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Arts under siege, starved of funding
Posted on by Steve

From Charles Segars, CEO for Ovation, writing for Capitol Weekly:

Since 2003, California’s Governors and the Legislature have allocated $1.1 million annually to the Arts Council, the bare minimum to qualify for more than $5 million in annual federal grants. This lack of foresight has put California dead last among all 50 states in per capital funding for its arts agency.
Document, Protest, Memorial: AIDS in the Art World
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From Barbara Pollack at ARTnews:

It’s been three decades since AIDS first made an impact on the New York art world, annihilating a community and activating one of the most highly effective artist-driven political movements of the 20th century. At that time, for every Keith Haring, David Wojnarowicz, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres lost to the disease, there were scores of lesser-known artists, such as Ray Navarro, Hugh Steers, and Robert Blanchon, who also left their mark with art that documented, protested, memorialized, and reinterpreted the devastation of the era.
My Next Board Meeting
Posted on by Steve

Jesse Rosen, President & CEO of the League of American Orchestras writes on Huffington Post:

The distinction between board and management is not about who knows more about running the business. Governing and managing are two different functions. But they necessarily intersect and appropriately blur boundaries when it comes to strategic and generative work. And this is where a good board adds value beyond its fiduciary role.
Theaster Gates Gets $3.5M Grant to Push Arts as a Tool for Revitalization
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From Sam Cholke at DNAinfo Chicago:

Artist Theaster Gates was awarded $3.5 million from the Knight Foundation Thursday morning to support his work using the arts to revitalize communities. “From my artistic practice, I learned early on that art has the capacity to change people's perceptions — not only about a concept or an idea, but also about a place,” Gates said in a statement released by the university Thursday morning.
NCRP Announces Philamplify
Posted on by Steve

Philamplify — an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy — is, at its heart, a series of comprehensive reports conducted by highly regarded researchers assessing foundation grantmaking and operations. Assessments include key findings and recommendations, along with in-depth analysis of foundations’ funding strategies. By keeping these assessments public, Philamplify seeks to build a culture of transparency, mutual accountability and knowledge sharing.

Inspiring the Creative Economy: How Cities Increase Economic Activity Through Innovation and The Arts
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From Craig Watson, director of the California Arts Council, writing for Western City:

When the concept of creativity is combined with “community,” it evokes images of vibrancy, activity and prosperity. In terms of economic development, how important is California’s creative economy? Quite important, according to the Otis Report on the Creative Economy, released in late January 2014. The report notes that 7.8 percent of California’s gross state product is directly attributable to the creative industries, with an impact of more than $270 billion annually. The creative economy employs some 1.4 million people, either directly or indirectly.
Collaboration and Diffuse Reciprocity or The “What's In It For Me Right Now” Conundrum
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Barry Hessenius posts to Barry’s Blog:

There is fairly decent sector support for the effort required to protect the funding for the NEA. But that support (the response to rally cries to lobby one’s elected officials) is hardly universal. The quid pro quo for a lot of those who are willing to collaborate on a national advocacy platform to protect the Endowment’s funding is to be a recipient of that funding. Both large and small states benefit as do virtually all discipline areas. While the NEA’s budget isn’t huge, it is large enough so that a lot of people get something. Would the challenge of protecting that funding be easier if more organizations and people (including those that are not direct recipients of the funding – but might someday be) were willing to collaborate on the advocacy necessary to convince elected officials that the value of the agency justifies the expenditure of the money to fund it?
CDCR, California Arts Council partner to bring rehabilitative arts programs to state prisons
Posted on by Steve

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Arts Council are seeking artists to work for a rehabilitative arts program opening at prisons statewide. The Arts in Corrections programs will offer an array of performing, literary and visual arts disciplines, such as theater, music, creative writing, poetry, painting, drawing and sculpture.

Workshop for Undocumented Artists in Northern California
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It started as a conversation in the bar at the GIA Conference in Philadelphia…

The East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF), the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) and CultureStrike came together to present the first Business of Art entrepreneurial training workshops solely for undocumented artists on April 18 & 19 in Oakland, California. CultureStrike is an Oakland-based grassroots network of artists and activists working on issues of immigration and social change. The goal of the workshop was to create a formal opportunity for undocumented artist to access business knowledge resulting in greater individual visibility and empowerment that will help to advance their careers.

Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge: Twitter Conversation with FLOTUS April 30
Posted on by Steve

Council on Foundations President and CEO Vikki Spruill will join First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and grantmakers from around the country on Wednesday, April 30, for the announcement of the Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge. Made by over 30 funders, this pledge aims to bring support to service members, veterans, and military family causes over five years.