NEA appoints L.A.'s Ayanna Hudson as arts education director The National Endowment for the Arts has named a new director for arts education, choosing an experienced cultural advocate from Los Angeles. Ayanna Hudson will assume the new position starting in July, the NEA said Thursday. Hudson comes from the L.A. County Arts Commission, where she led Arts for All, an initiative to return arts to schools' core curricula. Hudson will manage all stages of the grantmaking process for the organization's arts education program, the NEA said. The program benefits students and teachers through grants intended to go toward training and development of the arts. Hudson has worked as arts eduction director at the L.A. County Arts Commission since 2001. Her previous experience includes the School Arts Program at the Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture in Atlanta. Hudson will replace Sarah Cunningham, who left the NEA in July. In a statement, Hudson said she has a profound belief in the mission of NEA, and is looking "forward to spearheading strategic efforts to impact the lives of millions of youth through the arts." The L.A. County Arts Commission said it is planning a national search to find a replacement for Hudson. 'Hunger Games' ' Stanley Tucci to go to bat for arts funding NEA-style community-building via arts has lost ground in state Obama's 2013 budget calls for 5% increase for arts and culture Photo: Ayanna Hudson. Credit: Gregory Gilmer / L.A. County Arts Commission