GIA Reader (2000-present)
GIA Reader (2000-present)
— Alfred North Whitehead, Process and Reality
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, than to take a lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovation has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.
Cautious, longtime grantmakers may recall the stir created in 1989 by John Edie, the Council on Foundation’s attorney, when he wrote Use of Fiscal Agents: A Trap for the Unwary. This report, unfortunately, cast a shadow over the concept of fiscal sponsorship that still lingers in some quarters. Since that time, however, and across the past twenty years, the practice of fiscal sponsorship has continued to grow, organize itself, and become increasingly sophisticated.
Read More...All things in nature have a shape, that is to say, a form, an outward semblance, that tells us what they are, that distinguishes them from ourselves and from each other.
Read More...In 2007, with the Bush administration’s aggressive foreign policy looming large in the world’s perception of the United States, the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation expanded its arts research agenda to include a major in-house project aimed at shedding light on the recent history of public and private support for international arts and cultural exchange as an instrument of public diplomacy.
Read More...At a recent public debate about organic food, the proponents of organic farming extolled its virtues by listing its various benefits. It is kinder to the environment, they said, and to animals, and it keeps toxic chemicals out of our bodies. “But does it taste better?” an audience member asked. To my surprise, the experts hesitated. “We can’t reliably measure that effect,” one of them explained. “So it’s not a claim we make.” The exchange reminded me about everything that’s wrong with arts advocacy these days.
Read More...My friend and muse, celebrated composer Libby Larsen, recently told an audience that “music is alive and well in our culture,” and she said it with an exclamation point! I agree with her, and in one sense that statement could be both the beginning and the end of this report. It’s pretty definitive. Since the digital age has made access to everything so much easier, composers and performers have continued to learn from and utilize the new technological tools to their benefit.
Read More...Placing the cause and calling of literature ahead of the bottom line, independent literary publishers serve as a primary link between writers — particularly those representing emerging voices, culturally specific communities, and literary art forms not fostered by mainstream publishers — and readers. Independent literary publications create an enduring record of cultural activity and provide an essential alternative to the voices heard through large-scale, commercial publishing.
Read More...The League of American Orchestras represents more than nine hundred member organizations across the nation, from youth and college groups to volunteer community orchestras and internationally renowned professional ensembles. Orchestras enhance the quality of life in their communities by providing musical inspiration and meaning, fostering civic pride, and collaborating with school systems and other local partners to deliver a wide array of education and community programs. Their annual budgets range from next to nothing to over $80 million.
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