Grantmakers in the Arts

(3-16-10) "Classical music, in general, suffers from a certain ossification. Opera, in particular, has an exalted sense of its own importance: an idea that nearly every work is a masterpiece deserving of our full attention....Gergiev turns opera back into a workmanlike part of daily life. I think that if asked, he’d give lip service to the idea of greatness, but his actions seem to signal that music is a daily need, and that making music and having it around and getting it out to people is more important than making it perfectly."

(3-15-10) The Ford Foundation today announced Darren Walker as its next vice president for Education, Creativity and Free Expression, one of Ford's three major program areas. He will succeed Alison R. Bernstein, who is retiring from the position this spring after 14 years of outstanding leadership. As vice president of one of Ford's three divisions, Mr. Walker will guide more than $150 million in annual grant making and serve as an officer of the board of trustees. Mr. Walker will assume his new position late this spring following a transition period with Ms.

(3-15-10) Legislative appropriations to state arts agencies decreased by 10.0% in fiscal year 2010, according to the Legislative Appropriations Annual Survey published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA).

(3-14-10) Haitian American poet Jean-Dany Joachim uses poetry to describe a visit to his home country of Haiti after the quake, which looked, as he put it, like a country "with its guts open."

(3-11-10) This afternoon, Rebecca Thomas, director of National Customized Services at the Nonprofit Finance Fund, presented a webinar hosted on GIA's website, as a follow up to the February Dynamic Adaptability session with Clara Miller. Holly Sidford, president of Helicon Collaborative introduced the presentation. This was an opportunity for participants, as well as representatives of nonprofits who did not attend the earlier session, to follow up with questions and comments.

(3-11-10) GIA member, Ben Cameron, program director at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, recently spoke at TEDx in Calgary. (TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.)

(3-10-10) And probably not your grandparents' either. Shelly Banjo introduces the next generation of grantmakers on the Wall Street Journal's finance blog.

(3-9-10) GIA board member John Killacky and GIA deputy director Tommer Peterson are guest bloggers on the Americans for the Arts Blog Salon this week. Executive Director Janet Brown will also appear soon.