GIA Blog

Winter 2016 Reader is Online
Posted on March 16, 2016 by Steve

The Winter 2016 edition of the GIA Reader is now available from our online library. You will find our annual snapshot of arts and culture funding data from Foundation Center, plus a report from The Summit on Creativity and Aging in America, and articles on Building Equity in the Arts, Crowdsourcing Cultural Policy, the field of Teaching Artists, Arlene Goldbard on The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, and more.

See the full issue here.

Report Examines the Emerging Maker Movement in U.S. Cities
Posted on March 15, 2016 by Monica

The National League of Cities has released a new report examining the maker movement across major U.S. cities. How Cities Can Grow the Maker Movement summarizes the characteristics of the maker movement, how the movement has grown, how local governments have been involved, and the challenges faced. The report also makes recommendations on how city policymakers can support the movement locally.

Hewlett Report Looks at Generational Change in Leadership Approach
Posted on March 14, 2016 by Steve

From John McGuirk, announcing the release of a report, “Moving Arts Leadership Forward: A Changing Landscape” on The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation blog:

At the heart of the findings is a challenged definition of “leadership.” Members of younger generations often see leadership as the fostering of a culture of connectedness, collaboration, and change—they believe leadership is rooted in the efforts of many. This view is in contrast to the more traditional, hierarchical structures and practices of many arts organizations and funders.
A+ Denver Evaluates School District Progress in Arts Education
Posted on March 9, 2016 by Monica

A new report released by A+ Denver examines the progress of a $40 million investment to improve arts education in Denver Public Schools. A Retrospective on Arts Education in Denver evaluates DPS progress in nine areas – including curriculum development, student assessment, and equitable access to quality programs – and makes recommendations for the future.

New Mexico Senator Udall Introduces CREATE Act
Posted on March 8, 2016 by Monica

From the office of Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M), posted to KRWG:

Today in a speech at the National Arts Summit in Washington, D.C., New Mexico Senator Tom Udall introduced the Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act. The new bill intends to support individual artists, arts institutions, and communities by reducing economic barriers and recognizing the powerful role of the arts in the U.S. economy.
Who Will Be the Next Arts Revolutionary?
Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve

By Shawn Lent, Katie Ingersoll, Michael Feldman and Talia Gibas, posted to Createquity:

Opinions about the nonprofit arts model — the fundamental legal and business structure in which arts nonprofits in the United States work — are as numerous and varied as 501(c)(3)s themselves… While that system may seem “fossilized” to some, the truth is that most arts nonprofits today are younger than most of our parents. The boom of arts nonprofits has been a relatively recent phenomenon, and it came about thanks in large part to a handful of individuals who intentionally put it into motion.
The Arts in the Small Community
Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve

From Doug Borwick, posted to his blog Engaging Matters:

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the start of The Arts in the Small Community project led by Robert E. Gard, and we invite you to celebrate with us! Robert E. Gard was a visionary in the field of community arts. While many people in the 1940’s and beyond were talking about “access” to the arts for people, typically, that meant that Everyman should be in the audience or the gallery to witness America’s finest artists.
Your Radical Guide To Fighting Discrimination In The Arts
Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve

From Tricia Tongco, Social Media Editor for Arts & Culture at The Huffington Post:

Since 1985, the Guerrilla Girls have been raising a much-needed ruckus over gender and racial inequality in the art world, under the leadership of seven anonymous, masked women. For over 30 years, they've publicly condemned museums that fail to collect or showcase women artists and artists of color, using facts, humor and "outrageous visuals." After decades of work, they show no signs of stopping.
Caitlin Strokosch Named New President & CEO of NPN/VAN
Posted on March 4, 2016 by Steve

The National Performance Network, including the Visual Artists Network (NPN/VAN), has named Caitlin Strokosch as its new President and CEO. Strokosch will assume responsibilities in July 2016 and will succeed MK Wegmann, who is retiring after 15 years of leading NPN/VAN. She is currently executive director of the Alliance of Artists Communities and serves on the GIA Board of Directors.

Strokosch has served the Alliance of Artists Communities, ­­an international association of artist residency programs since 2002, and was named executive director of the organization in 2008. Her selection comes after an national search that generated a pool of qualified candidates.

2015 Otis Report on the Creative Economy for LA Published
Posted on March 3, 2016 by Steve

The 2015 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of the Los Angeles Region, is now available online. The annual report is prepared for Otis College of Art and Design by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, a lobbying organization funded by LA businesses.