“You Have to Actually Change.” A Major Theater Funder's Quest to Diversify Its Decision-Making

“You Have to Actually Change.” A Major Theater Funder's Quest to Diversify Its Decision-Making

The New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project has evolved significantly over the last 10 years. We walk through some key takeaways from a report on its work with program director Quita Sullivan.

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These Fellowships for Latinx Artists Are a Bright Spot Amid Pervasive Underfunding

These Fellowships for Latinx Artists Are a Bright Spot Amid Pervasive Underfunding

The U.S. Latinx Art Forum administers art fellowships with support from Ford and Mellon. Here’s more on the awards, why the forum uses the term “Latinx,” and the impact of unrestricted support on artists struggling to pay the bills.

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This L.A. Collaborative Is Strengthening the Local Arts Scene and Challenging Funding Norms

This L.A. Collaborative Is Strengthening the Local Arts Scene and Challenging Funding Norms

The Los Angeles Visual Arts Coalition (LAVA) is allowing smaller, avant-garde arts organizations to fundraise collaboratively, making the community more resilient and offering fresh opportunities to funders.

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Why Mellon Is Boosting Art That Confronts the Criminal Justice System

Why Mellon Is Boosting Art That Confronts the Criminal Justice System

The leading funder of the humanities committed $125 million to lift up the artistic voices of those directly impacted by American legal system. It’s a big influx of cash for this field, and one that Mellon hopes will have broad impacts.

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This Philanthropy-Backed Initiative Gives Aspiring Critics of Color a Leg Up

This Philanthropy-Backed Initiative Gives Aspiring Critics of Color a Leg Up

With funding from the Mellon Foundation and others, Critical Minded is on a mission to build visibility for cultural critics of color. It’s aiming high with a New York Times partnership.

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As Shelling Continues in Ukraine, an Arts Funder Backs Efforts to Preserve its Cultural Heritage

As Shelling Continues in Ukraine, an Arts Funder Backs Efforts to Preserve its Cultural Heritage

Although international law forbids it, destruction of sites with cultural significance is common during war. In Ukraine, hundreds of such places have been damaged. Getty recently backed an effort to protect the nation’s heritage.

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“Hear New Voices.” A Look at Mellon’s Latest Move to Reimagine America’s Cultural Landscape

“Hear New Voices.” A Look at Mellon’s Latest Move to Reimagine America’s Cultural Landscape

A new grant finds the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation doubling down on its efforts to amplify overlooked histories and stories. It also reflects philanthropy’s growing interest in cultivating a more inclusive body politic.

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IP Briefing: What's Going on With Philanthropy for Theater?

IP Briefing: What's Going on With Philanthropy for Theater?

Like all the performing arts, theater has been hit hard by the pandemic, and funders are making moves to bolster the nonprofit theater world now and into the future. Here’s our rundown of who’s doing what.

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Eleven Ways Funders Are Supporting Social Justice Within and Through the Arts

Eleven Ways Funders Are Supporting Social Justice Within and Through the Arts

An increasing number of funders have been looking to spur social change through their arts funding, especially during the pandemic. Here are 11 examples we’ve been following.

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How Mellon Is Weaving Together Humanities and Social Justice With New Higher Ed Grants

How Mellon Is Weaving Together Humanities and Social Justice With New Higher Ed Grants

As the liberal arts stalwart leans into social justice, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Humanities for All Times initiative is supporting projects that link humanities skills to social justice pursuits at 12 colleges around the country.

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IP Briefing: What's Going on With Philanthropy for Writing and Literature?

IP Briefing: What's Going on With Philanthropy for Writing and Literature?

Philanthropy for writing and literature is minuscule compared to other arts, but the field has some steadfast supporters, including major foundations and smaller family foundations.

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IP Briefing: What's Going On With Philanthropy for Dance?

IP Briefing: What's Going On With Philanthropy for Dance?

The dance funding ecosystem is small compared to other performing arts, and the impacts of the pandemic on top of decades of declining public funding mean a growing role for philanthropy. Here’s what you need to know.

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“Monuments Must Change.” Mellon Examines Symbols of Power in the American Landscape

“Monuments Must Change.” Mellon Examines Symbols of Power in the American Landscape

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation backed a national monument audit to kick off its $250 million Monuments Project. The results are eye-opening, and raise plenty of questions for arts funders and for civil society at large.

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How Did Mellon’s Pivot to Social Justice Affect its Higher Ed Grantmaking?

How Did Mellon’s Pivot to Social Justice Affect its Higher Ed Grantmaking?

Last June, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation reframed its mission to prioritize social justice. We check in with Higher Learning Program Director Philip Brian Harper to see how the shift has affected the funder’s higher ed grantmaking.

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Pursuing Social Justice, Mellon's Making Higher Learning Available to Incarcerated Americans

Pursuing Social Justice, Mellon's Making Higher Learning Available to Incarcerated Americans

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is one of the few funders devoting substantial giving to education for people in prisons and jails. Its higher ed giving for incarcerated Americans is part of a larger overture to social justice.

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“This is a Big Leap.” How Are Performing Arts Funders Democratizing Grantmaking?

“This is a Big Leap.” How Are Performing Arts Funders Democratizing Grantmaking?

An IP survey found that performing arts professionals were skeptical about grantmakers’ efforts at reform. But all hope is not lost. Foundations and regranting organizations share how they are fast-tracking democratization efforts.

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A Funder Collaborative’s Promising, Participatory Model for Diversifying Arts Funding

A Funder Collaborative’s Promising, Participatory Model for Diversifying Arts Funding

With backing from top arts funders, the Mosaic Network and Fund supports historically under-resourced cultural organizations. The fund presents an effective model of collaboration and participatory practices advancing equity.

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As Writers and Poets Struggle, an Emergency Fund Offers Relief to Literary Arts Groups

As Writers and Poets Struggle, an Emergency Fund Offers Relief to Literary Arts Groups

The pandemic cut off many working writers’ sources of supplemental income and forced literary arts organizations to cancel revenue-generating events. Close to 300 groups will receive financial relief thanks to a new emergency fund.

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How an Influential Nonprofit Publisher Survived a Pandemic and Informed a Social Movement

How an Influential Nonprofit Publisher Survived a Pandemic and Informed a Social Movement

Not long after funders saved the New Press from the existential threat of COVID-19, the publisher couldn't keep up with surging demand for books on racial justice. TNP’s James Phelan tells the story of a “surreal famine-to-feast reversal.”

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