Happy 4th of July, everyone. This corner won’t be heard from much this weekend, but these great blogs will keep you busy if you’re having trouble tearing yourself away from the computer.
Better Together
Grantmakers in the Arts, the national affinity group for arts funders, now has a second blog. This one, “from the desk of” GIA executive director Janet Brown, gives her perspective on fieldwide issues such as the impact of the recession, integration into community programs, and reflecting on the role that GIA plays for its constituency. GIA’s other blog collecting interesting posts and stories from around the web, written by deputy director Tommer Peterson, is available here.
copper: Cultural Office of the Pike’s Peak Region
I had the pleasure of meeting COPPeR executive director (and Createquity commenter) Bettina Swigger at the AFTA Convention last month. copper, the blog, serves as “an outlet for many discussions about our [Southern Colorado] local arts community, the intersection of politics, business, creativity and a sense of place.” Bettina wrote an awesome four-part diary about the Southern Colorado Innovation Strategy Leadership Trip to Austin sponsored by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce; the first part is here.
Design New Haven
Mark Abraham alerted me to this very thorough and well-written ongoing account of New Haven’s “urban renaissance” following my post on arts policy in New Haven, which took a more cautionary tone. In fact, Design New Haven posted a comparison of the urban revitalization efforts in New Haven and Providence a month before I addressed cultural planning in the same two cities. A fascinating guide to a fascinating place.
Lubricity
A new blog from young trombonist and jazz writer Alex (W.) Rodriguez (Twitter handle: arodjazz), who riffs off of my recent Art and Sustainability post with this essay called Beyond the Starving Artist. Alex also contributes to jazz.com. Looks like one to watch.