GIA Blog

A new online tool, MuseumStat, and its corresponding iOS app called MuseumFinder map out museums across the United States and the communities they serve. The project was funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Neville Vakharia, an assistant professor and research director of arts administration in Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design led this research and development effort with a goal of not only gathering important data, but visualizing that data through an easily accessible tool to help the museum field make data-driven decisions.

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design (CCCD) has announced a new, pilot grant initiative that will support the expanding definition of craft-based research and promote collaboration between the fields of craft, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program is supported by the Windgate Fund at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

For the month of September, GIA’s photo banner features projects supported by New Mexico Arts, New Mexico’s state arts agency. New Mexico Arts is advised by a 15-member, governor-appointed arts commission. It provides financial support for arts services and programs to non-profit organizations and administers the 1% pubic art program statewide.

Roberto Bedoya has been appointed as the City of Oakland’s first Cultural Affairs Manager. Bedoya will oversee the City’s Cultural Affairs Unit, housed in the City’s Department of Economic and Workforce Development. The unit includes the City’s public art program and cultural funding program. He will also provide leadership for new initiatives such as completing a cultural plan for the city, supporting cultural districts within the City of Oakland, and growing a technical assistance program to help artists and arts organizations build capacity.

In a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Justin Laing writes about grantee inclusion as “a critical and important step toward mutual accountability; when implemented deeply, it lets us imagine even more far-reaching practices of accountability, transparency, and partnership between grantmakers and grantees.” The article highlights work that The Heinz Endowments has done to develop mutual accountability between the organization and its Transformative Arts Process advisory board.

Joint Affinity Groups and its core partners – Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Association of Black Foundation Executives, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, Native Americans in Philanthropy, Hispanics in Philanthropy, and Women’s Funding Network – have transformed their coalition into CHANGE Philanthropy. The coalition works “to raise the level of dialogue and shift practice among funders so that philanthropic dollars are dispersed through equitable practices.”

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) has announced that CEO Mary Kennedy, who has held the position since 2002, has resigned her position effective October 1, 2016. Kennedy’s decision to resign comes after 27 years of service to M-AAA. She will provide consulting services to M-AAA until a new CEO is in place.