GIA Blog

New Mexico Senator Udall Introduces CREATE Act
Posted on March 8, 2016 by Monica

From the office of Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M), posted to KRWG:

Today in a speech at the National Arts Summit in Washington, D.C., New Mexico Senator Tom Udall introduced the Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act. The new bill intends to support individual artists, arts institutions, and communities by reducing economic barriers and recognizing the powerful role of the arts in the U.S. economy.
Who Will Be the Next Arts Revolutionary?
Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve

By Shawn Lent, Katie Ingersoll, Michael Feldman and Talia Gibas, posted to Createquity:

Opinions about the nonprofit arts model — the fundamental legal and business structure in which arts nonprofits in the United States work — are as numerous and varied as 501(c)(3)s themselves… While that system may seem “fossilized” to some, the truth is that most arts nonprofits today are younger than most of our parents. The boom of arts nonprofits has been a relatively recent phenomenon, and it came about thanks in large part to a handful of individuals who intentionally put it into motion.
The Arts in the Small Community
Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve

From Doug Borwick, posted to his blog Engaging Matters:

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the start of The Arts in the Small Community project led by Robert E. Gard, and we invite you to celebrate with us! Robert E. Gard was a visionary in the field of community arts. While many people in the 1940’s and beyond were talking about “access” to the arts for people, typically, that meant that Everyman should be in the audience or the gallery to witness America’s finest artists.
Your Radical Guide To Fighting Discrimination In The Arts
Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve

From Tricia Tongco, Social Media Editor for Arts & Culture at The Huffington Post:

Since 1985, the Guerrilla Girls have been raising a much-needed ruckus over gender and racial inequality in the art world, under the leadership of seven anonymous, masked women. For over 30 years, they've publicly condemned museums that fail to collect or showcase women artists and artists of color, using facts, humor and "outrageous visuals." After decades of work, they show no signs of stopping.
Caitlin Strokosch Named New President & CEO of NPN/VAN
Posted on March 4, 2016 by Steve

The National Performance Network, including the Visual Artists Network (NPN/VAN), has named Caitlin Strokosch as its new President and CEO. Strokosch will assume responsibilities in July 2016 and will succeed MK Wegmann, who is retiring after 15 years of leading NPN/VAN. She is currently executive director of the Alliance of Artists Communities and serves on the GIA Board of Directors.

Strokosch has served the Alliance of Artists Communities, ­­an international association of artist residency programs since 2002, and was named executive director of the organization in 2008. Her selection comes after an national search that generated a pool of qualified candidates.

2015 Otis Report on the Creative Economy for LA Published
Posted on March 3, 2016 by Steve

The 2015 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of the Los Angeles Region, is now available online. The annual report is prepared for Otis College of Art and Design by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, a lobbying organization funded by LA businesses.

Member Spotlight on Robert B. McMillen Foundation
Posted on March 1, 2016 by SuJ'n

For the month of March 2016, GIA’s photo banner features art and projects supported by the Robert B. McMillen Foundation. The Foundation is a unique, private family foundation whose office is nestled in the heart of the Cascade Range in Washington State. Small but mighty, it is a statewide organization focused on medical research and the arts, with particular emphasis on supporting working artists and the arts as an economic driver to create vibrant communities.

NEH Announces Humanities Access Grant Program, Webinar
Posted on February 28, 2016 by Steve

The National Endowment for the Humanities has announced a new grant program to strengthen and sustain quality humanities programs that benefit youth, communities of color, and economically disadvantaged populations. Humanities Access Grants offer matching grants toward term endowments for programming at cultural institutions that broadens access to excellent humanities content for underserved groups.

Mellon Foundation Survey of US Artist’s Financial, Health Care Needs
Posted on February 28, 2016 by Steve

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is conducting a survey of US-based artists to better understand their needs related to careers, income, health, and overall well-being. The survey is live now and through March 15th. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Next Generation: The Future of Arts & Culture Placemaking in Rural America
Posted on February 25, 2016 by Steve

A new website aims to assert the essential role of arts and cultural organizations in rural economic and community development. Next Generation: The Future of Arts & Culture Placemaking in Rural America — the full title of a “digital learning commons” announced by Art of the Rural (AOTR) and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) — is designed to provide a platform for storytelling, research, and best practices as well as an inclusive space for deeper collaboration. The Learning Commons wants to address two major challenges facing rural arts practitioners — geographic distance and access to information and networks — and establishes a digital intermediary through which these partnerships can develop.