Public Policy and Arts Advocacy

All arts organizations, small and large, have a role to play in the development of public policy. Advocacy is the means by which you express yourself and further the mission of your organization.

Increasingly, civic and elected leaders view the arts as integral to civic engagement, workforce development, economic development, and quality of life issues. When such policies are considered arts leaders need to be at the proverbial table in order to help craft public policy that best utilizes the strengths of local and regional arts organizations.

The development of sound public policy for the arts requires solid community engagement. While most arts administrators would view community engagement as an important aspect of program and audience development, it is also critical for the development of public policy for the arts and culture.

The Integrated Arts Team will work with you and your organization’s leaders to identify how your organization can best be integrated into the larger discussions surrounding public policy in your community, region, State and at the federal level.

Grant Making Made Transparent

For local arts agencies, bureaus of cultural affairs or community foundations, grant making is one of the most important services they provide.  But, grant making is not just about the distribution of funds to eligible groups or individual artists it is about providing resources to your community to enable groups and/or individuals to provide services that enhance the quality of life in your community.  Ultimately, the totality of your grant making should illustrate and quantitatively demonstrate the activation of your organization’s Mission.

  • Establish a transparent process that reflects the character and values of your community.
  • Bring your stakeholders into the planning process – work with key stakeholders to develop the application format and process.
  • Reporting and accountability procedures – responsibility is critical and good stewardship demands it.
  • Create a pathway for growth – Do groups know how to move up the funding “ladder?”
  • Develop an engaged processes – offer opportunities for your grantees and donors to provide feedback.

Public Art Planning and Implementing

Public Art is a Balancing Act

Public art is a multi-dimensional realm requiring curators and arts administrators to balance the creative needs of artists with the expectations of your community.  Successful arts leaders will find a way to provide a platform for artists that is informed by and responsive to the community in which they are working.  The Integrated Arts team offers the following:

  • Conducting assessment dialogues to determine what kind of public art program would work best for your community – temporary versus permanent; event-focused versus on-going; artist-centered or community-centered.
  • Conduct inventory of existing public art while also identifying local artists interested in public art.
  • Developing a plan that provides a basic blueprint for a sustainable public art program.
  • Site selection — identifying and prioritizing locations.
  • Artist selection processes — Request for Proposals versus Request for Qualifications; Open Calls; and, employing a curator.
  • Community engagement — the planning process and the site and artist selection processes provide numerous opportunities to engage civic leaders, elected officials and other community representatives in the public art program.
  • Public information — from signage to educational materials – provides opportunities to engage educators and your community’s library system.

 

 

 

 

ABOUT IAI

Integrated Arts exists t o do exactly what its name states – to integrate the arts into our communities and into our daily lives

This is not a lofty goal. Indeed it is fundamental to any city or town considered to be vibrant and attractive. The arts transform a city into a destination And increasingly, the arts attract young creative professionals who seek out cities where they feel they can flourish as creative individuals and commune with like-minded people.

Being an arts-enriched city is not a luxury — it is a necessity if you want to thrive in the 21s t Century.

Integrated Arts works with civic and business leaders and nonprofit groups to identify ways to enhance your city’s arts profile. This can be achieved through public art and through a local arts agency that is transparent and engaged in risk-taking, supports individual artists as well as other creative professionals, and thinks like a venture-capitalist who expects measurable aesthetic and social returns.

Integrated Arts is about creating a two-way street.

How well are your arts groups connected to state-wide, regional and national associations? In order to have a healthy arts scene, it is important that its leadership is taking advantage of all the resources they can access. By integrating into a larger network of like-minded professionals your local arts scene will be enriched and nourished, which is especially important during challenging times.

Integrated Arts takes a comprehensive approach to assessment and planning. We work with you to identify a wide array of elements that contribute, or hinder, your city’s arts and cultural scene, such as public policies, cultural norms (biases), funding patterns and practices surrounding the distribution of local funds. Integrated Arts can work with local arts groups to identify potential organizational and programmatic growth.

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