Navigating Change Together

Today we launch the 2009 GIA conference registration site. The “Navigating the Art of Change” national conference of arts philanthropists will take place in Brooklyn, New York, October 18-21 at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (one stop in from Manhattan). It is the only opportunity for arts grantmakers from around the country from all sectors to come together, learn from one another and share their challenges and solutions in what has become a very difficult year for philanthropy. I hope you will join us.

The conference will focus on “The Way We’ll Be” taken from keynote speaker John Zogby’s recent book. Zogby, an acclaimed international pollster, will open the conference talking about his research in the arts and in general on societal trends in America. A discussion in small focus groups the next day will ask funders to answer this question: “how are the decisions you are making today going to impact the arts in America five to ten years from now?” Issues of changing criteria for funding, renegotiating and repositioning grants, accepting no new applications, ethics of grantmaking in tough times and more will be discussed in over 30 break out sessions.

Since assuming this position in January, I have met with private and public funders coast to coast. Issues of change and how we work together have been at the forefront. There is a growing concern that although 2009 is bad, 2010 and 2011 will be worse. But, there is also a sense that, with the current administration, we are positioned to do more relevant work, crossing sector lines, than ever before. So in this “best of times and worst of times” scenario, coming together to assess our work and share with our colleagues seems an opportunity not to be missed.

And there will be inspiration. Wynton Marsalis will perform “The Ballad of the American Arts,” an encore of his Nancy Hanks Lecture at Arts Advocacy Day in March in Washington DC. One can’t leave that performance without feeling assured that we are doing the work we need to do to help this young country on its road to maturity. New York City will inspire us with speakers and artists like Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, the Urban Bush Women and Kakuna Kerina. We will hear from the new chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (not confirmed at this time but hopefully soon.)

I welcome all grantmakers, members and nonmembers of GIA, to join us in New York City in October. Early registration gives you a break on the cost. In all times, we are careful about how we spend our philanthropic dollars. In times of trouble, it is important that we look beyond our own daily work to the community of grantmakers that can help us to make wise decisions as we “navigate the art of change.”

We are, as always, Better Together.

Janet