GIA Blog

Art Therapy Transforms Warriors into Artists
Posted on by Steve

This week, BBC premiered the film "Art for Heroes," an examination of the role of art therapy in the rehabilitation of military persons who are now combating post-traumatic stress disorder. From Cathy Malchiodi at Psychology Today:

Art making is pitched as an "unlikely weapon" against trauma reactions and presenter Tim Samuels explores just how drawing, painting and imagination are helping veterans to repair and recover from the psychological wounds of war.
The Philanthropic-Consultant Industrial Complex
Posted on by Steve

From Jan Masaoka at Blue Avocado:

In the blink of 15 years, we've gone from a time when there was hardly any nonprofit infrastructure support to one where it feels as if the infrastructure—we coined the term Philanthropic-Consultant Industrial Complex—outweighs the nonprofits doing the actual work.
The Fight over Net Neutrality is Far From Over
Posted on by Steve

From Sean Bowie at Technology in the Arts:

Last month, I wrote about what I consider to be the most important public policy issue affecting the arts/technology community, the issue of net neutrality. Since then, a wave of new developments have shifted the playing field and ratcheted up the fight over what is quickly becoming one of the most contentious policy issues in all of Washington. With the new FCC regulations slated to go into effect this Sunday, the legal and political wrangling over the issue is far from over, and the very future of the Internet as we know it is at stake.
Alaska State Council on the Arts names new Executive Director
Posted on by Steve

The Alaska State Council on the Arts has selected Shannon Daut from Denver, Colorado, as the new Executive Director, effective January 9, 2012. Daut, 37, currently serves as Deputy Director of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) a regional membership organization comprised of the 13 western state arts agencies. She replaces Executive Director Charlotte Fox, who has announced her retirement.

Romney Would Cut Culture Spending in Half
Posted on by Steve

From Mike Boehm at the Los Angeles Times:

Earlier this month, candidate [Mitt] Romney targeted two federal arts and cultural grantmaking agencies, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, for “deep reductions.”
Do America’s Orchestras Serve All People in Our Communities?
Posted on by Steve

Jesse Rosen, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, posts to the American Orchestra Forum about Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change, a report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy:

Since participating in our panel on the question of orchestras and community, I have been giving some thought to a new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy that challenges the extent to which orchestras serve their communities and suggested that small organizations might be a better outlet for support.
November-December Photo Spotlight: Rasmuson Foundation Featured on GIA Website
Posted on by Abigail

To wrap up 2011, a new slide show of member-supported projects on the GIA homepage! Through the end of the year, our featured member is Rasmuson Foundation. Based in Anchorage, AK, Rasmuson Foundation promotes a better quality of life for all Alaskans by making grants in the areas of arts and culture, health, and social services. Our thanks to Jayson Smart, Rasmuson's acting vice president, for his photo selection.

Paul Zak on TED: The Connection Between Hugs and Philanthropy
Posted on by Abigail

New to the TED site last week: Neuroeconomist Paul Zak uses his talk on the hormone oxytocin to explore the biological impulse behind empathy, morality, and generosity. Providing an overview of his lab activities, as well as charming evidence gathered in the field (at a wedding, for instance), Zak explains the social benefits of a population flush with oxytocin-rich individuals.

Post-Election Impact on the Arts
Posted on by Steve

Americans for the Arts Action Fund has issued a report on the outcomes of Tuesday's elections:

The 2011 election proved to be a fairly good year for incumbents. Many candidates who are supportive of the arts and creative economies within their state or region were elected into office. There were only two gubernatorial elections this year. In Kentucky, Democratic Governor Steve Beshear won re-election over his republican contender. Earlier this year in May, Beshear announced the creation of a statewide cultural district certification program.
On the Talk Back Blog: Vilcek Foundation Post on Art & Technology
Posted on by Abigail

New to the Talk Back blog, a post by Vilcek Foundation's new media & IT coordinator, Brian Cavanaugh, on the online creation and distribution of art. He announces a new Vilcek initiative, a digital art space called dARTboard slated to launch in winter 2012, and presents (with terrific graphics) a group of innovative and inspirational websites that includes Artport, the Whitney Museum of American Art's pioneering portal to net and digital art.