Arts Innovation and Management Participants Receive $30 Million from Bloomberg Philanthropies
September 15, 2015
DEVOS INSTITUTE AND BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES PARTNER TO SERVE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SIX CITIES
Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced the grantees selected to participate in the foundation’s $30 million Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program for small and midsize nonprofit cultural institutions in six U.S. cities, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The invitation-only program, announced in April 2015, supports a diverse set of institutions including local cultural centers and performing, literary and visual art organizations that present music, film, dance, poetry and other art forms. (See below for a full list of the 262 grantees.)
Through this two-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies provides unrestricted grants to 262 organizations around the country to help strengthen their operational and programming efforts and offers arts management training in fundraising, audience development and board member engagement. All selected nonprofit cultural organizations are locally or internationally recognized groups that have been in existence for at least two years.
Bloomberg Philanthropies worked with local funders in each city to identify the grantee cohort of small and midsized arts organizations. In addition to strong programmatic activities, selected grantees exhibited a potential for growth in their organization’s management capacity. Together, the grantees comprise a thriving and robust arts community in each city, provide a total of over 1,700 jobs and collectively serve more than 10 million residents.
“Local arts groups are economic and cultural engines that contribute to communities in ways that few other industries can,” said Michael R. Bloomberg. “By supporting smaller organizations that don’t typically have endowments and providing them with management training, we are working to help them have an even greater positive impact on an even broader audience."
This initiative builds on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ work to support arts and cultural organizations that contribute to local economy, identity, and quality of life. As critical economic and civic assets, arts organizations provide jobs, stimulate local economies, and promote social cohesion. According to a report released by the National Endowment for the Arts, creative industries contribute $698 billion to the nation’s economy, representing more than 4 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). This contribution represents a larger share of our national economy than the transportation and agriculture sectors. A report released by the University of Pennsylvania revealed that cities with a high concentration of arts and culture exhibit higher civic engagement, more social unity, and lower crime and poverty rates.
Bloomberg Philanthropies is partnering with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland to develop curricula and conduct trainings for the AIM program in each city. The comprehensive workshops engage organizations around activities that strengthen their long-term health. They also include consultations and implementation support for arts managers, their boards and outside experts such as VaynerMedia to develop important social media practices.
As part of the AIM award, all grantees are required to secure matching funds; ensure 100 percent board participation in fundraising; participate in a management training programs and maintain up-to-date information in the Cultural Data Project, an online financial & data collection platform that assists arts organizations across the country to collect, learn from, and use data effectively. The grants are unrestricted so that recipients can use them to address their greatest operational and management needs.
“AIM is well-positioned to make a significant, lasting impact on American arts organizations,” said Michael M. Kaiser, Chairman of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. “In addition to its remarkable breadth, this program is unique in that it provides participants with general-operating support and management training. This unique approach empowers participants to navigate the rapid changes in technology, demographics, and the economy that continue to affect arts organizations across the country. We are honored to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies in this endeavor, and we look forward to working with AIM participants to foster a sustainable cultural sector in each of these six cities.”
First piloted in New York City, Bloomberg Philanthropies supported 245 grantees through AIM from 2011-2013. Participating organizations reported improvements in audience development, board engagement and fundraising over the two-year program.
The New York pilot grantees made significant gains as a result of the program including:
- $42 million net increase in contributed income
- $26.5 million in earned income (ticket, sales, courses, space rental, concessions)
- 95% reported increasing board engagement by expanding membership or increasing board giving
- 82% entered into partnerships that offset $8.3M in costs
- 79% reached new audiences
ABOUT THE DEVOS INSTITUTE OF ARTS MANAGEMENT
The DeVos Institute has served more than 1,000 organizations from over 80 countries since Michael M. Kaiser founded it during his tenure as President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The Institute has designed its services to assist a wide range of institutions, from traditional performing and presenting organizations, museums and galleries, arts schools and libraries, to botanical gardens, glass-making studios, public art trusts, and non-profit cinemas, to name a few. The DeVos Institute transferred its activities and offices from the Kennedy Center to the University of Maryland in September 2014. The move enables the Institute to expand its global training and consulting programs, enhance its fellowships for North American and international arts managers within the context of a major educational institution, and create a Master’s program that leverages both University and Institute resources.
ABOUT BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Public Health, Environment, Education, Government Innovation and the Arts. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $462 million.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Bloomberg Philanthropies: Rebecca Carriero, +212-205-0182, rebeccac@bloomberg.org
DeVos Institute of Arts Management: Joe Heitz, +301-314-0957, jeheitz@devosinstitute.net
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
BOSTON
A Far Cry
Artists for Humanity
ArtsBoston
Boston Baroque
Boston Center for the Arts
Boston Children's Chorus
Boston City Singers
Boston Dance Alliance
Boston Landmarks Orchestra
Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Boston Youth Moves
Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras
Bostonian Society
Cantata Singers
Central Square Theater
Charlestown Working Theater
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Community Music Center of Boston
Company One Theatre
Dance Complex
Design Museum Boston
Fort Point Arts Community
Freedom Trail Foundation
From the Top
GrubStreet
Handel and Haydn Society
Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Mass Poetry
Medicine Wheel Productions
Museum of African American History
North End Music and Performing Arts Center
Old South Meeting House
OrigiNation, Inc.
Project STEP
SpeakEasy Stage Company
The Theater Offensive
Urbano Project
USS Constitution Museum
World Music/CRASHarts
ZUMIX
CHICAGO
About Face Theatre
Albany Park Theater Project
American Indian Center
Audience Architects
Barrel of Monkeys
Beverly Arts Center
Black Ensemble Theater
Blair Thomas & Company
Chicago Artists Coalition
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education
Chicago Children's Choir
Chicago Children's Theatre
Chicago Cultural Alliance
Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center
Chicago Opera Theater
Chicago Sinfonietta
Collaboraction Theater Company
Congo Square
Deeply Rooted Productions
DuSable Museum of African American History
Eighth Blackbird Performing Arts Association
Elastic Arts Foundation
eta Creative Arts Foundation
Facets-Multimedia Incorporated
Guild Complex
Hedwig Dances
Hyde Park Art Center
Illinois Humanities Council
Ingenuity Incorporated Chicago
Jazz Institute of Chicago
Kartemquin Educational Films
Links Hall
Little Black Pearl
Marwen Foundation
Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
National Veterans Art Museum
Open Books
Pegasus Theatre Chicago
Porchlight Music Theatre
Rebuild Foundation
Redmoon Theater
Silk Road Rising
Sones de Mexico Ensemble
South Chicago Art Center NFP
South Side Community Art Center
Street-Level Youth Media
Teatro Vista Theater with a View
The House Theatre of Chicago
The Hypocrites
The Neo-Futurists
Third Coast International Audio Festival
Threewalls
TimeLine Theatre Company
Victory Gardens Theater
Young Chicago Authors
DALLAS
29 Pieces
Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico
Bruce Wood Dance Project
Cara Mía Theatre Co.
Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas
Creative Arts Center of Dallas
Dallas Bach Society
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Dallas Children's Theater
Dallas Contemporary
Dallas Film Society
Dallas Holocaust Museum
Dallas Wind Symphony
Dance Council of North Texas
Fine Arts Chamber Players
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
Junior Players
Kitchen Dog Theater Company
Lone Star Circus Arts Center
Lone Star Wind Orchestra
Orchestra of New Spain
Orpheus Chamber Singers
Sammons Center for the Arts
Second Thought Theatre
Shakespeare Dallas
TeCo Theatrical Productions
Texas Winds Musical Outreach
The Arts Community Alliance (TACA)
The Black Academy of Arts and Letters
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
The Writer's Garret
Turtle Creek Chorale
Undermain Theatre
Uptown Players
Voices of Change
DETROIT
Allied Media Projects
Arab American National Museum
Arts & Scraps
Carr Center
Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History
Creative Many
CultureSource
Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings
Detroit Children's Choir
Detroit Historical Society
Detroit Repertory Theatre
Grosse Pointe Theatre
Heidelberg Project
Heritage Works
InsideOut Literary Arts Project
Living Arts
Matrix Theatre Company
Michigan Science Center
Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
Motown Historical Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
Pewabic Society
PonyRide
PuppetART Detroit Puppet Theater
Scarab Club
Signal-Return
Sphinx Organization
LOS ANGELES
24th Street Theatre
Arts for LA
Avenue 50 Studio
Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
Bootleg Theater
CASA 0101
Center for Cultural Innovation
Center for the Arts Eagle Rock
Cornerstone Theater Company
Craft & Folk Art Museum
Craft in America
Debbie Allen Dance Academy
Diavolo Dance Theater
East West Players
Ebony Repertory Theatre
Filmforum
Floricanto Dance Theatre
Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles
Get Lit – Words Ignite
Ghetto Film School, Los Angeles
Heidi Duckler Dance Theater
Independent Shakespeare Co.
Inner-City Arts
Invertigo Dance Theatre
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
LA STAGE Alliance
LA Theatre Works
Lambda Literary Foundation
Latino Theater Company
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Los Angeles Nomadic Division
Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Machine Project
Museum of Jurassic Technology
Plaza de la Raza
Rogue Machine Theatre
Sacred Fools Theater
Santa Cecilia Orchestra
Self Help Graphics & Art
Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC)
Street Poets Inc.
The Blank Theatre
The Industry
The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company
The Young Storytellers Foundation
Theatre of NOTE
Theatre West
Venice Arts
Women In Film
SAN FRANCISCO
509 Cultural Center
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
American Indian Film Institute
Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts and Technology
Brava! For Women in the Arts
Center for Asian American Media
Chhandam Chitresh Das Dance Company
Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco
City Arts & Lectures
CounterPulse
Cypress Performing Arts Association
Dancers' Group
Frameline
Galeria Studio 24
Golden Gate Performing Arts
Golden Thread Productions
Jewish Film Institute
Joe Goode Performance Group
Kronos Performing Arts Association
Litquake
Loco Bloco
Magic Theatre
Margaret Jenkins Dance Company
Mexican Museum
Museum of the African Diaspora
Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu Hula Halau
New Century Chamber Orchestra
New Conservatory Theatre Center
ODC
Other Minds
Performing Arts Workshop
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Precita Eyes Muralists Association
Queer Cultural Center (Qcc)
Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project
RADAR Productions
Root Division
San Francisco Center for the Book
San Francisco Community Music Center
San Francisco Girls Chorus
San Francisco Performances
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
SomArts Cultural Center
Southern Exposure
The Cutting Ball Theater
Women's Audio Mission
World Arts West
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Youth Speaks
Z Space Studio
Zaccho Dance Theatre