J. Joy Cohen’s Post

Americans for the Arts recently released their thorough Arts & Economic Prosperity study, including the following two key findings that hit very close to home. As the director of a community-based, non-profit arts and culture center, I get to see firsthand every day the economic impact on our neighborhoods and pride in our communities that is driven by artists and arts organizations. "Pride in community. 89% of attendees agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.” 86% said they would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available,” and 86% felt it important that future generations also be able to have that cultural experience." "Arts and culture drives commerce to local businesses. When people attend a cultural event, they often make an outing of it—dining at a restaurant, paying for parking or public transportation, enjoying dessert after the show, and returning home to pay for child or pet care. Attendees at nonprofit arts and culture events spend $38.46 per person per event, beyond the cost of admission—vital income for local merchants and a value-add that few industries can compete with."

At United Arts, we are passionate about the transformative impact of arts and culture on our society. Recent findings from the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) report highlight just how significant this impact is, both economically and socially. Economic Impact: In 2022, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated a staggering $151.7 billion in economic activity. This includes $73.3 billion in spending by arts organizations and $78.4 billion in event-related expenditures by audiences. Job Creation: This sector supported 2.6 million jobs and provided $101 billion in personal income to residents across the country. Tax Revenue: Arts and culture activities contributed $29.1 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments. Community Pride: 89% of arts event attendees expressed that these activities instill a sense of pride in their community. Social Connections: The arts foster social connections, community pride, and cultural understanding, making our communities more vibrant and inclusive. Why It Matters: Investing in arts and culture is not just about supporting creativity; it’s about fostering economic growth, enhancing community livability, and promoting social well-being. At United Arts, we are committed to continuing our work to ensure that arts and culture remain a vibrant and integral part of our community. Join us in supporting the arts. Together, we MAKE ART HAPPEN across Wake County! Support: https://lnkd.in/gKTfDcm9 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/evrUQW7v

Philanthropy and Arts & Culture institutions have the power to bring about significant change by addressing funding inequalities. By examining the dynamics of donor relations, museum exhibitions, and the struggles faced by theaters, we can begin to shift cultural hierarchies and create a more equitable society. One example of how philanthropy can make a difference is by supporting underfunded arts programs in BIPOC communities. By providing financial resources and opportunities for artists and performers in these areas, we can help level the playing field and ensure that everyone has access to the arts. Read our Op-Ed by Monica Fernandez to learn about the internal assessment of upending cultural hierarchies in Arts and culture: https://buff.ly/3qPAyDZ

AAWIC Giving Tuesday! On this Giving Tuesday, we want to share an inspiring story of resilience, empowerment, and a legacy that spans a quarter of a century. It's the story of African American Women In Cinema (AAWIC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been the unwavering backbone of support for women filmmakers for the past twenty-five years. For a quarter of a century, AAWIC has been a beacon of light for both experienced and novice filmmakers, directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors. Their mission is not just about showcasing talent; it's about expanding, exploring, and creating opportunities for minority women in the entertainment industry. AAWIC is the platform where dreams come true, where artistic women find their path, their voice, and their place in a traditionally male-dominated industry. But they don't stop at showcasing talent. AAWIC believes in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers. This is where you come in. Your support on this Giving Tuesday will enable AAWIC to continue its remarkable journey of empowering women in cinema. https://lnkd.in/eWPjZsx6

📣 Today National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy released "Cracks in the Foundation: Philanthropy’s Role in Reparations for Black People in the DMV". This comprehensive and powerful body of work was led by my coworker Katherine Ponce, MBA, MS alongside countless others who have stewarded this work for over two years. I encourage you to read it!📣 Institutional philanthropy's systemic underfunding of Black communities and Black-led institutions has been called out by activists and advocates in the movement for racial justice for decades. Folks in the movement for reparations have also long highlighted that increased funding to racial justice work, while critical, is not the same as reckoning with the harms caused to specific Black people and communities by the founders of philanthropic institutions as they generated their philanthropic capital. "Cracks in the Foundation" compiles, contextualizes and publishes the historical connections between philanthropic wealth origins, past harms, and modern-day racial disparities to provide an invitation and a roadmap for philanthropy to exercise responsibility for past harms by finding ways to repair, heal, and restore local communities harmed by the actions and decisions that created charitable wealth.  #DCReparations #ReparationsMatter #DMVHistory  #ResponsivePhilanthropy #RacialJustice

AAWIC Giving Tuesday! On this Giving Tuesday, we want to share an inspiring story of resilience, empowerment, and a legacy that spans a quarter of a century. It's the story of African American Women In Cinema (AAWIC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been the unwavering backbone of support for women filmmakers for the past twenty-five years. For a quarter of a century, AAWIC has been a beacon of light for both experienced and novice filmmakers, directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors. Their mission is not just about showcasing talent; it's about expanding, exploring, and creating opportunities for minority women in the entertainment industry. AAWIC is the platform where dreams come true, where artistic women find their path, their voice, and their place in a traditionally male-dominated industry. But they don't stop at showcasing talent. AAWIC believes in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers. This is where you come in. Your support on this Giving Tuesday will enable AAWIC to continue its remarkable journey of empowering women in cinema. https://lnkd.in/et7Z4dEJ

Allyship is not mentoring or creating yet another talk or panel... it is about opening doors, real doors! Here's how:

I love helping artists and arts nonprofits but I'm also interested in changing the field entirely. Here's a question that was part of a final report form I was helping one of my clients fill out, and the answer I composed for them. I'm not sure if they used it, but here it is: Q: What constructive criticism or ideas do you have to help the [Redacted} Foundation improve our work? A response here is optional. Maximum Character Count: 2,000 A: Our organization manages to provide a plethora of well-used public arts programming on an annual budget of less than $50,000 a year, the equivalent of a middle income for one person. We believe the arts field and artists are in solidarity with low-income groups. We would like to see foundations and philanthropies that support arts and culture also advocate for Universal Basic Income and Universal Healthcare in the U.S.A.

There are many leaders in the nonprofit sector and social justice sectors who are Black Canadians, as we wrap up #BlackHistoryMonth, here a look at some of the profiles of these prominent leaders. https://loom.ly/xBU48rY #Nonprofit #SocialJustice #CanadianNonprofits

Watch this Insider Tip Video about SPECIALIZATION and your collection. Do you have a specialty collection? Have you wanted to grow a specialty collection but haven't gotten started yet? If you already specialize, leave some wisdom for collectors just getting started in the comments... Click here to watch the video: https://lnkd.in/eASusgjd #specialtystamps #philately #philatelycollection #philatelists #philatelycollectors #stampcollecting #stampauctionnetwork #stampstellhistory