GIA News's Blog

(10-22-10) In addition to the “official blogs” a few other attendees have posted commentary on the conference. Hoong Lee Yee Krakauer has a couple posts here and a longer piece here, complete with courtroom-style sketches! Ian David Moss also weighs in on his popular Createquity blog.

(10-22-10) Ontarians believe more passionately in the importance of the arts than they did 16 years ago, a survey suggests. The poll, conducted by Environics Research Group on behalf of the Ontario Arts Council, documents the attitudes of the province’s residents toward the arts as an issue of the quality of life, both for individuals and communities.

The conference in Chicago is being covered by an exceptional trio of bloggers, Andrew Taylor of The Artful Manager, Barry Hessenius of Barry's Blog, and Arlene Goldbard of Arlene Goldbard: Culture, Politics, and Spirituality. All three are posting daily, so check in now to keep up with what's happening in Chicago.

blogs.giarts.org/gia2010/

(10-13-10) Richard Kessler, Executive Director of The Center for Arts Education has a post in this afternoons Huffington Post making the case for Arts Education funding.

Read the post.

Kessler will be part of the conference session "Assuring Equitable Arts Learning in Urban K-12 Public Schools" on Monday afternoon, October 18, in Chicago.

(10-12-10) The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through Pew Fellowships in the Arts announced last week the names of twelve new Fellows, each of whom will receive a $60,000 award. These "no strings attached" fellowships are provided over one-two years to artists in the five-county Philadelphia area. Artists working in a wide range of aesthetics and traditions are selected based on the merit of their work, dedication to their professional practice, and the potential impact of the fellowship on their subsequent creative endeavors.

(10-11-10) The Life Is Art Foundation, recently began to reap a new kind of financing, in the form of tall, happy-looking marijuana plants. Late this month, with some help from the sale of its first small crop, grown under California’s liberal medical marijuana laws, the group plans to present an inaugural exhibition on its land, of sculpture and installation work by more than 20 visiting artists — some of whom will have helped bring in the harvest.

(10-8-10) This week, The James Irvine Foundation announced $3.8 million in grants to twelve California Central Valley arts organizations. The grants represent the first year of the second phase of the foundation's Arts Regional Initiative, which funds actions (including strategic plan updates) by arts organizations to advance financial sustainability and to increase cultural participation from underrepresented communities.

(10-8-10) The Fall 2010 edition of GIA Reader was mailed earlier this week, so watch your mail for its arrival. It features research-focused articles by Steven Lawrence, Angela Han, Margaret Ayers, and Holly Sidford; an overview by John McCann of the Arts Education Thought Leader Forum, and much more (including poetry from Gwendolyn Brooks and Haki Madhubuti).

(10-8-10) The Web Conference “Arts Funding Update: New Trends and Assumptions” will take place today, Friday, October 8, at 11:00 AM PDT / 2:00 PM EDT. Three presenters will discuss the latest research in the field of arts funding: Steven Lawrence, director of research, Foundation Center, Holly Sidford, president, Helicon Collaborative, and Angela Han, director of research, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

(10-6-10) The NASAA awards program showcases best practices of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations, recognizes exemplary leadership, and demonstrates how government creatively, effectively and efficiently serves the public through the arts.

This year's recipients are recognized for their outstanding leadership and contributions to the field. All three awards will be presented October 15 at Assembly 2010 in Austin, Texas:

• Gary Young Award: Arlynn Fishbaugh
• Distinguished Public Service Award: Lu Ellsworth