Thank you to the many people who have been blog contributors to, and readers of ArtsBlog over the years. ArtsBlog has long been a space where we uplifted stories from the field that demonstrated how the arts strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically; where trends and issues and controversies were called out; and advocacy tools were provided to help you make the case for more arts funding and favorable arts policies.

As part of Americans for the Arts’ recent Strategic Realignment Process, we were asked to evaluate our storytelling communications platforms and evolve the way we share content. As a result, we launched the Designing Our Destiny portal to explore new ways of telling stories and sharing information, one that is consistent with our longtime practice of, “No numbers without a story, and no stories without a number.”

As we put our energy into developing this platform and reevaluate our communications strategies, we have put ArtsBlog on hold. That is, you can read past blog posts, but we are not posting new ones. You can look to the Designing Our Destiny portal and our news items feed on the Americans for the Arts website for stories you would have seen in ArtsBlog in the past.

ArtsBlog will remain online through this year as we determine the best way to archive this valuable resource and the knowledge you’ve shared here.

As ever, we are grateful for your participation in ArtsBlog and thank you for your work in advancing the arts. It is important, and you are important for doing it.

Monograph: United Arts Funds in Transition

The nation’s local arts agencies (LAAs) have long formed the core of the Americans for the Arts membership. These agencies provide a locus for local cultural development and are as diverse as the communities they serve. Distinct among the LAAs are the 65 united arts funds (UAFs), which comprise the largest component of Americans for the Arts’ network for encouraging private-sector support for the arts. UAFs were originally established to pool private-sector resources to support local arts and culture institutions. Today, UAFs are being thrust into a larger community leadership role, helping to broaden the scope of arts programming to reflect a growing diversity within the community while ensuring that the core institutions remain healthy. This Monograph will consider these changes, their causes, and the ways in which the field is adapting.

Americans for the Arts’ Monograph series featured in-depth issue papers on topics that were of the greatest interest to our members and arts professionals at the time. They often still serve as excellent resources for best practices and historic reference for today’s issues. Monographs were produced from 1993–2010. Monographs from 2001-2010 are available for downloadable in PDF format our online store at a nominal fee for nonmembers but free to members. All monographs from 1993-2000 are available for free download via the National Arts Administration and Policy Publications Database.

This Monograph will consider the changes in United Arts Funds as they are being thrust into a larger community leadership role, their causes, and the ways in which the field is adapting.

Report
Baker, Ramona A.
16
February, 2009
Publisher Reference: 
Americans for the Arts
Research Abstract
Categories: 
Access and Equity
Cultural Diversity
Evaluation
Funding
Grantmaking
Leadership
Private Sector
United Arts Funds
Is this an Americans for the Arts Publications: 
Yes
Image Thumbnail of Pub Cover: 
Global Tag: 
Monographs
February 2009