GIA Blog

Mobility Among Highly Creative People: What Data About MacArthur Fellows Reveal
Posted on by Steve

MacArthur Foundation's Cecilia A. Conrad has published an article discussing research recently done on the geographic mobility of their Fellows.

MacArthur Fellows turn out to be a highly mobile population, prompting us to ask, “Do highly creative people move more than others, or does moving make people more creative?” We recently compared data on the geographic distribution of MacArthur Fellows at the time of the award to their distribution by place of birth. This is the first time that these data have been compiled and made available publicly. MacArthur Fellows are a distinctive demographic, people identified as “creative,” “talented,” “innovative,” and “intelligent” in a survey of thought leaders conducted for a recent program review. The data may shed light on the environments that nourish creative people.
Arts and Wellness Symposium Set for October 2
Posted on by Steve

Arts & Wellness Symposium: Building a Community of Support, will take place on Thursday, October 2, at the University of Central Florida Fairwinds Alumni Center in Orlando. Stakeholders from across the nation and Central Florida will convene with the intention to provide awareness, experience, and information about how each of us can plan for and look forward to a future rich in potential and inspiration as we age and care for others.

The Lia Fund Legacy Report Documents Life of The Lia Fund
Posted on by Steve

The Lia Fund, a private foundation, has closed its doors after six years of making grants to social-change organizations. To memorialize the life of the Foundation, The Lia Fund has issued The Lia Fund Legacy Report. Founder Randy Lia Weil made two highly unusual decisions about the $5 million she left to be donated after her death. The first was that she appointed 14 people she knew and trusted to select the organizations and individuals who would receive funding. The second unusual thing was that she left no instructions for how or to whom they should give her bequest.

GIA Successfully Advocates Arts in U.S. Department of Education Grant Program
Posted on by Steve

Grantmakers in the Arts’ Arts Education Funders Coalition (AEFC) successfully advocated for the arts as part of the curricular approach in the Obama administration’s Preschool Development Grants. Through a competitive process, which has an October 14 application deadline, $250 million will be granted to states (and local providers). Without AEFC’s efforts, the arts would not be included in this program, which specifically helps preschoolers living below the poverty level.

Cleveland School District Seeking to Fill Two Arts Positions to Support District-Wide Arts Plan
Posted on by Steve

Cleveland arts funders and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District have partnered to develop a district-wide arts plan, which includes the immediate hiring of two new district positions supporting arts education K-12.

One position, with the title of Plan Manager, will be internally focused, responsible for crafting and implementing a comprehensive district-wide arts education policy. The other, Partnership Manager, will focus externally on finding the best ways to work with Cleveland’s arts community to benefit our children. The CMSD will also create a working group of representatives from both the district and the arts community to assure success of this work.

Member Spotlight on Anonymous Was A Woman
Posted on by SuJ'n

During the month of September, GIA's photo banner features artists and projects supported by Anonymous Was a Woman. 

The Anonymous Was A Woman (AWAW) Award celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2015. Created to spotlight women artists over 40, the Award recognizes women of demonstrated talent and accomplishment but who are still under the radar. AWAW winners have significantly contributed to their field, while continuing to grow and pursue their work. To date 191 women have won the unrestricted $25,000 Award. Art in America dubbed it “The Demure Award.”

Jim McDonald Named GIA Deputy Director, Director of Programs
Posted on by Steve

Grantmakers in the Arts welcomes Jim McDonald as its new deputy director/director of programs. McDonald will work with current GIA deputy director/director of programs, Tommer Peterson, beginning September 29, 2014, and will officially take over the position January 1, 2015. Peterson will retire at the end of 2014 after serving GIA in several capacities over the past fourteen years.

“Jim McDonald’s career represents the diverse nature of GIA’s membership serving arts organizations and individual artists with a proven commitment to our core values,” stated Janet Brown, President & CEO. “Trained as a visual artist, McDonald has worked for arts nonprofits as well as corporate, public, and private funders. As a funder, he developed portfolios intentionally serving small and mid-sized organizations, major institutions, artists, arts groups, and communities of color. We look forward to what he will bring to the GIA team.”

Why the Ice Bucket Challenge Is Not Good for Philanthropy
Posted on by Steve

From Jacqueline Herrera, co-founder, Kitechild:

Like any smart business, we don’t reach out to people for a one-time handout. We like to think that people want to have a lifelong relationship with the causes dear to their heart, and over time be able to see how their support has funded progress and changed others’ lives.

There are two ways in which the Ice Bucket Challenge is a brilliant campaign for ALS:

St. Paul Ballet Growing by Small Leaps
Posted on by Steve

By Maja Beckstrom at twincities.com:

The growth of St. Paul Ballet is a story of small leaps. A little more than a year ago, the company and school faced debt and considered cutting back on performances and even closing its doors. It reorganized as an artist-led organization, with dancers taking on administrative roles. Heading into the 2014-15 season, it looks like the dancers' dedication has paid off.
Sacramento Philharmonic, Opera Cancel Fall Season
Posted on by Steve

By Edward Ortiz, writing for the Sacramento Bee:

For the first time in its 17-year history, the Sacramento Philharmonic will not present any concerts during the fall season, and it remains unclear whether its musicians will return to the stage in the spring of 2015. The Sacramento Opera has also decided not to stage performances in the fall. The decision follows months of financial uncertainty for the Sacramento Region Performing Arts Alliance, the organization formed last year when the philharmonic merged with the Sacramento Opera.