GIA Blog

For Ambitious Nonprofits, Capital to Grow
Posted on June 28, 2012 by Tommer

David Bornstein writes on "For Ambitious Nonprofits, Capital to Grow" in the New York Times.

Imagine that you’re an entrepreneur running a chain of coffee bars and you want to raise capital to open up in new locations. You meet a potential investor, and he says, “I’d love to finance your business, but only the chai latte operation, not the coffee, and only to support drinks you sell in Cleveland next year.”

Logic Models CAN be Awesome
Posted on June 28, 2012 by Tommer

Ian David Moss continues his discussion of Creative Placemaking and Outcomes, and takes a left turn into an exploration of Logic Models. Don't run for the hills. It is actually an elightening and entertaining explanation of a sometimes sleeper of a topic.

Portland City Council Considers Arts Tax
Posted on June 28, 2012 by Steve

From Jim Redden at the Portland Tribune:

The City Council will consider placing a measure on the ballot to collect a $35 tax on Portlanders to help fund school art programs and non-profit art organizations on Wednesday.

If approved by the council, the measure would be placed on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. If it is ratified by a majority of voters, the tax would apply to all city residents 18 and older who earn incomes above federal poverty guidelines.

Investments in Arts and Culture Build a Stronger Economy in Alberta
Posted on June 28, 2012 by Steve

Arts, culture, and official-language organizations will help create jobs and growth throughout Alberta, thanks to investments from the Government of Canada. Today, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, announced support for 69 projects. Minister Moore made the announcement at the Art Gallery of Alberta in the presence of representatives of Edmonton's arts and culture community.

Irvine Foundation Announces First Round of Grants Under New Strategy
Posted on June 26, 2012 by Steve

A year ago the James Irvine Foundation announced a dramatic new strategy for arts grantmaking. And yesterday the first crop of grants under this strategy was announced.

The group of 20 inventive arts nonprofits funded in this first round of the Exploring Engagement Fund are linked together in that they: represent a new or expanded engagement for the organization toward underserved audiences and participants; investigate active engagement as a way of involving audiences in the artistic process; and/or that explore nontraditional kinds of venues for arts presentations and activities.
How Should Art Be Assessed?
Posted on June 26, 2012 by Steve

Diane Ravitch responds, on her blog, to a piece in Education Week that asserts that multiple-choice standardized tests are sufficient to assess arts education:

I understand and embrace the idea of cultural literacy, but I don’t think that multiple-choice standardized tests are the best way to teach it or to assess it. If a teacher of music wants students to understand the differences between Mozart and Schoenberg, the best way to do that is to listen to their music and discuss the differences. If the teacher of the arts wants students to understand the differences between classical Greek and Roman architecture, the best way to do it is to view it and discuss it.
Supporting Innovation Not Stagnation
Posted on June 26, 2012 by Tommer

Commentary on an approach to funding innovation by Nina Stack, President, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, on the Dodge Blog.

Artnet Magazine Will Cease Publication, Ending 16-Year Run
Posted on June 26, 2012 by Steve

From Dan Duray at GalleristNY:

Artnet magazine, an online publication that has served as the journalistic arm of the German-based tech company by that name, will cease publication today, after 16 years as a leading voice in the field of arts journalism.
7 Must-Haves for Nonprofits Planning to Scale
Posted on June 26, 2012 by Steve

From Geri Stengel at The Huffington Post:

In a world where social needs are increasing and resources decreasing, it's critical to scale organizations that efficiently and effectively address social problems. For the last three years, the Social Impact Exchange has been convening leaders in the field to address this issue.
What is Collective Impact?
Posted on June 25, 2012 by Steve

According to the consulting firm FSG, there has been resounding agreement on the basic premise of the ideas behind collective impact: that no organization acting alone can solve large-scale issues. Collective impact is more than just collaboration. It is a rigorous approach with five conditions that, together, are a lever for deep and lasting social change. FSG created a series of three short videos, which describe the idea of collective impact and show two examples of collective impact in action: The Elizabeth River Project, and The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).