Grantmakers in the Arts

When the Olympics Gave Out Medals for Art

July 30, 2012 by Steve

From Joseph Stromberg at Smithsonian.com:

For the first four decades of competition, the Olympics awarded official medals for painting, sculpture, architecture, literature and music, alongside those for the athletic competitions. From 1912 to 1952, juries awarded a total of 151 medals to original works in the fine arts inspired by athletic endeavors. Now, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the first artistic competition, even Olympics fanatics are unaware that arts, along with athletics, were a part of the modern Games nearly from the start.

July 28, 2012 by Steve

From Marianne Combs at Minnesota Public Radio:

This week President Obama announced his intent to nominate Ranee Ramaswamy to the National Council on the Arts. The NCA advises the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (currently Rocco Landesman) on agency policies and programs.

July 26, 2012 by Steve

New research by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) shows that when it comes to social media, nonprofits aren’t closely following their foundation funders or their funders’ staff. “While foundations and their grantees are both using social media—Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogs—the nonprofits simply are not following their funders,” said Ellie Buteau, vice president of research for CEP and co-author of the report.

July 25, 2012 by Steve

From Micheline Maynard at Forbes:

As the recession grew deeper, states across the country took aim at budgets for the arts. In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback used his line-item veto power to eliminate funding for the for the Kansas Arts Commission, making his state the first to eliminate arts money altogether. At the time, Brownback called the commission a luxury his state couldn’t afford. Now, Brownback has quietly changed course — but in a different guise.

Reality is Not Perception

July 24, 2012 by Janet

What do you think the general public thinks these days when they hear the words “the arts?” Does it conjure up images of what they do on a daily basis: listening to music, watching television, singing in church choir, reading a book, attending the theatre? Or do most people think of an elite special interest group for people with money? I’m thinking about language again because it gets us into so much trouble.

July 24, 2012 by Tommer

The University of Chicago Cultural Policy Center has published Set in Stone: Building America's New Generation of Arts Facilities, 1994-2008. This study of cultural building began in 2006 as a response to inquiries from arts consultants who had for some time been working on dozens of building projects across the country and found themselves confronting the same sets of problems with each new client.

July 24, 2012 by Tommer

The Great River Shakespeare Festival (GRSF) in Winona, Minnesota has created an inventive capitalization instrument that will interest the broader field. The Festival’s “Legacy Bond Investment Program,” launched in September, 2011 is a state-approved investment offer for Festival patrons that provides GRSF with significant working capital.

New Report from Philanthropy Northwest

July 23, 2012 by Tommer

Philanthropy Northwest has published Journey Into Indian Country, a new report that chronicles five years of work to build and strengthen relationships between organized philanthropy and Native Americans and First Alaskans in the region. With pictures, poetry and stories, the report explores how Philanthropy Northwest members are seeking to better understand Native history and culture, and to expand opportunities for deeper, strategic philanthropic partnerships between Natives and non-Natives.

Special Series: For the Love of Radical Giving Podcast

You are tuning into For the Love of Radical Giving podcast, a GIA Reader miniseries that deconstructs traditional philanthropy and celebrates the joy and power of giving out of love.

Each episode explores radical, innovative, community-driven approaches that challenge traditional philanthropic models, highlighting the voices and experiences of those actively working to democratize philanthropy and create equitable, impactful change.

GIA · For the Love of Radical Giving Miniseries | GIA Reader | 2024

· ALL PODCASTS

From the GIA Reader: FLOW with Dr. Durell Cooper

In this specially commissioned web series co-produced by Grantmakers in the Arts, Dr. Cooper dives into conversations with practitioners and influential people from the global majority who are leading in arts philanthropy. The overarching question this series investigates is what narratives exist that harm us and how are we intentionally developing strategies to mitigate the harm to foster healing in communities of color?

Explore the conference blog

Videos from the GIA 2023 Conference are now available for streaming.

Videos from the GIA 2023 Conference Summer Series are now available for streaming.