GIA Blog

How the Arts and Cultural Tourism Spur Economic Development
Posted on by Steve

From Craig Watson, director of the California Arts Council, writing for Western City:

It’s the question that all local officials ask themselves: How can we attract and retain profitable businesses and talented people? A key component of such efforts — and one that’s often mislabeled an “amenity” — is arts and culture.

Creative businesses play a huge part in the California economy. These businesses comprise the arts, design, digital media and other fields that utilize a creative workforce. More than 134,000 creative businesses employ 500,000 Californians, with another 100,000 freelance or part-time creative workers in the mix. In addition, the Golden State’s 4,553 arts organizations contribute $3.56 billion annually to its economy.

American orchestras: A time of crisis or rebirth?
Posted on by Steve

From Anne Midgette, writing for The Washington Post:

Carnegie Hall celebrated the American orchestra last week. Except that Spring for Music, the festival that ended Saturday, wasn’t actually a Carnegie Hall festival. It was sponsored by patrons and foundation grants. And given the turmoil across the country as orchestras battle financial duress and strikes and lockouts lead to concert cancellations, some might ask what exactly there is to celebrate.
The Intersection of Creativity, Health, and Aging
Posted on by Janet

By Janet Brown from her blog Better Together

On May 1st, I attended a daylong gathering in Washington DC entitled Innovative Crossroads: The Intersection of Creativity, Health and Aging. Supported by MetLife Foundation in collaboration with the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA), the day was hosted by Grantmakers in Health (GIH) and included health funders as well as members of Grantmakers in the Arts and Grantmakers in Aging. This is a continuation of GIArts work begun with a Thought Leader Forum on Aging a few years ago and collaborative regional workshops planned in conjunction with GIAging and NCCA.

The Navajo Nation Announces Its First Poet Laureate
Posted on by Tommer

Luci Tapahonso has been named the Navajo Nation’s first-ever Poet Laureate, and will be officially introduced to the public on May 17. Tapahonso has written five books of poetry and stories, as well as a children’s book. Saánii Dahataal (1993) and Blue Horses Rush In (1997) are two of her better-known collections, both published by the University of Arizona Press.

Taking Note: Varieties of Research Networking
Posted on by Steve

From Sunil Iyengar for the NEA's ArtWorks blog:

Earlier this year, the ever-prolific Barry Hessenius asked some of us in arts research to take part in a weeklong round of interviews for his blog at WESTAF. Reading that exchange, I was struck by how many piquant observations were left hanging in mid-air, not owing to inarticulateness, but because there’s only so much space to devote to a particular issue or problem. After all, each day of Barry’s blog-a-thon began with a new question.
May Member Spotlight on Alliance for California Traditional Arts
Posted on by Abigail

In May, the photo banner features groups and projects supported by GIA member the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA). Founded in 1997 by cultural workers, arts administrators, and traditional artists, ACTA is the only nonprofit organization in California dedicated to supporting and sustaining folk and traditional arts at the statewide level.

NASA Seeks Poets to Submit Haiku to be Sent to Mars!
Posted on by Tommer

NASA is raising awareness for its upcoming launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft with its Going to Mars project. The MAVEN spacecraft is scheduled for launch this November, to study the Red Planet's upper atmosphere; the craft will examine why Mars lost its atmosphere, and how that catastrophe affected the history of water there.

Two New Titles from Arlene Goldbard
Posted on by Tommer

Longtime contributor to the GIA's Reader and conferences, Arlene Goldbard has published The Culture of Possibility: Art, Artists & the Future, and a second book, The Wave.

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Names 20 New Doris Duke Artists
Posted on by Tommer

Twenty artists working in the fields of contemporary dance, jazz and theatre were announced today by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) as recipients of the 2013 Doris Duke Artist Awards. The purpose of the Doris Duke Artist Awards is to empower, invest in and celebrate artists by offering flexible, multi-year funding in response to financial and funding challenges that are both unique to the performing arts and to each artist.

Parsing the Merce Cunningham Dance Company Legacy Plan: A Special Report
Posted on by Tommer

As reported in Dance USA: Earlier this month the Merce Cunningham Trust released a case study detailing the extensive Legacy Plan crafted by the Cunningham Dance Foundation.