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Createquity Reports on Beyond Dynamic Adaptability
Posted on November 6, 2011 by Steve

Ian David Moss follows his report on the GIA conference with a report on Beyond Dynamic Adaptability:

Beyond Dynamic Adaptability was all about the changing nature of cultural participation, a hot topic on just about everyone’s minds these days. In keeping with the theme, the conference itself was organized in such a way as to invite participation, especially towards the end of the day with two-hour “fishbowl” sessions in which “panelists sit in a circle in the center (the ‘fishbowl’) and discuss the topic, with an empty chair for interested audience members to jump in to the conversation.” In addition, artistic practice was more deeply infused into this conference than just about any other I’ve seen, even the performance-happy GIA conferences.
Can the Arts Save Struggling Cities?
Posted on November 5, 2011 by Steve

Greg Hanscom at Grist explores the philosophy of creative placemaking:

Something is stirring in Detroit. Here, in a city that in the past decade alone lost a quarter of its already dwindling population, plans are in the works to revive the manufacturing economy—at least on a small scale. The Detroit FAB Lab taps into the vibe of “maker” labs and hackerspaces around the globe. Its creators envision an incubator for artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Members will have access to equipment for woodworking, metalworking, digital fabrication, and media, as well as business coaching and networking.
DCASE Does a Do-over
Posted on November 4, 2011 by Steve

From Jonathan Abarbanel at WBEZ.org in Chicago:

Just a year after former Mayor Daley did a gut job on the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) over the strenuous objections of long-time Cultural Commish Lois Weisberg, the new mayor and his new Commish, Michelle T. Boone, are reversing those actions as much as they can.

As first reported last week by WBEZ's Lynette Kalsnes, Commissioner Boone revealed in budget hearings that the 2012 plan for her department calls for taking back responsibilities for planning and day-to-day execution of cultural programs, which had been contracted out to the Chicago Office of Tourism (renamed the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture in recognition of its expanded responsibilities).

Museum Merger Ends Cultural Tumult in Austin Texas
Posted on November 4, 2011 by Steve

From Rick Cohen at The Nonprofit Quarterly:

While some museums are cleaning up with charitable donations (especially from the very wealthy), others are having a tough time piecing together sustainable budgets based on shaky blends of fees, sales, and charitable donations. That may have been the circumstance with two Austin, Texas museums—Arthouse and the Austin Museum of Art.

Philanthropist Takes Hands-On Approach to Giving
Posted on November 4, 2011 by Steve

From Hilary Howard at The New York Times:

Since he retired from Family Dollar in 2003, Leon Levine has transferred his man-on-the-scene approach in business to the foundation that bears his name.

“Leon’s gone after philanthropy in much the same way as he did making money,” said Hugh L. McColl Jr., former chief executive of Bank of America, which is based in Charlotte. “He sees donations as investments in worthwhile projects, he does a lot of due diligence when looking at potential recipients, and he’s diligent about holding their feet to the fire about doing what the money is supposed to do.”

Too Progressive, Too Elite: Public Value and the Paradox of the Arts
Posted on November 1, 2011 by Steve

ARTSblog continues its retrospective of the GIA conference with Barbara Schaffer Bacon writing about the session she and Marete Wester organized to look at the realities of labels such as "elite" and "progressive". The session included a short play by GIA deputy director Tommer Peterson.

With bold headlines generated by the release of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy report "Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change," the appetite was high at the Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) Conference for an opportunity to address the charge of being elite so often leveled at the arts. Do we want to own it or change it? And, what about the progressive label? Don’t artists generally lean left?
Kansas Arts Commission Not Eligible for NEA Support
Posted on October 31, 2011 by Steve

From John Hanna at Bloomberg Businessweek:

Kansas has been told again by the National Endowment for the Arts that it's not eligible for federal funds, prompting the state Arts Commission's chairwoman to declare that the group will move forward with a "truly Kansas" plan for supporting arts programs with private money.

An NEA official told Gov. Sam Brownback's office in a letter this week that the Kansas Arts Commission remains ineligible for funds because it hasn't demonstrated that it's supported financially by the state. The letter, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, says private contributions would not fulfill the requirement for state support.

NEA: New Our Town Grant Announced for Dead End
Posted on October 31, 2011 by Steve

Happy Halloween!

Today, the NEA is pleased to announce a $50,000 Our Town grant for the town of Dead End. A unique artist enclave in the Afterworld, Dead End will use its grant money to further enhance the spiritual life of its residents.
Hip-Hop Education Reaches Youth in Low-Income, Marginalized, and Chronically Violent Communities
Posted on October 29, 2011 by Steve

A new report suggests an emerging pattern of success among marginalized students participating in Hip-Hop education, leading to higher attendance and graduation rates. Re-Imagining Teaching and Learning: A Snapshot of Hip-Hop Education, released Friday, of a national scan of Hip-Hop educational programs by the Hip-Hop Education Center (H2ED Center) at the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education (Metro Center) at the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Ian Moss: Dispatch from the Bay Area
Posted on October 28, 2011 by Steve

Ian David Moss reports on his GIA conference experience at his blog, createquity.com:

It’s hard to generalize from my experience this year, and I am always conscious of the fact that the intellectual diet that I feed on at the conference is shaped by my own tastes. But in general, there seemed to be a real thirst for innovation that was just a bit more urgent than in previous years. The sessions that drew the most positive attention were, by and large, the boldest: the ones that dared to seriously question the status quo or chart forward a path that hasn’t been tried before.