Grantmakers in the Arts | Supporting a Creative America

February 5: Introduction to GIA Membership Web Conference

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Abigail

Are you a new member of Grantmakers in the Arts, or curious if a GIA membership is right for your organization? Registration is still open for the free Web Conference Introduction to GIA Membership, scheduled for Tuesday, February 5 at 11:00 PST, 2:00 EST. Please join GIA staff for a brief overview of GIA programs and the benefits of membership for arts funding organizations of all shapes and sizes. Q&A will follow.

Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change at 15 Months

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Steve

Talia Gibas reexamines the NCRP report “Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change” for the Createquity blog. Discussion naturally ensues.

“Fusing” contains a number of such arguments – about the role of philanthropy and of art in society – that are more values-driven than data-driven. In many cases those values align with my own. I believe, for example, that the arts provide concrete social benefit beyond simple aesthetic pleasure. I believe that all members of our society do not have equal access to that benefit, and that is a problem the private funding community can and should address. “Fusing” does a very good job of affirming those beliefs for me, both by calling attention to organizations doing some very compelling work with arts and social change, and by raising important questions about the extent to which entrenched inequities in early arts philanthropy continue to the present day.

New Guide Provides Arts Ed Information for Washington State Schools

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Steve

A new guide aims to provide information, tips, best practices, and tools for arts education in the state of Washington. smARTS for Students was developed through a partnership of ArtsEd Washington, a nonprofit organization dedicated to systemic change in arts education, and the Washinton State PTA.

Media Impact Funders Forum at Stanford, January 2013

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Tommer

Funders, technologists, media makers and social innovators came together for a daylong meeting to explore the next stage of media and technology funding. A nicely produced report in text and video can be found here.

Report: Current Approach To Strategic Philanthropy Is Limiting

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Steve

From The NonProfit Times:

The current top-down approach to strategic philanthropy limits its overall effectiveness, leading to a widening disparity between the amount of money invested in communities and what is actually being accomplished. That was the conclusion of a new study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), which pushed for a greater emphasis on social justice philanthropy.

The report, “Real Results: Why Strategic Philanthropy is Social Justice Philanthropy,” was written by Niki Jagpal, NCRP’s research and policy director, and Kevin Laskowski, the organization’s senior research and policy associate. The two authors argued that today’s strategic philanthropy practiced by nonprofits favors short-term metrics and is largely disconnected from the communities these organizations serve.

FAIC Cultural Recovery Center Accepting Damaged Works

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Steve

The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (FAIC) announced in late December the opening of the Cultural Recovery Center (CRC) in Brooklyn, New York. The CRC is offering space and to help owners of artworks damaged as a result of Superstorm Sandy. The CRC will offer volunteer assistance and work space to museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, galleries, collectors, and artists. The goal is not to provide free conservation treatment, but to provide guidance and assistance in the cleaning and stabilization of art and cultural materials.

#NEXTGENDONORS: Respecting Legacy, Revolutionizing Philanthropy

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Tommer

The Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, in partnership with the New York-based consulting group 21/64, has just released a major report, #NEXTGENDONORS: Respecting Legacy, Revolutionizing Philanthropy, that provides an in-depth study of next generation donors, those who are inheriting an unprecedented $40 trillion and are poised to be the most significant philanthropists in history.

Bill seeks to eliminate funding for Oklahoma Arts Council

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Steve

From Christopher Knight at the Los Angeles Times:

The arts in Oklahoma generate about $29 million in annual tax revenue for state coffers, according to a 2010 study by Americans for the Arts. So what does 23-year-old State Representative Josh Cockroft (R-Tecumseh) want to do? Eliminate the $4-million annual state subsidy to the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Study Finds Nonprofits Poor at Fundraising

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Steve

From Jillian Steinhauer at Hyperallergic:

Nonprofits across the US are stuck in a cycle that hinders their ability to raise money, a new report says. Commissioned by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund and conducted by CompassPoint, the study examines fundraising issues at nonprofits nationwide, and the results aren’t pretty. The authors of the report, which is titled “UnderDeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising,” conducted their research by interviewing 2,700 nonprofit executive directors and development directors.

Funding Active, Diverse Audience Engagement

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Abigail

Writing for her blog, Museum 2.0, Nina Simon reflects on a conversation with Ted Russell, senior program officer at The James Irvine Foundation, about the foundation's new Exploring Engagement Funds and the challenges inherent in what she defines as a field-rattling initiative.

Business Leaders Weigh in on Innovation and the Arts

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Tommer

“As arts education is slashed left and right in the schools as something not necessary to creating a competent work force, it is interesting to hear that exposure to the arts might make for more innovative business leaders, and that some leading business professionals value exposure to the arts as one of the tenants for establishing multi-dimensional, and thus, more competitive employees.”

Egypt’s art world rallies to defend freedom of expression

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Steve

From Anny Shaw for The Art Newspaper:

Artists, curators, critics and academics have united against president Mohamed Morsi and his controversial charter, which they say threatens freedom of expression and creativity. Resistance is increasing in other ways too—through mass protests, works of art in the street, open letters and artists’ statements. More demonstrations calling for a consensual constitution are expected on 25 January, the second anniversary of the revolution that swept through Egypt.

Experiences vs. Things, or Why the Emotional Rewards of Pro-Social Spending Outshine Those of Self-Interest

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Steve

From Maria Popova at Brain Pickings:

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants,” Ben Franklin is often (perhaps mis-)quoted as having proclaimed. In asking what you would do if money were no object, Alan Watts echoed Franklin as he advocated for liberating creative purpose from money-work. But what does science say? Count on AsapSCIENCE to illustrate the answer:

President Obama Awards Dr. Jan Vilcek the National Medal of Technology and Innovation

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Steve

NYU Langone Medical Center announced last week that President Barack Obama named Jan Vilcek, MD, PhD, professor of microbiology at NYU Langone Medical Center, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation. This year 11 individuals received this medal, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government upon scientists, engineers, and inventors. He will receive his award from President Obama at a White House ceremony later this year.

George Gund Foundation Announces Passing of George Gund III

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Steve

Geoffrey Gund, president of the board of trustees, made the following statement on behalf of The George Gund Foundation on the passing of George Gund III.

The deep sadness that my family feels at the passing of my brother George is shared by the entire extended family of The George Gund Foundation and, I am sure, by those who knew George through the Foundation’s work. He served faithfully and with honor as a trustee of the Foundation for 44 years, carrying out the wishes of our father, his namesake, to contribute to human well-being and the progress of society.

Rocco Landesman Sends Postcard from Retirement

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Steve

From Rocco Landesman for ArtWorks:

I’ve been officially retired now for 27 days, which seems like as good a time as any to reflect on my time at the NEA. I felt from the outset that if you were ever going to do public service, if you didn’t do it now in this administration, when you would ever do it? It was by chance, completely out of left field that the opportunity came up. Margo Lion—who was the chairman of the President’s Advisement Committee during the campaign—after the 2008 election came in and said, “Can you think of someone who’d be a really good NEA chair?” I put my hand up and said, “I’ll do it!” It struck me that this would be a real chance to do something different than I had ever done in my life. It would be an opportunity to meet new people and people who are very dedicated to making the country a better place. And that’s exactly what happened.

AFTA Taps Clayton Lord for VP Position

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Steve

Americans for the Arts has named Clayton Lord as its new Vice President of Local Arts Advancement. Lord will be responsible for developing and executing all Americans for the Arts programs and services that strengthen and validate local arts agencies and the many other individuals and organizations that advance arts, culture and artists at the local level. Previously, Lord served as Director of Communications and Audience Development for Theatre Bay Area in San Francisco, one of the largest regional arts service organizations in the United States.

NFF Holds 2013 “State of the Sector” Survey

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Steve

Nonprofit Finance Fund is conducting its fifth annual nationwide survey examining the current state of the nonprofit sector. The survey collects data on important financial and management issues facing the nonprofit sector and takes around 10 minutes to fill out. NFF will analyze the data it receives and share the results in late March.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka: How a Boy Became an Artist

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Abigail

At TEDxHampshireCollege, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author/illustrator of children's books and arts education advocate, delivers an inspiring talk on the family members, educators, and mentors that encouraged his childhood infatuation with drawing and storytelling. With humor and gravity, he links this encouragement to his success, as well as his ongoing efforts to encourage children to put creativity to paper.

What is “advocacy”?

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Steve

From Steven E. Mayer for Just Philanthropy:

The practice of advocacy has recently gained legitimacy and momentum as a strategy for promoting social change. Wikipedia recognizes advocacy as “a political process by an individual or group which aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions.” I would add that influencing private policy, such as used to govern private institutions and even community and family institutions, counts as well.