Bloomberg Philanthropies Names Nearly 50 Cultural Organizations in Baltimore and Denver to Join Cohort of 200 Participating in $43 Million Arts Innovation and Management Training Program
Program to contribute to the strength and vibrancy of each city’s cultural sector is part of Mike Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced that 14 cultural organizations in Baltimore and 35 organizations in Denver have been selected to participate in the Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program. The invitation-only program seeks to strengthen the organizational capacity and programming of small and midsize cultural organizations within seven U.S. cities: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. More than 200 cultural organizations across these seven cities have been selected to participate. A full list of participating organizations can be found here, including the organizations announced today in Baltimore and Denver.
Through the $43 million multi-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide unrestricted general operating support as well as arts management training in areas that include fundraising, strategic planning, marketing and board development.
“The arts inspire people, provide jobs, and strengthen communities,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This program is aimed at helping some of the country’s most exciting cultural organizations reach new audiences and expand their impact.” The AIM program is part of Mike Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, an effort to help cities across the United States generate innovation.
“Without question, among Baltimore’s most cherished assets is our rich cultural and artistic community,” said Baltimore’s Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. “We’re thrilled that Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected Baltimore for this significant funding that will serve to equip a new generation of artistic leaders with the support and professional training in the essential areas that constitute thriving arts organizations. This additional investment by Bloomberg Philanthropies in Baltimore is a further recognition of the tremendous talent, capability and potential that exists throughout our great City. We could not be more grateful.”
“We are grateful for the partnership of Bloomberg Philanthropies to celebrate, support and grow arts and culture that define the character of our city,” added Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “We have heard clearly from Denver’s people that they want more culturally diverse programs in our neighborhoods. The support of 35 of Denver’s small and midsized culturals will help us continue our pursuit of ensuring arts and culture are at the heart of this great city.”
The unique program focuses on multiple organizations in each urban area to encourage and support the healthy creative infrastructure of cities. AIM targets arts non-profits because of the vital role that they play in building communities, driving local economies and supporting artists. Since 2011, the AIM program has helped more than 500 small and midsized organizations in all creative disciplines, including theater, visual arts, music, film, literature and dance. Participating organizations reported significant improvements in board development, fundraising and overall income over the two-year program. This new round of funding increases Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support for this initiative to $108 million since 2011.
“The selected organizations in Baltimore and Denver join a strong cohort of 200 small and midsize cultural organizations that play an essential role in the creative ecology of seven U.S. cities,” said Kate D. Levin of Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Program. “We look forward to helping strengthen institutional capacity and generate even greater civic vibrancy.”
Bloomberg Philanthropies will develop curricula and conduct seminars for the program in partnership with leading experts, including the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, led by Institute Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan. AIM organizations will engage in activities that strengthen their long-term health and goals, and will receive one-on-one consultations and implementation support for organization leaders and their boards.
The first official management seminar of the 2018 AIM cohort will take place in Denver next week, with a focus on artistic planning.
All organizations invited to participate in the 2018 expansion of the AIM program are nonprofits that have been in existence for at least two years. Organizations will be required to secure 20% of their AIM grant in matching dollars; reach 100% board participation in fundraising; and maintain up-to-date information in DataArts, an online management tool that assists arts organizations across the country in collecting, learning from, and using data effectively. The grants will be unrestricted to allow recipients to utilize the funds to address their greatest needs.
Previous AIM cities have included Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Watch this video for an overview of the Arts Innovation and Management program:
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in over 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2017, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $702 million. For more information, please visit www.bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.
Media Contact
Bloomberg Philanthropies, Rebecca Carriero + 1 -212-205-0182 or rebeccac@bloomberg.org