Communities Advancing the Arts, Phase 2

Invest in what works. So goes the saying—as well as The James Irvine Foundation’s interest in advancing community arts. Irvine announced nearly $3.2 million in new grants to a group of California community foundations. It’s the second phase of Communities Advancing the Arts, an initiative that placed $4.75 million in 13 community foundations between 2004 and 2007. Irvine’s initial $4.75 million investment generated a solid return. It helped participating community foundations mobilize $59 million in assets for the arts over three years (a 48 percent increase in assets dedicated to the arts), as well as create 181 new funds dedicated to the arts at participating community foundations.

The timing couldn’t be better

Public funding for the arts has reached new lows in recent years. The California Arts Council, which traditionally funded local arts programs throughout the state, has seen its budget slashed from $31 million in 2000 to just $5 million in 2007. Private donations have also dipped over the past 15 years, leaving many arts organizations struggling for survival. Communities Advancing the Arts is intended to foster grantmaking and spur individual donations to arts organizations in targeted communities.

Phase two participants are:

California Community Foundation
East Bay Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Orange County Community Foundation
Sacramento Region Community Foundation
The San Diego Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation
Community Foundation Sonoma County
Ventura County Community Foundation

Full press release

Filed under: General