February Member Spotlight on Rozsa Foundation
Throughout February our photo banner will feature organizations and individuals supported by the Rozsa Foundation, a family foundation located in Calgary. The foundation's broad strategic categories include building administrative capacity in arts organizations, supporting the arts and arts education, and positively influencing public opinion of and support for the arts.
Below, in their own words, Rozsa Foundation staff describe several ongoing initiatives:
In 2002, the Rozsa Foundation initiated an Excellence in Arts Management Award, the first step in a strategic effort to promote and reward excellence in arts administration throughout Alberta. 2012, the ten year anniversary of the award, saw the achievement of the foundation’s goals. The Business School at the University of Alberta introduced a new MBA course in arts management, and a professional certificate program presented by the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary completed its pilot year.
The Excellence in Arts Management Award has inspired other capacity-enriching endeavors by the foundation. Building on the experience of conducting a marketing audit or doing community research in local arts organizations, Haskayne graduates are offered a nonprofit governance seminar and are subsequently matched to the boards of arts companies. This program is already very effective in retaining local talent and strengthening behind-the-scenes work. Starting this year, graduates will also have the opportunity to work directly with the management of arts organizations by conducting marketing workshops and helping with the implementation of marketing grants.
Apart from the arts administration focus, the Rozsa Foundation is the first Cornerstone Partner in Kids Go Global, an initiative designed to inspire global citizenship and philanthropic practice through the arts. Under the auspices of the foundation, academic researchers are observing the increase in student engagement, social empathy, and entrepreneurship that follows a one-week physical theatre residency. The Foundation is privileged to help Kids Go Global pilot the program and to position it to grow nationally.
2013 brings another civic election to Calgary. The Rozsa Foundation is known for its advocacy on behalf of the arts and its involvement in ArtsVote, a non-partisan organization that works to encourage and educate politicians in the development and support of progressive art policies. Gains in this arena are always exciting!
As a member of Grantmakers in the Arts, the Rozsa Foundation acknowledges all our colleagues. Throughout the year, we look forward to reading about all your individual efforts and their collective benefit on the arts.
Photo: The Calgary Fiddlers. Courtesy Rozsa Foundation.