Grantmakers in the Arts

(6-25-10) August 6 is the deadline for small to mid-sized California arts organizations to submit proposals for project grants from the James Irvine Foundation's Creative Connections Fund.

The Creative Connections Fund supports the expansion of diverse, relevant arts and cultural offerings in local communities across California. The fund targets small and midsize arts organizations and offers project grants of up to $50,000, over a maximum of two years, through an open, competitive review process...

(6-25-10) Measures to boost the performance of principals, superintendents and other education leaders were enacted in at least 23 states during the 2009 legislative season, according to the report, Strong Leaders Strong Schools: 2009 School Leadership Laws, an annual look at how state lawmakers are responding to the need for stronger school leaders. One important spur to the 43 new laws came from the federal government’s Race to the Top program, which established a contest among states for grants from a $4.35 billion fund for improving education.

(6-25-10) The Wallace Foundation announced this week a $9 million initiative to provide disadvantaged urban students with more time for high-quality learning—both through improved summer learning opportunities, and through extending the school day and school year.

The initiative will involve three strategies:

(6-25-10) When compared with non-media participants, Americans who participate in the arts through technology and electronic media – using the Internet, television, radio, computers, and handheld devices – are nearly three times more likely to attend live arts events; attend twice as many live arts events; and attend a greater variety of genres of live arts events, according to a new report released today by the National Endowment for the Arts.

(6-24-10) Further to the June 18 GIA News post "BP Will Continue Funding London Arts Organizations," John Vidal reports on a series of artist-organized protests in a blog entry for guardian.co.uk.

(6-24-10) This morning on KUOW's Weekday:

When schools face budget crunches, arts programs often find themselves on the chopping block. But as the sluggish economy continues to tighten school purse strings, many scientists and educators are emphasizing the tangible benefits of bringing creativity to the classroom. New brain research shows that teaching art can make it easier for students to learn other subjects, like math and science. Some arts advocates say we shouldn't need such ulterior motives — they say art is an end in and of itself. We'll hear both points of view, and we'll find out why Microsoft is interested in bringing creativity into the classroom (here's a hint: it has something to do with the workforce of tomorrow.)

(6-23-10) In a blog post on The Los Angeles Times website, Howard Blume reports that Los Angeles Unified School District officials are expected to restore $5 million to elementary arts programs that were cut in half as part of efforts to balance next year’s budget. With the increase, the budget is still one-third less than the current funding level, however.

(6-23-10) From a June 15 Pew Charitable Trusts press release:

The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced $3,846,000 in unrestricted general operating support to eight Philadelphia-area arts and culture organizations. Pew provides the grants under its Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program (PCLP), which annually rewards organizations in the five-county region that demonstrate excellence in operations, fiscal management and programming....