GIA Blog

A New Level of Principled Foundation Grantmaking
Posted on February 6, 2014 by Steve

The latest post from Angie Kim, on her blog Private Foundations Plus:

For those foundation leaders who want their decision making to be insulated from public scrutiny, this is a moment of growing anxiety. There are signs that foundations will need to do more to demonstrate their public good value. For foundations in California, this anxiety reached an apotheosis in 2008 when legislation was introduced—California AB 624—that would have made it easier to find out how much or how little foundations were supporting the interests of the underserved.
Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Announces Allen Distinguished Educators
Posted on February 5, 2014 by Tommer

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has announced its first group of Allen Distinguished Educators. While each awardee has their own unique approach, they share a focus on entrepreneurship and engineering education taught in more engaging, practical ways.

NEA Interagency Task Force on the Arts and Human Development to Host Webinar
Posted on February 5, 2014 by Steve

What can the latest psychological research teach us about creativity, how it's expressed, and how it can be measured? Join this discussion hosted by the NEA Interagency Task Force on the Arts and Human Development. It will include Dr. James C. Kaufman, president of the American Psychological Association’s Division 10, the Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.

UK Arts Workers Underpaid, but Satisfied
Posted on February 4, 2014 by Steve

From Jillian Steinhauer at Hyperallergic:

An organization called ArtsHub has conducted an arts jobs survey in the UK, and the results make clear just how difficult and unsustainable it is to work in the arts. The survey is based on the responses of only 448 participants, admittedly not a huge sample. But even with a limited pool of respondents, the trends are clear: arts workers are overeducated, underpaid, and have little to no job security.
Canales’ Final President’s Message
Posted on February 4, 2014 by Steve

Jim Canales sunsets his tenure at The James Irvine Foundation and prepares to head to the east coast with some reflection on the types of people who have contributed to his growth:

In a few weeks, I will conclude what has been an enormously satisfying tenure as Irvine’s CEO since 2003. Since the announcement of my appointment as President of the Barr Foundation, I have found myself reflecting a great deal upon gratitude.
Ron Ragin to Join Rauschenberg Foundation Staff
Posted on February 4, 2014 by Tommer

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation program officer Ron Ragin has been appointed as a program officer for the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, an inaugural role that will manage a multi-sector portfolio of grantees working at the intersection of arts and social issues.

Member Spotlight on Historic & Cultural Affairs Division - City of Roswell, GA
Posted on February 3, 2014 by Abigail

During the month of February, GIA's photo banner features grantees of GIA Member Historic & Cultural Affairs Division - City of Roswell, GA. The Division's mission is to enhance quality of life by strengthening the community's cultural enviroment through support of the arts, preservation of its historic resources, and facilitation of access for all—objectives accomplished through cultural programs and events, oversight of historical and cultural facilities in Roswell, and more.

Should Fine Arts be Included in the Iowa Core Curriculum?
Posted on January 30, 2014 by Steve

From Mary Stegmeir writing for the Des Moines Register:

The fine arts deserve an equal footing in Iowa’s schools with math, reading and other core subjects, a group of teachers told state lawmakers Wednesday. When times are tight, cuts often hit music, art and drama first, the teachers said. Federal policies that rate schools based on student test scores have also taken their toll, with some districts in Iowa and across the nation reducing arts offerings to carve out more time for math and reading instruction. The Iowa Alliance for Arts Educators urged lawmakers to fight that trend by adding state standards for fine arts education to the Iowa Core.
NEA Seeks Program Analyst
Posted on January 29, 2014 by Steve

The National Endowment for the Arts, Office of the Senior Deputy Chairman, Research & Analysis Division is seeking to fill the position of Program Analyst. This position application period will close on Monday, February 3. More infomation here.

Joyce Foundation Announces 2014 Joyce Award Winners
Posted on January 29, 2014 by Supporting Today's Artists

The Joyce Awards recognize artists of color who collaborate with nonprofit institutions by awarding them $50,000 to commission thought-provoking works of art, which aim to strengthen cross-cultural understanding by bringing diverse audiences together. The 2014 Joyce Award winners are Camille A. Brown, Jessie Montgomery, Lynn Nottage, and Tracey Scott Wilson. Read more about the winners and the award program here.