2016 GIA Conference
Saint Paul, MN   October 16–19
A Confluence of People, Cultures, and Ideas

Making Artists Matter

Monday, October 17, 2:00pm – 3:15pm

Kellogg I

Organized by Caitlin Strokosch, President & CEO, National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network.

Presented by Lisa Hoffman, Executive Director, Alliance of Artists Communities; Jason Schupbach, Director of Design Programs, National Endowment for the Arts; and Caitlin Strokosch, President & CEO, National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network.

With so much attention on artists in partnership with institutions, community developers, hospitals, scientists, tech businesses, and others, how do we make sure the process is artist centered? Funders are in a unique position to act as intermediaries and influencers in building equitable partnerships between artists and institutions. This session will explore how to ensure that artists are fully valued and resourced, how to help institutions engage artists, and how to empower artists in the process. Examples include policies developed by grantmakers (including National Performance Network’s “Guidelines for Equitable Partnerships”), programs designed to foster meaningful work between institutions and artists of color, and lessons from the front lines of creative placemaking – bringing individuals, arts organizations, and non-arts institutions together (including the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town and Creativity Connects programs).