GIA Blog

San Diego County’s Unusual Approach to Arts Funding
Posted on August 6, 2014 by Steve

By Kinsee Morlan, at San Diego City Beat:

San Diego County’s approach to funding arts organizations is unusual, and some question whether it’s fair and yields the best results. Naturally, many arts advocates would prefer a process under which county funds are set aside specifically for the arts and then administered by an arts oversight panel designated by the county Board of Supervisors. That panel, often called an arts council, would be recognized by the California Arts Council through the State-Local Partnership Program, which provides modest annual funding and assistance.
Creative Work Fund Announces 13 New Awards in Literary and Performing Arts
Posted on August 1, 2014 by Steve

The Creative Work Fund is celebrating its 20th anniversary on September 1, 2014. The fund has announced the awarding of 13 grants totaling $518,000 to literary and performing artists throughout California’s Bay Area to create new works through collaborations with nonprofit organizations. The 2014 grantees, each receiving grants ranging from $30,000-$40,000, will create poetry installations, interactive websites, music, theatrical and dance performances, as well as books and multi-disciplinary works.

Ernest Tollerson Named Interim CEO at The Nathan Cummings Foundation
Posted on August 1, 2014 by Steve

Ernest Tollerson will serve as interim CEO at The Nathan Cummings Foundation, according to the foundation’s board chair Adam Cummings. He will formally begin his work with the Foundation on Monday, August 4. The board will launch a search for a permanent CEO later this year.

More than 53,000 Artists Apply for 89 Affordable Harlem Apartments
Posted on August 1, 2014 by Steve

From Emilia David, writing for DNAinfo New York:

More than 53,000 artists have applied for one of just 89 new units of subsidized living and working space in a former public school on E. 99th Street, organizers announced. Developers for the space, known as El Barrio’s Artspace PS 109 and located between Second and Third avenues, fielded 51,313 online applications via a city website by the July 14 deadline, officials said. That’s on top of more than 2,000 paper applications filed.
Lessons Learned from talking about the Nature of Creativity in the Brain
Posted on July 31, 2014 by Steve

Bill O'Brien, NEA Senior Adviser for Program Innovation, reports from the Santa Fe Institute:

Sunil Iyengar (NEA Director of Research and Analysis) and I had the privilege of attending a Nature of Creativity in the Brain working group at the Santa Fe Institute earlier this month. We co-organized the event with Jennifer Dunn, the Institute’s faculty chair. The purpose of the meeting was to “evaluate the legacy of creativity research and to look for ways to mine new knowledge at the intersections of cognitive psychology, neurobiology, neurotechnology, learning, and the arts.”
What is a Justice Funder?
Posted on July 28, 2014 by Steve

An initiative is underway to stimulate a broader conversation within the field of philanthropy to articulate the values and practices of justice funders. This conversation is being facilitated through a weekly blog series that seeks new voices for inspiration, stimulation, and provocation that will “generate contemplation and discussion now, as well as serve to generate content for a framework for social justice philanthropy that we can begin layering with examples of existing practice over the course of the next year.” Do join this conversation and tag your social media with #justicefunder.

Register Online for National Guild Conference in LA
Posted on July 25, 2014 by Steve

Online registration for the National Guild for Community Arts Education 77th annual Conference for Community Arts Education is now open! The Conference will be held November 20-22 at the Westin Bonaventure, in Los Angeles, with preconference institutes on grantwriting, board development, evaluation, leadership, and creative youth development on Wednesday, November 19. The early registration deadline is August 21.

President Obama to Award 2013 National Medals of Arts
Posted on July 22, 2014 by Steve

President Barack Obama will present the National Medals of Arts in conjunction with the National Humanities Medals on Monday, July 28, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. ET, in an East Room ceremony at the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama will attend. The event will be live streamed at WH.gov/Live.

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the federal government. It is awarded by the President of the United States to individuals or groups who are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.

NAS Names Gail Crider CEO Designate
Posted on July 21, 2014 by Steve

National Arts Strategies, the Virginia-based arts leadership organization, has announced that Gail Crider will take the position of President and CEO at the beginning of 2015. After having served as Vice President at NAS for over a decade, Crider will replace Russell Willis Taylor. In her tenure at NAS she has been integral to the organization’s transition from the National Arts Stabilization Fund to National Arts Strategies as well as the development of the range of services they offer currently.

Reuben Roqueñi to Join Hewlett Foundation as Program Officer
Posted on July 20, 2014 by Steve

Reuben Roqueñi will join The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation as a program officer in the Performing Arts Program beginning September 2, the Foundation has announced. Since 2010, Roqueñi has worked as program director at the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF), a national indigenous arts foundation based in Vancouver, Washington. In that position, he was responsible for program development and managing over 85 grants to individuals, organizations, and communities.