Jaime Sharp's Blog

"There shouldn’t be anything controversial about drag, a multidisciplinary art form that weaves together fashion, acting, song, and dance," said Beatrice Thomas and Lane Harwell for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. "From the time of Shakespeare, when female roles were performed by men, to the vaudeville circuit and the Harlem Renaissance, drag has been a means of expression that cuts across history, cultures, and continents."

From ADC Consulting: Primarily serving individual artists and artmaking entities, ASOs frequently provide the greatest benefits to the least resourced artists and groups through capacity building, networking, advocacy, grantmaking, arts education, and/or industry research.

From the University of Michigan Dearborn: Do you know UM-Dearborn alumni who are making a positive impact like these Alumni Difference Makers? Our alumni are “difference makers” who have continued the university’s legacy of leadership in their lives and careers through their contributions to the university and community. You are invited to join us in honoring deserving UM-Dearborn graduates at this year’s 2023 Alumni Difference Makers Awards ceremony during Homecoming week.

From The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation: Our investments are guided by the fundamental belief in the power of live theatre to spark dialogue, bring different viewpoints together on challenging subjects, and provide a lens to process the critical issues of contemporary society.  

"Minnesota is known for its lively arts and culture scene, but a strong arts culture doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes loyal audiences and organizations that support the arts," Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom for MPRNews. "One of the key funding organizations for artists in Minnesota is the Jerome Foundation, a private foundation that's been around since the 1960s. Hundreds of Minnesota filmmakers, playwrights, choreographers, poets and other artists got a boost early in their career through a Jerome Foundation grant."

From Whippoorwill Arts: In 2020, we embarked on multi-phase research efforts with these guiding questions in mind: All with a focus on live performance - something no new technology will ever replace - also the main source of income and a fulfillment of deep desire for working musicians.

In recognition of National Arts in Education Week, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) reintroduced legislation to increase access to the arts for students. The Arts Education for All Act will support and encourage arts education and programming for our young children, K-12 students, and youth and adults involved in the justice system. It will help to close existing gaps in access to arts education, which has the potential to improve the lifelong health and success of both children and adults.

During National Arts in Education Week, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to increase access to the arts for students.

Bonamici’s Arts Education for All Act – introduced with Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) – will help close gaps in access to arts education by supporting and encouraging arts education and programming for young children, K-12 students, and youth and adults involved in the justice system.

From Pew Research Center: The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage (the Center) announced today that it has awarded 40 grants and fellowships totaling $9 million in support of Philadelphia-area cultural organizations and artists. The grants will fund public events and programs that celebrate the diverse and creative contributions of local artists and tell personal stories of prominent Philadelphians. Several projects highlight the role of the arts in grappling with illness, healing, and caretaking—especially since the pandemic—while others focus on contemporary expressions of cultural identity.

From PEAK Grantmaking: In early 2022, PEAK Grantmaking signed the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s Disability Inclusion Pledge, a call to the entire philanthropic sector “to recognize that ableism—the systemic stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities—is a core barrier to equity and inclusion,” asking organizations to “commit to a continuing learning and implementation process that will advance systemic change … and serve as models for disability inclusion in the philanthropic sector.”