Culture Program Strategy

Culture Program Strategy

Goal: We believe communities are made better by the arts and the arts are at their best when they reflect the community.  Therefore, the goal of the Culture Program is to strengthen arts organizations by diversifying program offerings, artists’ commissions, staff, board leadership, and ultimately audience in measurable, sustainable ways. We also strive to increase the capacity and resources of culturally specific and community-based arts organizations. Additionally, we invest in Midwestern creative capital, partnerships, and community engagement through the Joyce Awards program. Lastly, we keep focus on innovations in the field that lead to broader, more diverse arts organizations, artists, and audience.

Theory of Change: Arts organizations that commission and exhibit work by artists of color, employ all levels of staff of color, offer programs with content expressing multiple ethnic viewpoints and include board members from different racial backgrounds will consistently attract diverse audiences reflective of the 21st century population and therefore be vital community resources. Additionally, the experience—both onsite and online—of an organization can build diverse, loyal audiences from unexpected spaces.

The Joyce Approach

Promote Access

• Board placement, development, training, outreach and community engagement projects for people of color; presentations from artists/performers of color; salary support for arts administrators, fellows, interns, and artists of color.

Community-based Arts

• Mentorship with other well- run organizations, efforts to build programmatic and fiscal sustainability, salaries for high quality professionals, operating support to help stabilize organizations, professional development opportunities.

Spread Creativity

• New commissions, professional development, workshops, and other activities that allow artists of color to evolve and present their work and foster connections with arts organizations.

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