GIA Blog

Sphinx Organization Releases Statement on Arts, Inclusion, Society: Lessons for Tomorrow
Posted on by Monica

Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based group that provides classical music education programs and advocacy for musicians of color, has released the following statement penned by President and Artistic Director Afa S. Dworkin:

At a recent meeting convened by the National Endowment for the Arts with national arts service organizations, the now former Executive Director/CEO of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) made comments widely construed as racist, short-sighted and patently false. NAfME found it untenable to expect effective leadership from a CEO who ascribes to regressive ideas about education. As President and Artistic Director of Sphinx Organization, whose work resides at the intersection of social justice and the arts, I felt compelled to speak up and challenge our field with a question: what lessons will we draw so as to ensure true change occurs?
New from the GIA Reader: The Summit on Creativity and Aging in America
Posted on by Steve

In an article in the latest issue of the GIA Reader entitled “The Summit on Creativity and Aging in America,” Beth Bienvenu and Gay Hanna summarize key takeaways from the national summit.

7 Hopeful Trends in Philanthropy: Vu Le Reflects on the GEO Conference
Posted on by Monica

In the latest post on Nonprofit with Balls, Vu Le reflects on his experience at the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations conference last week. The post offers insights on hopeful trends in philanthropy with regard to how organizations address racial equity, how trust is built between funders and grantees, and how funders can better serve the needs of organizations and movements.

City of Santa Monica Hires Shannon Daut as Cultural Affairs Manager
Posted on by Monica

The City of Santa Monica Community and Cultural Services Department has hired Shannon Daut to lead its Cultural Affairs Division. Daut comes to Santa Monica from the Alaska State Council of the Arts—a statewide organization that represents, supports, and advances the creative endeavors of individuals, organizations, and agencies throughout Alaska. She served as its Executive Director for five years. Daut is on the board of the National Performance Network and the Western States Arts Federation.

Creative Capital Chooses Susan Delvalle as President and Executive Director
Posted on by Monica

By Joshua Barone, writing for The New York Times:

Susan Delvalle, a veteran administrator for New York arts institutions, has been chosen as the new president and executive director of Creative Capital, a group known for applying the principles of venture capital to financing artists’ projects. Ms. Delvalle, whose appointment is effective June 1, succeeds Ruby Lerner, who has run Creative Capital since it was founded in 1999.

Doris Duke Announces 2016 Performing Artist Award Recipients
Posted on by Monica

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has announced the recipients of the 2016 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, made in partnership with Creative Capital:

Twenty-one remarkable performing artists will each receive $275,000 in flexible, multi-year funding as an investment in and celebration of their ongoing contributions to the fields of contemporary dance, theatre, and jazz. In addition to their funds, awardees get the opportunity to participate in professional development activities, financial and legal counseling, and regional gatherings—all designed to help maximize the use of their grants.
Grantmaking Strategies to Assist Nonprofits in Building Financial Reserves
Posted on by Monica

By Hilda H. Polanco and John Summers, writing for Nonprofit Quarterly:

[Reserve grantmaking] bypasses operations altogether and instead looks to strengthen the financial position of grantees by providing funding for financial reserves and liquidity. … In this article, we will examine a few examples of reserve grantmaking by funders who have experimented with the practice, sharing lessons of what to do—and not to do—to make these grants effective in supporting nonprofit sustainability.
Member Spotlight on Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
Posted on by SuJ'n

For the month of May, GIA’s photo banner features artists and projects supported by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF). Launched in 2009, NACF is a unique, national organization dedicated to strengthening Native arts, perpetuating culture resilience, and bringing together diverse communities to drive social impact. Through philanthropy and partnership, its main areas of focus include individual artist fellowships and community inspiration projects.

Sundance Announces Environmental Film Initiative Supported by Rauschenberg Foundation, Others
Posted on by Monica

Sundance Institute has announced a new initiative for films and emerging media projects exploring stories related to the environment, conservation and climate change. These grants to support new projects are led by founding support from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and include additional support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Kendeda Fund, Discovery Channel, Code Blue Foundation and the Joy Family Foundation.

New from the GIA Reader: Starting a Movement
Posted on by Steve

In an article in the latest issue of the GIA Reader entitled “Starting a Movement: Building the Field of Teaching Artistry,” author Beth Feldman Brandt outlines eight recent projects that arose out of a preconference session at the Conference for Community Arts Education.