GIA Blog

Arts are a key part of our emotional and intellectual life, and they also play a significant role in our economy. A recent report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), with support from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), found that arts and cultural economic activity in the United States contributed $763.6 billion, in one year.

In times when it feels necessary to reiterate the impact of the arts and arts education across peoples’ lives, arts advocates from across the United States will gather in Washington, D.C. on March 12 and 13, for Arts Advocacy Day.

The event is expected to bring together a broad representation of the nation’s cultural and civic organizations, along with grassroots advocates, to stress the “importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts,” according to Americans for the Arts, the organization that hosts the annual convening.

Published in the Winter 2018 edition of GIA Reader, the latest edition of GIA’s annual Arts Funding Snapshot includes “Foundation Grants to Arts and Culture, 2015,” based on the most recent completed year of Foundation Center data, and “Public Funding for the Arts, 2017,” prepared by the National Assembly of State Art Agencies (NASAA). Reina Mukai, research manager for the Foundation Center, and Ryan Stubbs, research director for NASAA, share their insight into what these findings reveal about the current arts grantmaking environment.

Pam Breaux, president & CEO of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), addresses in a recent interview with Barry’s Blog some of the challenges state arts agency leaders face in the current arts funding climate and highlights that advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion is among the core issues facing these agencies.

In a recent Artsy article, “What’s Driving Nonprofits into the Art World’s Arms,” a piece that points to potentials for cross-sector philanthropy, Anna Louie Sussman tackles how the historic link between arts communities and the nonprofit sector have been solidifying as more people, including artists, seek political engagement following the 2016 presidential election.

For the month of March, GIA's photo banner features work supported by Denver Arts & Venues.

Arts & Venues is the City and County of Denver agency responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities, oversees the Denver Public Art Program, Create Denver, and Arts Education Fund, among other cultural grants and events. Their mission is to amplify Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, the arts, and entertainment opportunities.

This week we publish the first in a series of blog posts that GIA President & CEO Eddie Torres will be writing on the field of arts philanthropy and principles like racial equity that drive GIA’s mission.

In a recent blog post, Barry Hessenius, author of the nonprofit arts Barry’s Blog, highlights the importance of increased diversity at the top as a step toward greater funding equity.

Racial diversity is not racial equity, but as Hessenius explores, enhancing racial diversity in leadership positions is a step toward increasing racial equity in arts philanthropy.

Following the Trump Administration’s 2019 budget request that proposes the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), among other cultural agencies, the foundation presidents who fund ArtPlace released a statement in support of cultural federal agencies and their role in strengthening communities. “If we lose federal agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts, we will … Continue reading ArtPlace Presidents Write a Joint Letter in Support of the NEA →

This is the first of a series of blog posts Eddie Torres, president and CEO of Grantmakers in the Arts, will be writing on arts philanthropy and principles, like racial equity, that drive GIA’s mission.