The blog Cultural Equity Matters is covering the developments in the San Francisco Arts Commission problems surrounding the CEG program, including the announcement of Tom DeCaigny as the new Director of Cultural Affairs. Also see a personal response to the situation from Cora Mirikitani, President and CEO of the Center for Cultural Innovation.
Grantmakers in the Arts
December 7, 2011 by Tommer
As you may be aware, former GIA president Marian Godfrey recently announced her retirement after 23 years at the Pew Charitable Trusts. As part of her farewell celebration in Philadelphia today, GIA contributed a short video that we thought you might enjoy!
December 7, 2011 by Steve
On Tuesday, Grantmakers in the Arts launched the online Forum on Equity in Arts Funding. The forum will include posts from a great list of thought leaders and launched with entries from F. Javier Torres of the Boston Foundation, MK Wegman from National Performance Network, Jesse Rosen from the League of American Orchestras, and Aaron Dorfman from National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.
Today, the forum adds six new entries to the forum:
- Marta Moreno Vega, president and founder, The Carribean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute; adjunct professor, arts and public policy, Tisch School for the Arts, New York University
- Judi Jennings, executive director, Kentucky Foundation for Women
- Justin Laing, program officer, Arts & Culture Program, The Heinz Endowments
- Barbara Schaffer Bacon, co-director, Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts
- Maria Rosario Jackson, senior research associate, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, Urban Institute
- Holly Sidford, president, Helicon Collaborative
Visit the Forum today and join the discussion
December 7, 2011 by Steve
From the Nonprofit Finance Fund's Social Currency blog, Rebecca Thomas and Rodney Christopher examine change capital:
Today, with the help of a particular kind of money--Change Capital--Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation is attracting new revenue by building a technology platform and internal capabilities that maximize opportunities for patron and audience engagement. Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation is raising money upfront to wind down its operations in a graceful way and leave a meaningful legacy.
December 7, 2011 by Steve
Arlene Goldbard's comprehensive report on the situation facing the San Francisco Arts Commission's Cultural Equity Grants (CEG) program:
The city creates a special initiative to respond to residents’ deep desire for cultural equity, one small step toward equalizing access to resources. It is housed at the Arts Commission, along with many other programs and initiatives. This initiative supports artists and groups—mostly grounded in communities of color or other marginalized categories—who have not been able to obtain meaningful resources from mainstream sources. As the story unfolds, the host organism falls into disarray, rotting from the head. Supposedly objective (i.e., astoundingly under-informed and therefore unprepared) auditors are summoned to diagnose and recommend, but they are given a brief that covers only a few questions. Their recommendations are mostlly administrative and general, but they single out the special initiative for significant cuts.
December 6, 2011 by Janet
Equity is at the core of this moment in our country's history. Occupy America continues to remind us of the inequities that have become the reality of the American dream. Once held in esteem because it was within reach of all Americans, the dream is fading in a country where poverty continues to increase, jobs are at a premium and politicians don’t realize their “team” is not one party but an entire country, and it’s losing.
December 6, 2011 by Steve
Aaron Dorfman writes for Stanford Social Innovation Review:
Philanthropy frequently justifies its independence by invoking capacities it seldom displays. Philanthropy, we are told, is the vaunted passing gear. “Social action is usually a slow process,” wrote Paul Ylvisaker, who championed the poor through his long career in government, philanthropy and the academy. “Foundations by stepping in can speed up the process, acting as ‘society’s passing gear.’” But where Ylvisaker saw potential for grantmakers to be catalysts and agents for change, we too often today see foundation leaders who prefer to be neutral conveners.
December 6, 2011 by Steve
Today, Grantmakers in the Arts launches a two-week Online Forum on Equity in Arts Funding. GIA designed the Forum to expand the dialogue around funding equity in the arts and to encourage a response to the systemic issues of equity identified during sessions at the recent GIA national conference and in Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change, a 2011 report published by the National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy. Bloggers represent an exciting cross section of the country's arts funding, service, and equity thought leaders. Beginning today, new blogs will be posted and announced daily. The Forum is designed to run through December 16 and the discussion is open to all who wish to participate.