Amy Fiore’s Post

🎨 Did you know that your support for the arts in Greater Victoria can be matched by the federal government? 🎁 When endowments for the arts are created through the Victoria Foundation, the Endowment Incentives program from the Canada Cultural Investment Fund helps take your support to the next level. 🔗 Read more about the program, and how you can boost the arts in our region, in a new article by Sara Neely, the Foundation's Senior Director of Philanthropic Services! https://bit.ly/4eSZKwO

Why are philanthropists and funders not seeing the blatant connection between jobs, housing, and arts organizations survival? Why are general operations and capacity building such hard sells for funders when the people who do the work are dependent on these funds? This article names a number of organizations that provide key cultural space, provide jobs, and artist opportunities that are at risk of closure. Where are the funders at? Support your local arts institutions!

I recently came across Alan Harrison's post, "The Mellon Foundation Did a Nice Thing. Next Time, Look at Where the Action Is." It sparked reflections on the state of philanthropy and the dynamics within the arts community. 🔹 It's evident that there's a tendency to gravitate towards established names and proven results (in the world of philanthropy). However, this often means smaller, innovative organizations miss out on much-needed support. We must recognize that every large organization started small, and the bootstrap mentality isn't always feasible when survival hinges on financial backing. 🔹 While the artistic elements of our organizations are vital, we can't ignore the pressing issues of our time. Arts organizations must be intersectional, addressing societal challenges like government, war, gun violence, and hate. As Atlanta's Out of Hand Theater realized, sometimes what a community truly needs is justice, not just another theater company. 🔹 I believe arts organizations should actively engage with and perform in the communities they serve. Why not take performances to local venues, festivals, or block parties? This fosters connections on the community's terms, moving beyond the notion of "build it, and they will come." 🔹 Scaling and sustainability are often discussed in broad terms, but what about thriving at the local level? There's immense value in being content with local impact and nurturing strong community ties. 🔹 We need to shift our support towards organizations where service work is integral, not just an add-on for funding purposes. Genuine community impact should drive our efforts, not just compliance with grant requirements. 🔹 Chris, a commenter, pointed out that grant-making processes often force organizations into a box, dictating programs and goals that may not align with their true mission, hindering genuine community engagement and innovation. Read Alan's post for more. #Arts #Culture #Philanthropy #Foundations #Leadership #Experimentation #Scale #Sustainability #Relevancy #AudienceEngagement #CommunityEngagement #Service #Education #Grantmaking #Intersectionality #Innovation

The Pathways Program is about sector change - to help make arts, culture, and heritage spaces safer for the humans who work, volunteer, and participate in the arts. From the people who are leading change within our sector, to the ones that want to spark change but don’t know where to begin, the Pathways Program offers a learning-to-action approach to support systems change within your organization’s specific context. In recent years, our sector has worked to become more equitable and just, but there is far more we need to do individually, in our organizations, and at a sector level. This work is ongoing and requires intentional steps to take statements and values into action. The Pathways Program seeks to bring together a community of learners to make a shared commitment to implementing principles of equity and access in arts, culture, and heritage organizations in BC. On June 25th we are excited to share more information about this program, guidelines for applying, and a timeline for the 2024/2025 program. Visit www.manypathways.ca to join our mailing list. —------ Image Description: A white square featuring the Pathways Program logo at the bottom. Text at the top reads: "Want to learn more? Register for our upcoming info session: June 25th, 2pm PDT." Behind the text is an image of a country path, with a green field on the left side, a row of trees on the right, and sun shining through a cloudy sky. BC Museums Association, Rural Arts Inclusion Lab, GVPTA Theatre and Arts BC’s logos are featured bottom right. #Pathways #ArtsBC #BCArtsCouncil #BCMuseumsAssociation #GVPTATheatre #RuralArtsInclusionLab #BCArts #BCNonprofit #NonprofitArts #CommunityArts #Equity #Accessibility #Nonprofit #NonprofitLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #SectorChange

Next month I am honored to be presenting to museum directors from the Oklahoma Museums Association. I have at least one other large state museums association also interested, so there seems to be a common thread here. I absolutely *LOVE* working with the association world! Reason being, I often have to speak in generalities as most in a general audience will have a wide range of interests related to risk, but when you speak to a specific industry or profession with very niche specific risks, it just allows for much greater focus and strategies to be offered. If you represent #associationmanagement for a professional #nonprofitorganization I'd love to have a conversation with you as there are many points of potential customization, not only for the obvious need, but for potential ongoing customization and even association branding. Certainly, it's worth a conversation. I know someone who can help. #defensebydesign #associations #nonprofitmanagement #conferencespeaker

Performing Arts education industry that I have been a part of more then a decade needs a lot of support and advocacy.The performing arts industry is a vital part of society, offering cultural enrichment, entertainment, and educational opportunities. Ensuring its growth and sustainability requires a combination of financial support, community engagement, and passionate advocacy. Here are a few key aspects to consider: 1. **Charity and Funding**: Philanthropic contributions, grants, and sponsorships from both private and public sectors are essential. These funds can help support artists, maintain venues, and produce new works. 2. **Community Support**: Local communities play a crucial role by attending performances, participating in arts education programs, and advocating for the arts in schools and public spaces. 3. **Passion and Advocacy**: Artists, audiences, and supporters need to passionately advocate for the arts, emphasizing their importance in education, mental health, and community cohesion. 4. **Accessibility and Inclusion**: Ensuring that the arts are accessible to diverse audiences and inclusive of different voices and perspectives helps to enrich the cultural landscape and ensure broader support. 5. **Education and Outreach**: Arts education programs in schools and community centers can foster a love for the arts in young people, creating the next generation of artists and arts supporters. By combining these efforts, the performing arts can continue to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the character and vibrancy of society.

What if I told you that you could invest $1 and get back $21? Don't worry, I'm not pitching you a fund, but what I am saying is that investment in our #artsandculture sector has a massive, and well documented, benefit on our society. I think too often we focus just on how art feeds our souls and not how it also enriches our economy and other industries. Artists drive growth in hospitality and tourism, and also are too often the victims of the #gentrification that comes as a byproduct of the "cool" factor the arts provide. But, if the #arts generate $21 for every $1 invested... where is that money going and why are the artists the last ones to usually see the pennies of those generated dollars? Or worse yet, sold the myth of the "noble" starving artist? Arts and culture is in crisis right now, and government grants that have been such a driver of the sector for a while are at historic lows. Simply put, something has to be done, and it's going to take a village. For those of us for whom arts and culture are a core part of our #philanthropy there's a few things we can do right now: 1. Consider #strategic philanthropy to increase our donated dollars. Strategies like "in-kind" donations, corporate donations, legacy gifts via #wills and #lifeinsurance, all of these are things we should investigate with our advisors. You're probably going to be meeting with them anyways to discuss the #federalbudget2024... perhaps this topic should be on the agenda? 2. Listen to artists and consider how trust-based philanthropy fits into our giving plan. Challenge your boards to focus on pay equity for artists and pay artists what they're worth. 3. Look into providing physical spaces for artists to create. While you may not be in a position to create a Community Land Trust, look out for spaces like B-Street Studios by TAPA - Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, The Bridge by Bygone Theatre that are committed to providing affordable space for creation. 4. Reach out to your local community foundations, as their mandates are often to uplift grass-roots and community organizations - of whom artists are often members. Toronto Foundation is the one in my backyard (and to whom I am a supporter and fundholder myself) in case you're a Torontonian. #arts #charity #givingback #economics #theatre #filmandtv

Unfortunately, another example that causes distrust between nonprofits, tax payers (and donors really), and funders (city, county, state and private). Events, and the grants requested to fund them, should be executed with: * agreed upon budgets, with periodic variance reviews * proactive and diverse revenue generating activities (not just one) * KPIs, reports, measurables that present progress (or lack thereof) * consistent oversight and transparent communication, avoiding surprises like budget shortfalls, cancellations, etc. Public funds for events like this should be hard to come by, and they certainly should be managed/executed as promised - if not, consequences have to come into play or we risk "promoting what we permit". #nonprofit #consulting #transparent #event #revenue #trust #grants #CRA TaMaryn Waters Tallahassee Democrat United Partners for Human Services Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) Institute For Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence https://lnkd.in/gg7WYTFy

This note took ten years for me to write. I began the The Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble as a project-based experiment, funded by two small grants and plenty of ideas. Since the beginning, I’ve invested 100% of my time in creating high-quality work that employs the best people and gives the audience the best programming results. One thing I haven’t done well at all is ask for money from our audience members. I have relied on grant organizations, event sales and the occasional corporate sponsorship to fund our work. This is a model that can work through pure muscle and grit, but grants are unreliable and so are the trends and agendas of foundations. Donation drives and the ‘ask’ really come down to what is important to you. I’m reaching out to see if your interest in supporting NEW tap dance works that innovate and inspire NEW audiences is meaningful enough to see these programs into reality: - We have a new residency at the Ryerss Museum in Northeast Philadelphia, through which we will be offering FREE public tap and jazz performances “on the porch” in April and October; - We have partnered with Fringe Arts to present ‘Evenings of Jazz Funk and Fusion,’ starting in April; - The Barnes Foundation has commissioned us to create a new premiere alongside the Mickalene Thomas exhibit; - We are creating a new ‘jazz story’ about Beryl Booker that will premiere at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival this Fall. (Will we win another “Fringie”? That’s our goal!) - We are starting a monthly community jazz jam at Bob and Barbara’s, (see you April 3)! - We have partnered with the Athletic Recreation Center to house our tuition-free tap dance youth program are initiating the first ever Philadelphia Youth Tap Summit at the Center on May 23; - We are creating a documentary to celebrate Germaine Ingram and the 30th anniversary of “Plenty of Good Women Dancers.” Can you help the company - and tap dance - grow today? Your tax-deductible donation of any size can be earmarked to support our artists, our programming or our youth initiatives. You tell me what is important to you, and I will make sure your gift is put to good use. To donate securely online, just navigate to https://lnkd.in/eY2av2kw. Checks can also be mailed to our fiscal sponsor at Philadelphia Dance Projects, c/o Phila Jazz Tap Ensemble, 9 N Preston Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Thank you! (Feel free to share).

#Funding Opp Jazz Road ToursSouth Arts' Jazz Road Tours program offers grants of up to $15,000 to develop tours into communities across the country. The program supports small, three- to six-site tours at an array of venue types, often in rural communities and other areas traditionally underserved by the genre.Jazz Road ToursSouth Arts' Jazz Road Tours program offers grants of up to $15,000 to develop tours into communities across the country. The program supports small, three- to six-site tours at an array of venue types, often in rural communities and other areas traditionally underserved by the genre.Geographic FocusUnited StatesDeadlineJune 1, 2024 Geographic FocusUnited StatesDeadlineJune 1, 2024 https://lnkd.in/gyNAxhY6