GIA Blog

If You Live in a Place, You Will Find Art There
Posted on February 19, 2014 by Steve

GIA President & CEO Janet Brown, writing for ARTSblog:

I’ve been a community arts developer for over 26 years. Most of that time was spent working in rural communities in South Dakota and the Great Plains. Moving back to South Dakota after a stint in New York City and San Francisco, I became increasingly aware of how people passionate about the arts impact rural and small communities making certain that art is a part of the lives of their children and their neighbors. Community arts councils, community theatres, visual art galleries, community choruses and bands...all defined the word “community” for me.
Miami Artist Lourdes Lopez Elected to Ford Foundation Board of Trustees
Posted on February 19, 2014 by Tommer

The Ford Foundation announced today the election of Lourdes Lopez to serve as a member of its Board of Trustees. Lopez, who will be the first artist to join the foundation’s board, is the artistic director of Miami City Ballet, chairwoman of Miami City Ballet School, and a strong proponent of arts education and the transformational power of arts and culture to improve lives.

Museum Camp 2014: Social Impact Assessment
Posted on February 14, 2014 by Steve

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History will host its 2014 Museum Camp with the theme of social impact assessment, Wednesday July 30 – Saturday August 2, 2014. The goal of the event is to develop creative ways to evaluate the work we are all doing to build and transform our communities by bringing together teams of diverse people from across many disciplines in shared learning and doing around research and social impact. The museum has partnered with Fractured Atlas to produce the camp.

President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Jane Chu as NEA Chairman
Posted on February 12, 2014 by Steve

Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Dr. Jane Chu as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. President Obama said, “Jane’s lifelong passion for the arts and her background in philanthropy have made her a powerful advocate for artists and arts education in Kansas City.

N.C. Elementary Schools Promise Arts Education But Access Far From Equal
Posted on February 12, 2014 by Steve

From Judy Woodruff at PBS Newshour:

North Carolina mandates that all elementary school students have equal access to art instruction, but enforcement of the law appears inconsistent across the state. Special correspondent for education John Merrow reports on two elementary schools' different approaches to arts education and the effects on student performance.
Can Art Compete with Football?
Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tommer

Phillip Kennicott raises some questions about public subsidies and privilege in The Washington Post.

An Analysis of the Recent SMU Paper on the NEA Funding
Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tommer

SMU's new research center's recently released paper, Do Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts Represent a Wealth Transfer from Poorer to Wealthier Citizens?, has been the source of some heated discussion. 

Dates Announced for Joyce Award City Salons
Posted on February 7, 2014 by Steve

In February and March 2014, the Joyce Foundation’s Angelique Power will travel for multi-day trips to four cities in the Great Lakes region where the Joyce Foundation funds the Joyce Awards. She will also host an online eCity Salon to answer questions about the Joyce Award application process. The Joyce Awards give artists of color and nonprofit organizations catalyzing funds to commission new work and engage the community in its development.

William Penn Foundation Names New Leader
Posted on February 6, 2014 by Steve

The Board of Directors of the William Penn Foundation announced on Thursday that Peter J. Degnan, Vice Dean of Finance and Administration at the Wharton School will be the Foundation’s new Managing Director as of March 3, 2014.

California Arts Council Seeking Two Arts Grants Administrators
Posted on February 6, 2014 by Abigail

The California Arts Council, headquartered in Sacramento, will be hiring two arts grant administrators. Qualified applicants are invited to participate in step one of a four-step hiring process. More information here.