Goal:
To increase engagement in arts and cultural activities
Overview:
Engagement with arts and cultural activities is an important aspect of an individual's personal development and quality of life and is a primary factor in fostering a sense of community, respect, and understanding of others. Many factors are undermining the effectiveness of the arts in building community: impediments to the public's awareness of arts and cultural opportunities; time constraints on individuals and families; competing sources of recreation; and the segmentation of audiences. Arts and cultural organizations need improved understanding of the economic and cultural marketplace in Marin County and strategies to engage diverse audiences more effectively. MCF's grantmaking in this area will take a capacity-building approach to strengthen the providers of cultural experiences and to build connections between these providers and residents of Marin.
Under this goal, MCF will support projects undertaken by arts and cultural organizations, as well as interested non-arts organizations that incorporate the following strategies:
Strategy 1: Support innovative efforts to broaden, deepen, and diversity audiences.
Approach A: Community Census (By Invitation Only)
With support from diverse partners, MCF will conduct a community census of public engagement with the arts and culture in Marin County, including an inventory of cultural assets, an assessment of public attitudes about the arts, and research on the motivations of donors to the arts.
Approach B: Learning Community/Professional Development (By Invitation Only)
MCF will provide technical assistance support to providers to craft strategies aimed at broadening, deepening, and diversifying public engagement in arts and cultural offerings. In addition, the Foundation will provide targeted assistance to implement and evaluate these strategies. Included in this approach will be grantee working groups, arts sector convenings, and leadership development among arts providers.
Approach C: Grantmaking for Audience Development
MCF will provide technical assistance and planning grants to two cohorts of organizations. Selected organizations that have received planning grants will then be eligible for implementation grants in subsequent years. Cohorts of grantees and other interested organizations will be encouraged to participate in a learning community. This learning community is designed to foster collaboration among arts providers and explore innovative efforts to enhance public engagement in the arts and culture.
A logic model for this strategy has been developed that further explains the approaches, activities, and desired impact of this goal area.
Deadlines for Approach C are as follows:
Implementation Grants (By Invitation Only)
Registration Open: February 24, 2010
Letters of Intent due: March 3, 2010
Full Proposals Invited: March 5, 2010
Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): March 19, 2010
Planning Grants
Full Proposals Invited: February 24, 2010
Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): March 26, 2010
Applications will be submitted through MCF's Grant Application Center, which enables completion and submission of all application materials online.
Approach D: Grantmaking to arts providers who serve institutionalized residents
MCF recognizes that many Marin residents are unable to engage in arts and cultural programs and activities due to isolation and/or institutionalization. The arts offer a powerful mechanism to make a difference in the lives of these residents and assist their continued or renewed participation in community activities. MCF will support organizations providing programs or activities that use the arts to enrich and improve the lives of these residents.
Proposals for funding in this area are currently under review.
