Grantmakers in the Arts

(12-28-2010) A recent study from Johns Hopkins University reports that nonprofits have fared better than for-profits in terms of job growth over the past two years. Nonprofit jobs grew by 2.5% per year 2007-2009 while for-profits dropped by 3.3% per year in the same time. Arts nonprofit arts (or "arts and entertainment") did even better growing 4.6%.

(12-20-10) John Killacky—a past GIA board member and current CEO/Executive Director of Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT—is a veteran of the culture wars of the 90s when he was curator of performing arts for the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis. His insights are very valuable in guiding our actions today.

(12-17-10) Art Matters has added its voice to the Smithsonian debate. Their letter of support follows:

(12-16-10) Washington State's governor, Christine Gregoire,is proposing eliminating the Washington State Arts Commission as an independent agency, moving some core agency functions to within the Department of Commerce, and reducing funding and staffing by 80%.

(12-16-10) Chicago is wondering what the Mayor's real plan for the CDA is. As of Friday, twenty employees were laid off, which brings the grand total to 29 people who have lost their jobs since October. The losses in the department keep people guessing about whether such staples as the World Music Festival, SummerDance, and Downtown Sound/New Music Mondays will be able to continue.

(12-16-10) The National Endowment for the Arts will post the next round of grant application guidelines on Thursday, January 13, 2011. Three short presentations are now available to prepare organizations for the new guidelines.

(12-15-10) AFTA's 24th annual Arts Advocacy Day, The 2011 National Arts Action Summit will take place Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5. It is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts. Grantmakers in the Arts will be a co-sponsor of the event.

(12-14-10) United States Artists' (USA) innovative Projects Site is now public and ready for use by artists who have received grants from USA and a long list of USA partner or recognized award programs. (The site was originally launched with a test sample of past USA Fellows.) On Projects Site, artists describe the scope and budget of projects they would like funded and offer various funding levels, often including incentives, such as editioned artwork.