Bloomberg Philanthropies Provides $43 M. in Funding to Arts Groups in Seven Cities -ARTnews

Performers from the Jazz Institute of Chicago, a participant in the Arts Innovation and Management program.

LAUREN DEUTSCH/COURTESY BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced today the expansion of its Arts Innovation and Management program to seven new cities in the United States. This development will provide $43 million in funding to more than 200 small and midsize cultural organizations in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.

The multi-year initiative grants unrestricted operating support and arts management training to organizations so long as they secure 20 percent in matching funds and reach 100-percent board participation in fundraising. An invitation-only program that’s part of Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, AIM has aided over 500 organizations with over $100 million in funding since 2011. In conjunction with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, Bloomberg Philanthropies will develop and lead workshops for organizations involved in the program.

“Small and midsize arts groups help form the backbone of local communities and they often operate on tight budgets, so smart management and fundraising are critical to their success,” Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor, said in a news release. “By helping these groups operate more effectively and efficiently, we can increase their chances of success and expand the cultural and economic benefits they generate.”