the largest cultural/musical festivals in the state, drawing over 10,000 people each year.