Category: issues

“More than 450 heritage organisations are set to share the first wave of a £1.57bn government handout to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. … A total of 455 organisations across England will receive cash aimed at keeping venues open and supporting those working in the heritage sector.” – BBC

“The $25 million gift, which exceeds the entire annual programming budget of the Music Center, also will be used to create a network of community partners who codesign programs. Many of these partners will be in the arts, but the Music Center will look to other groups as well, said Moore, who cited a deep connection between access to the arts and mental health and wellness.” – Los Angeles Times

Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew: “With social platforms, there is newly shared culture, and in effect, shared history, but it is one that is vulnerable to a loss as arbitrary as a server migration or company sale. … In 2015, we set out to create our own analog archive of contemporary Black life by Black people and for Black people. … The ephemerality of social media terrified us, and as such, inspired us.” – The New York Times Magazine

Seven years into its “racial equity journey,” support for BIPOC organizations has increased 670%, from $75,000 in 2013 to $578,000 in 2020. The foundation’s rapid evolution is an illuminating case study of a regional funder closing the funding equity gap while providing what Foundation president Gary Steuer referred to as “continued support and respect for the largest institutions that have sucked up the largest share of the philanthropic pie—mostly Eurocentric arts groups.” – Inside Philanthropy

“In all cases, as nonprofits, for Pete’s sake, just do something measurably impactful without resorting to counting the number of butts in seats, how many jobs you provided, and your economic impact on the community at large. If you do, people will get it and support you. If you don’t, you’ll lead the Irrelevance Day Parade.” – 501c3 Guru

Arts audiences are passionate and, especially in turbulent times, hunger for the fulfillment that a transcendent performance can bring. Even skeptics of government funding for the arts should support making those experiences possible again. As no less a conservative than Winston Churchill once said, “The arts are essential to any complete national life. The State owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them.” – Washington Post

This despite campaigns to increase engagement. Older people are least likely to engage, say the data. – Arts Professional

“The government has revealed that the festivals has ‘accepted’ there were a lack of ‘female artists, artists with disabilities and artists from non-white backgrounds’ in [this year’s] online programme, which was announced in early August. … The event is to be closely monitored in future to ensure it makes improvements and meets official ‘obligations’ on equality, diversity and inclusion.” – The Scotsman

Simpson Millar said the government had not provided any evidence to support the restriction, which “seems to lack any obvious rational or scientific basis”. Critics have said the measure is not only damaging to the hospitality sector but may actually be counterproductive, due to the large number of people gathering in the streets or homes after 10pm, or crowding onto public transport at the same time. – The Guardian

By 10 a.m., all 78 floodgates barricading three inlets to the Venetian lagoon had been raised, and even when the tide reached as high as four feet, water levels inside the lagoon remained steady, officials said. – The New York Times