“For the group of young Black photographers who founded The Black Image Center, a collective turned 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Los Angeles, COVID-19 allowed time to think deeply about a space where Black artists can come to stimulate their imaginations through photography, and one that can provide resources for their economic empowerment,” said Joshua Oduga for Hyperallergic. “Kalena Yiaueki, Maya Mansour, Zamar Velez, Haleigh Nickerson, Samone Kidane, and Michael Tyrone Delaney, who all have diverse backgrounds within the field of photography, came together digitally during the pandemic. The Black Image Center opened in Culver City’s arts district in early 2022.”

“The collaborative nature of The Black Image Center was an important aspect of their work from the beginning. The collective’s first major project was a collaboration with artist ​​Hank Willis Thomas’s organization For Freedoms. The two organizations worked together in fall of 2021 on The Black Family Archive, a weekend-long pop-up to celebrate the Black history of LA’s Leimert Park neighborhood and the power of establishing a space for memory, legacy, and family. Attendees brought in family photos for consultations on their conservation. Digitization and printing were offered, and a free film fridge was available throughout the weekend to encourage the community to engage with photography. The event was centered around a mural by artist Adee Roberson, who draws on an extensive archive of family photos, dating back to childhood, to create art.”

“Currently The Black Image Center is hosting workshops, such as a recent one on community quilting. The resulting quilt, an homage to community, was created by artist Kern Samuel at the center, along with community members of all ages, including artists, local families, and members of The Black Image Center team, and it hangs in the space. There are also plans for camera cleaning and inspection workshops, and the center has launched a free studio day program — offering space to Black image makers in need of a place to create.”

Read the full article here.

“Over the last 150 years, humanity has experienced a breakneck pace of growth, not only in science and technology, but in population and data production. How could we as a species deal with so much knowledge unless we turned to hyper-specialization? We have done that well,” said Kamal Sinclair (Guild of Future Architects) for NEA. “However, we still have not understood that the potential of these specializations is limited unless we can construct robust collaborative networks across fields and disciplines. At this point, we are so hyper-specialized that we are missing critical connections for discovery, design principles in our systems development, and context for defining meaning.”

Sinclair offers her, “relevant recommendations based on my experience as a practitioner in this field of emergent technology and the arts:

1. Embrace the inclusion of ‘A’ for Arts, evolving STEM programs to STEAM programs
2. Break down industry and academic silos
3. Develop research agendas to document technology-centered artists’ role in creative economy
4. Enable artists to demonstrate the creative potentials of technology by providing early access”

“Ultimately, I hope this report’s recommendations are heeded by our country’s academic, cultural, and innovation spaces, so the rich experiences and outcomes of niche collaboration spaces such as New Frontier, Eyebeam, New Museum’s NEW INC, Bell Labs’ EAT Program, and others can become the norm, instead of the outliers. This adoption of arts as a central part of human systems design, rather than a part of the finishing gloss or marketing schemes, will help to mitigate limited designs in our systems that can lead to damaging and unintended consequences.”

Read the full article here.

“The visual arts sector continues to grow at a rapid rate integrating applications of artistic and technological talent into the entertainment, fashion, and marketing industries across the world,” said Rob Berger for Forbes. “Students are clamoring for more educational opportunities to get a head start on careers that often begin well before cap and gown ceremonies at the hand of doodlers across the nation.”

“I had the pleasure of sitting down with award-winning artist and podcaster Rich Tu to shed some light on how art not only propelled a career but also allowed for a means to express cultural understanding and connection.”

“As a first-generation Filipino-American and award-winning designer, Rich Tu resides in Brooklyn, NY, where he is Group Creative Director at Jones Knowles Ritchie in NYC. He has worked creatively for numerous well-known companies and brands, including MTV Entertainment Group at ViacomCBS, Nike, Alfa Romeo, Bombay, Adidas, Converse, American Express, The New York Times, NPR, and remarkably, many others.”

Listen to the episode here.

“If you are reading this, you’ve crossed the digital divide. One in two people on the planet have not,” said Chris Worman for Alliance Magazine. “You can take advantage of an increasing array of digital products and services. Unconnected families cannot; and they are falling behind as work, education, healthcare, civic participation, and access to services provided by your grantees, are increasingly moving online. For unconnected families, the internet — once touted as a great equalizer — is becoming a wedge between the haves and have-nots.”

“This can and must change. Philanthropy can support pathways to digital equity — the state in which all people have the affordable, high-speed internet, tools and skills they need to participate in our digitalizing world —and ensure the communities we care about do not get left further behind. If our success is predicated on the success of our grantees, and their success is predicated on the increased quality of life for those they serve, and both are increasingly dependent on access to digital technologies, then we must engage.”

“Digitalization is happening. Digital equity depends on all of us. Philanthropy must engage in support of communities markets have failed. Together we can ensure communities come online, on their terms, with the tools and skills they need to thrive in our digitalizing world.”

Read the full article here.

“Black women philanthropists are essential to the growth of the philanthropic space and yet are often sidelined,” said Ophelia Akanjo for Nonprofit Quarterly. “Seemingly, some of the core guiding principles responsible for their philanthropic activism include community building and advancement, leveraging access and equity, religion and faith, and sparking change within their communities and beyond.”

“Perhaps some view their actions simply as giving, and not necessarily as the grandiose gesture that we know today as philanthropy. But the truth remains that in the way of the world as we know it, documentation, labeling, and publicization are how actions and people we come to recognize as influential in the world are anthologized. It is no wonder that many people, both within and outside of Black communities, find the need to shed light on Black Americans who have and continue to perform remarkable acts of kindness and in turn label them philanthropists. It is important that we recognize them as such, and in turn have others within the community see the importance of giving and become givers themselves.”

Read the full article here.

Communities across Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia are devastated by intense and ongoing flooding, with more storms looming. At least 30 people have died, hundreds remain missing, and countless others have lost their homes and belongings in the waters. Kentucky Gov. Beshear estimates it may take months to restore running water there, and excessive heat and infrastructure damage will pose further threats once the floods subside.

The situation is dire and heartbreaking – support is needed now, and will be needed far into the future to help folks regain their footing and to demand steps are taken to protect communities from the extractive industries, exploitative policies, and manmade climate crises that have contributed to this horrific devastation.

Appalshop’s building and archives were underwater on Friday, but they have created a Resource Page for flood-impacted people seeking help and support on the ground, for donors and supporters to provide aid, and to provide ongoing updates as the situation unfolds. Appalachians for Appalachia has also created an EKY Flood Relief Community document with detailed information on aid needed and available by county. Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards also has an assistance request form and an extensive list of ways to help here.

For folks not in the impacted region, please give now to these funds organized and distributed by local communities on the ground, and continue to support these communities as the needs will be extensive and exhaustive for the foreseeable future:

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky is accepting donations for relief here.

EKY Mutual Aid is accepting funds at:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ekymutualaid
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kentuckydaria
Venmo: @ekymutualaid and @kentuckydaria
Cashapp: $ekymutualaid

Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards’ Lonesome Pine Mutual Aid Program is taking donations for direct flood aid. People on both sides of the KY and SWVA borders are in desperate need of direct monetary assistance, food, water, medical supplies, shelter, and hygiene items.

Respond to their call for volunteers and disaster relief through this form.

The Alliance for Appalachia has also compiled this list to support specific communities and organizations:

Appalachian Citizen’s Law Center
Appalachian Social Club Mutual Aid via PayPal at happalachiansocialclub@gmail.com – funds go directly to support SW Virginia flood relief in Dickenson, Buchanan, and Russell counties and the Town of Pound
Hindman Settlement School Flood Relief Donation Form and Amazon List
Cowan Community Center Fund – funds support direct aid through CANE Kitchen, Cowan Community Center, and the Whitesburg Farmers Market.
Team EKY Flood Relief Fund – also accessible at TeamEKYFloodReliefFund.ky.gov
You may also donate by mailing a check to Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero Street, 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601

The floods in Eastern KY and Southwest Virginia come on the heels of devastating flooding in Missouri with rain levels that broke 100-year-old records, in West Virginia devastating Economic Development Greater East’s demonstration farm, Jason Tartt Sr.’s T&T Organics, and flooding in East Tennessee that destroyed the home of Mutual Aid Space Knoxville.

People are helping people, we are keeping each other safe, and communities are organizing to provide mutual aid and disaster relief in the face of manmade climate crises. These immediate, urgent needs are just the beginning of the long-haul work before us – we are grateful for your support today for these communities and we will continue to share opportunities to advance community efforts as the needs evolve.

“A Contemporary Theatre — Seattle’s ACT company — has announced that its entire board of trustees has voluntarily stepped down,” said author Mike Davis for KUOW. “The only exceptions are three positions required by law — the chair, secretary, and treasurer.”

“The change was sparked when board members read an article in American Theatre Magazine by Michael Bobbitt titled “Boards are broken, so let’s break and remake them.” Bobbit is Langs’ counterpart at the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, Massachusetts.”

“In the article, Bobbitt argues that nonprofit boards are broken, and need to be dismantled and rebuilt. He notes that most boards don’t represent the communities they serve, and points out the tension between creative vision and fiduciary responsibility. That further raises questions around who should direct a theatre’s creative vision — board members or artistic staff?”

“What is happening at ACT is the result of unprecedented collaboration between the ACT Trustees and ACT’s world-class staff leadership over multiple years,” Dr. Eric Bennet, board chair, said in a statement. “Given that there’s no blueprint for this type of organizational equity and change to draw from, this has meant answering fundamental questions together to chart our path forward. The ACT Board’s restructuring is about trusting that, through equity, we’ll be a more vibrant, thriving theatre and able to bring audiences the most authentic contemporary work.”

Read the full article here.

“Senate Bill 681 was signed into law in July 2020, officially creating an arts high school graduation requirement in North Carolina. This graduation requirement begins this school year with entering sixth grade students,” said Caroline Parker for EducationNC. “All 50 states and the District of Columbia have content or performance standards for arts education, but only 32 define the arts as a core or academic subject, according to the The Arts Education Partnership (AEP).”

“While we are visiting North Carolina art classrooms, AEP’s ArtEd Amplified showcases stories from around the states and other countries. How can dance change the brain? Sloka Iyengar discusses this in her perspective piece “Exploring the Convergence Between Arts and Sciences, One Month at a Time.” What key steps did a principal and art consultant do to implement change towards an arts integration model in New York? Jenna Masone, Ed.D. and Jennifer Katona, Ph.D. describe the transition in “Transforming a Traditional School into an Immersive Arts Integration School.”

“AEP is a resource for nationwide research and perspectives on all things art education. Look out tomorrow for a piece on how North Carolina’s art education policies compare to other states. Alessandra Quattrocchi uses the Arts Education Partnership’s ArtScan tool to give an overview of the state of art education in North Carolina.”

Read the full article here.

From Funding for Real Change: Over the course of the pandemic, more than 60 percent of foundations loosened restrictions and lightened reporting for grants. Now is the time to normalize good grantmaking practices across the sector and to ensure that civil society organizations & social movements are not deprived of the resources they need. Project-based giving doesn’t have to put organizations in a straitjacket – it can be done in a more flexible and equitable way. Explore the range of practices on this site to see how you can create impact and strengthen organizations for the long term by building more flexibility and trust into your grantmaking.

Ariadne and EDGE Funders Alliance came together to create this website in order to acknowledge that project-restricted funding will most likely continue to be the most common way of supporting grantees while also advocating for a future where multi-year flexible funding is more common.

Much of the data on this site is developed by Humentum and MilwayPLUS, facilitated by BDO FMA and resourced by Funders for Real Cost, Real Change (FRC) Collaborative and the Ford Foundation.

Explore the resource here.