Maryo Gard Ewell and the Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation recently shared with Art of the Rural this never-before digitally published manuscript from Robert Gard’s 1982 keynote address at the National Association of Local Arts Agencies Conference (now Americans for the Arts) in Philadelphia. The talk is entitled "The Arts in Smaller Communities (And their Encouragement)."
Grantmakers in the Arts
by Tommer
With a massive boost in state funding for arts and cultural programs, Florida would likely jump to near the top of all states in per-capita spending. The Florida Legislature approved $43.3 million for the 2014-15 budget for all arts and culture, a 384 percent increase from current levels.
by Steve
From Barbara Pollack at ARTnews:
It’s been three decades since AIDS first made an impact on the New York art world, annihilating a community and activating one of the most highly effective artist-driven political movements of the 20th century. At that time, for every Keith Haring, David Wojnarowicz, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres lost to the disease, there were scores of lesser-known artists, such as Ray Navarro, Hugh Steers, and Robert Blanchon, who also left their mark with art that documented, protested, memorialized, and reinterpreted the devastation of the era.
by Steve
Jesse Rosen, President & CEO of the League of American Orchestras writes on Huffington Post:
The distinction between board and management is not about who knows more about running the business. Governing and managing are two different functions. But they necessarily intersect and appropriately blur boundaries when it comes to strategic and generative work. And this is where a good board adds value beyond its fiduciary role.
by Steve
From Sam Cholke at DNAinfo Chicago:
Artist Theaster Gates was awarded $3.5 million from the Knight Foundation Thursday morning to support his work using the arts to revitalize communities. “From my artistic practice, I learned early on that art has the capacity to change people's perceptions — not only about a concept or an idea, but also about a place,” Gates said in a statement released by the university Thursday morning.
by Steve
Philamplify an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy is, at its heart, a series of comprehensive reports conducted by highly regarded researchers assessing foundation grantmaking and operations. Assessments include key findings and recommendations, along with in-depth analysis of foundations’ funding strategies. By keeping these assessments public, Philamplify seeks to build a culture of transparency, mutual accountability and knowledge sharing.
by Steve
From Craig Watson, director of the California Arts Council, writing for Western City:
When the concept of creativity is combined with “community,” it evokes images of vibrancy, activity and prosperity. In terms of economic development, how important is California’s creative economy? Quite important, according to the Otis Report on the Creative Economy, released in late January 2014. The report notes that 7.8 percent of California’s gross state product is directly attributable to the creative industries, with an impact of more than $270 billion annually. The creative economy employs some 1.4 million people, either directly or indirectly.
by Steve
Barry Hessenius posts to Barry’s Blog:
There is fairly decent sector support for the effort required to protect the funding for the NEA. But that support (the response to rally cries to lobby one’s elected officials) is hardly universal. The quid pro quo for a lot of those who are willing to collaborate on a national advocacy platform to protect the Endowment’s funding is to be a recipient of that funding. Both large and small states benefit as do virtually all discipline areas. While the NEA’s budget isn’t huge, it is large enough so that a lot of people get something. Would the challenge of protecting that funding be easier if more organizations and people (including those that are not direct recipients of the funding but might someday be) were willing to collaborate on the advocacy necessary to convince elected officials that the value of the agency justifies the expenditure of the money to fund it?