Education Funding Watch

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July 7, 2010

In this month's issue of Arts Funding Watch, the Foundation Center's newsletter devoted entirely to the arts, you'll read about the most recent winner of the McKnight Distinguished Artist award. You'll also find links to arts-related news, funding opportunities for organizations and individuals, resources, and job listings. Arts Funding Watch is available exclusively to visitors who register at the Foundation Center's Web site.

Iranian Sculptor Siah Armajani Is McKnight 2010 Distinguished Artist

The Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation has named sculptor Siah Armajani as its 2010 McKnight Distinguished Artist. Now in its thirteenth year, the McKnight Distinguished Artist program recognizes individual Minnesota artists who have made significant contributions to the quality of the state's cultural life and includes a $50,000 cash prize. Armajani, who moved to the United States from Iran in 1960, is best known around the world for his public art and sculptures that reflect on American democracy, reference environmental contexts and architecture, and pay homage to leading poets, philosophers, and thinkers. Read the article»

Recent Arts News from Philanthropy News Digest

MacArthur Foundation Expands Loan Fund for Chicago-Area Arts Groups
Through the Working Capital Loan Fund for Arts and Culture, the foundation offers short-term loans and longer term lines of credit to help meet the cash flow and working capital needs of small to mid-sized arts organizations....
Posted: 7/01/10

Kennedy Center President Advising Cultural Leaders Around the Country on 'Arts in Crisis' Tour
When it ends in July, the tour will have brought Michael Kaiser to all fifty states with the message that in difficult economic times arts organizations retain audiences and donors by offering their most exciting programming....
Posted: 6/30/10

University of California, Berkeley Acquires Collection of Jewish History Archives From Magnes Museum
The gift from Warren Hellman, Tad Taube, and the Koret Foundation will be used to move the museum's Western Jewish History Archives, a collection of 10,000 historical and cultural pieces, to the Bancroft and the Jean Gray Hargrove Music libraries....
Posted: 6/26/10

McKnight Foundation Announces More Than $30 Million in Grants
Grants totaling more than $1.3 million were awarded to twenty arts organizations working to connect artists and the community....
Posted: 6/25/10

More arts news»

Funding Opportunities

ASCAP Foundation Accepting Letters of Intent for Music Grant Program
Grants of $2,500 will be awarded to nonprofits that have started education and talent development programs that coincide with the foundation's mission of nurturing aspiring songwriters and composers....
Deadline: 8/01/10 (Letter of Intent)

Driehaus Foundation Accepting Applications for 2010 Chicago Small Theater and Dance Funding Program
Operating grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to arts and culture organizations that have budgets of $150,000 or less and serve the Chicago metropolitan area....
Deadline: 9/13/10

American Composers Forum Announces National Composition Contest
The Finale National Composition Contest will provide chamber music composers with up to $3,500 and the chance to have their original piece performed by the ensemble eighth blackbird....
Deadline: 9/15/10

NAMM Foundation Accepting Applications for 2011 President's Innovation Award for Exemplary College Students
A cash award and opportunities to network with industry laureates and professionals will be given to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in the music products industry....
Deadline: 9/30/10

More requests for proposals»

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Cultural Vitality

Do you live in a "healthy" community? Does it offer opportunities for the arts, culture, and creative expression? To help answer those questions, the Urban Institute's Arts and Culture Indicators in Communities Project has developed a comprehensive definition of cultural vitality as well as tools for how to measure it. Launched a decade ago with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the goals of the project are to help policy makers make better decisions for neighborhoods and cities while expanding the paradigm of what counts as arts and culture in a way that makes it more inclusive of the demographic realities of our nation.

New Report

Even as the recession seems to be loosening its grip on the national economy, many state governments are struggling to balance their budgets and replace tax revenue vaporized by the worst economic downturn in decades. Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development (44 pages, PDF), a 2009 report from the NGA Center for Best Practices, argues that greater investment in arts and culture-related industries is a proven way for states and communities to create new jobs, attract investment and young workers, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and related activities. Click here to download the full report.

Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts supports the arts community in New York City and beyond through advocacy and research. The organization collects and shares data that advocates can use to demonstrate the importance of the arts to the economy; encourages individuals to contact their government leaders about arts issues; and offers several print publications and Web sites that promote the visual and performing arts. Click here to learn more.

Job Opportunities

Technical Associate
Cultural Development Corporation
Washington, D.C.
Posted: 6/29/10

Program Assistant
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, D.C.
Posted: 6/25/10

Education Director
Theatre for a New Audience
New York, New York
Posted: 6/25/10

Director of Development
Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
Berkshires, Massachusetts
Posted: 6/23/10

More job opportunities»

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