GIA Blog

Doing More About Diversity in America's Orchestras
Posted on March 5, 2013 by Steve

Jesse Rosen blogs for Huffington Post:

I have been reflecting on diversity and orchestras lately, prompted by some work we are doing at the League of American Orchestras and my recent participation in SphinxCon 2013 in Detroit, which examined diversity, inclusion and equity in the arts. Many of you are likely familiar with Aaron Dworkin, the gifted violinist, founder and executive director of the sponsoring non-profit Sphinx Organization. Aaron is one of the important voices in our field today and a colleague who serves as a board member of the League. In a concentrated and cut-to-the-chase fashion, the conference focused on a broad range of current issues, lessons learned, and best practices aimed at transforming the arts in a truly meaningful and measurable way.
Barry Blogs Research
Posted on March 4, 2013 by Tommer

Barry Hessenius is hosting a week-long blog discussion on Research and Data in the Nonprofit universe, with guests Margaret Wyszomirski, Bryce Merrill, Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, Randy Cohen, and Sunil Iyengar.

NFF Produces Report, Case Studies from Capitalization Program
Posted on March 2, 2013 by Steve

Nonprofit Finance Fund has released a new report as well as a set of case studies that share the results of their five-year Leading for the Future: Innovative Support for Artistic Excellence program. The new report, Change Capital in Action: Lessons from Leading Arts Organizations highlights features of the LFF initiative, profiles of individual change efforts, participants' financial and program outcomes, and lessons relevant for arts organizations and their funders. NFF also released ten case studies of the change efforts undertaken by each participant in the program.

March Member Spotlight on Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Posted on March 1, 2013 by Abigail

Throughout March our photo banner will feature organizations, initiatives, and individuals supported by GIA member the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. The Commission provides leadership in cultural services for Los Angeles County, including information and comprehensive resources for the community, artists, educators, arts organizations, and municipalities. Below, in their own words, Commission staff reflect on past successes and future promises:

We all know that the past few years have been financially challenging for arts organizations. As we move into 2013, we're all encouraged by the fact that the California State budget is balanced. Budgetary projections for Los Angeles County are looking good, and the general rebound of the economy is sure to shape interesting opportunities for creative growth.
Council on Foundations Presents Organizational “Redesign”
Posted on February 22, 2013 by Steve

A letter from Vikki Spruill, president and CEO, Council on Foundations:

Dear Colleagues,

A few minutes ago I shared a message with Council members regarding our redesign. Since I first announced this redesign in December, I have had the opportunity to visit and talk with many of you and share more details about this ongoing transformation. I firmly believe that my efforts to reposition the Council as a network hub will prove successful only if the Council has strong partnerships with funder networks and affinity groups serving our field.

After Years Crouching, Arts Ed Raising Its Hand Again
Posted on February 21, 2013 by Steve

From Anne Midgette for The Washington Post:

Savoy Elementary is one of eight in the country earmarked by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities as a “turnaround” school — one in dire need of help. For three years, each of the eight is “adopted” by a well-known artist (in Savoy’s case, the actress Kerry Washington) and receives a tremendous funding boost to institute arts programs ($14.7 million for the eight). This is based on a new belief — after years of emphasis on standardized testing — in the power of the arts.
Rodney Christopher Named First-time F.B. Heron Foundation Fellow
Posted on February 21, 2013 by Steve

Rodney Christopher, vice president of advisory services for Nonprofit Finance Fund, and presenter for a GIA Web Conference in April 2011, will become the F.B. Heron Foundation’s first practice innovation fellow, starting March 4, 2013 for the period of one year. The F.B. Heron fellowship in Social Investment Practice is intended to allow highly talented senior practitioners from leading social sector organizations to explore and advance innovative ideas for new areas of investment in their sector. Visiting fellows work with F. B. Heron, their home institutions and allied parties to advance field-wide innovation.

The Role of Arts and Technology in Defining Culture in 2013
Posted on February 20, 2013 by Steve

From Elizabeth Quaglieri for Technology in the Arts:

At The Economist World in 2013 Festival in December, Paola Antonelli, senior curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, sat down with Steve Crossan, director of the Google Cultural Institute, and discussed the challenges, trends, and opportunities awaiting the intersection of arts and technology this year. Antonelli emphasized the need for policy makers and politicians to view culture as a foundation for our nation’s development, not as a political and economic football.
Considering Whiteness
Posted on February 20, 2013 by Steve

Roberto Bedoya, executive director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council, guest-posts for Doug Borwick's blog Engaging Matters:

Whiteness is the dominant ideological framework that exists in the cultural sector. It is the default frame that defines cultural value and worth; it is used (mostly unconsciously) to analyze, classify and quantify both what is understood as the norm and the notions of “other” – of diversity. Both Ian [Moss] and Clayton [Lord] acknowledge Whiteness in their commentaries and I appreciate that because to understand the ideology of Whiteness and how it operates in our sector, white folks must spend time unpacking it. Doing so is essential to advancing our field. Yet, it must be more than acknowledging the whiteness of the aforementioned bloggers; some critical analysis of how Whiteness operates in the sector must be undertaken, as difficult as that may be.
Michael Kaiser Announces Resignation from Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Posted on February 19, 2013 by Steve

Kaiser writes for his blog at Huffington Post:

It is official: I am a lame duck. My contract as President of the Kennedy Center expires at the end of next year and the board has just assembled a search committee to look for my successor. I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this amazing institution and have enjoyed (almost) every minute of my tenure. But after 12 years as President, it is time for someone with a new and different vision to run the national cultural center.