GIA Blog

As arts educator modify their practices in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts collaborated with arts education stakeholders and arts and cultural nonprofit organizations for a reopening resource produced and led by Arts Ed NJ, according to a recent post by National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA).

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) has been analyzing grantmaking by community foundations across the country to find out "how much they are – or are not – investing in Black communities."

ArtsReady and the Performing Arts Readiness project have released the Pocket Response Resource (“PRR”).

For the month of September, GIA’s photo banner features work supported by NDN Collective.

NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power.

A new report from Exponent Philanthropy and PEAK Grantmaking addresses changes in funding since the coronavirus pandemic.

"It’s time to have a real discussion about board and staff engagement when it comes to equity change so that the whole organization can collaborate to seed and root transformative change," Kelly Bates wrote recently in Interaction Institute of Social Change.

Responding to: How can cultural grantmaking interrupt institutional and structural racism while building a more just funding ecosystem that prioritizes Black communities, organizations, and artists?

To better support Black artists and cultural communities, arts philanthropy should increase its focus on stability and resilience in creative practice. COVID has fully revealed its long-standing fragility, leaving 63% of all artists unemployed and 66% unable to access the infrastructure necessary for their work. ¹

Responding to: How can cultural grantmaking interrupt institutional and structural racism while building a more just funding ecosystem that prioritizes Black communities, organizations, and artists?
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In William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying, a young character by the name of Vardaman is allowed to believe that his “mother is a fish,” because no one takes the time to tell him that his mother is dead. Instead he associates what he witnesses with the reality he understands within a highly dysfunctional family. In the novel, he repeats, “fish. fish. fish.” Similarly, I would offer that we are currently operating in a highly dysfunctional philanthropic family. I believe in the potential of our work. I am invigorated working with my colleagues at The Heinz Endowments, and I cherish the etymology of the term “philanthropy.” So, it is only with love I offer that equity is dead.

Responding to: How can cultural grantmaking interrupt institutional and structural racism while building a more just funding ecosystem that prioritizes Black communities, organizations, and artists?
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Cultural grantmaking changing to support Black artists and cultural communities comprises three elements: healing, community, and connection.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced recently the award of 15 emergency grants totaling $1.5 million for providers of higher education in prison.