Monkdogz Artblog

Chuck Close in an interview a few months back suggested that in these times of recession with galleries closing and museums with less money for exhibitions, artists should consider alternative forums for showing their works.  One idea would be to display their work in vacant store fronts.

Whether the British Government listened to Close or managed to come up with the idea all on their own, they have gone ahead and provided £3million to encourage local authorities to help revitalize derelict down town areas by creating art galleries and community centers in vacant storefronts.  The Guardian newspaper reports that 57 local authorities have been given over £50,000 each for this project.

Not only has the government provided financing, they have also provided practical help in reducing red tape by allowing speeded-up planning procedures, extra powers for local authorities to intervene and new short-term leases, making it easier for groups and individuals to take over vacant stores.

It’s great to see common sense and practical help coming from the British Government.  I had thought that it would have been an oxymoron to use the words together today as this sort of governance was probably last seen during the World War II.  However these two characteristics have always been the strength of the British people. 

The Kresge Foundation yesterday announced grants of $25,000 each to 18 artists in the Detroit area. The foundation was established by Sebastian Spering Kresge in 1928, the founder of the 5 and 10 cent stores which eventually became known as the Kmart Corporation.  The first store was opened in Detroit in 1899 and it is also where the foundation is located today.

The $3.1 billion private foundation was set up to “influence the quality of life for future generations” by the “promotion of human progress”.  It supports 6 areas of interest:  health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services.  

The Kresge Foundation also awarded over $7 million to 14 arts and culture related non-profit organizations in 10 states and a further $1.25 million to 2 overseas organizations in 2009. 

The foundation’s president, Rip Rapson has stressed the importance of balancing immediate needs for grants in the here and now, versus long term strategic philanthropy including how to adapt the foundation in order to maintain future sustainability.  He also suggests that “Foundations like the Kresge also need to ask themselves where their uniquely flexible resources can make the greatest difference.”

In an economic environment where many charities and foundations are struggling and in some cases collapsing totally, I think the Kresge Foundation has found a good balance in achieving its goals.  

Rocco Landesman, a Broadway producer, born in 1947 in St Louis, MO., has been nominated as the next Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.  His hit shows have included “The Producers”, “Angels in America” & “Big River”.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency established by congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established. It is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

The previous chairman was Dana Gioia who officially stepped down on Inauguration Day and so the deputy chair, Patrice Walker Powell has been currently serving as interim chair.  

President Obama allocated $145million for this year’s budget to the NEA, but a decision was made that it would be allocated only to organizations which had previously received grants from the NEA in previous years, (which actually doesn’t necessarily fulfill its mission of supporting new arts as well as established arts).

Rocco Landesman’s father and uncle owned the Crystal Palace Cabaret in St Louis, according to Broadway World, which gave him his first exposure to musical and theatre stars.  He went on to study and teach at the Yale School of Drama, but he ran a small hedge fund before he found his place in the theatre when he joined Dodger Theatricals.  In 1987 he became president of Jujamcyn Theaters which currently owns five Broadway venues (the St. James, the Eugene O’Neill, the Al Hirschfeld, the Walter Kerr and the August Wilson) and is the third-biggest Broadway theater owner behind the Shubert and Nederlander organizations.

Although there are already rumblings about his experience being mainly in the commercial arena, however Landesman has written and spoken frequently on the subject of the problematic relationship between the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of the American theater.  He has also sat on several boards of philanthropic organizations.  

The New York Times article by Robin Pogrebin, suggests that Landesman is “expected to lobby hard for more arts money. But he is not famous for his skills as an administrator or diplomat. Rather, he is known for his energy, intellect and irreverent — and occasionally sharp-elbowed — candor.”

His other interests are according to Wikipedia, baseball, horse racing and country music.  He has owned 3 minor baseball teams and several race horses.  

I haven’t yet found any specific links showing any particular connections to or interest in the visual arts that Landesman may have.  The night is young……