Animating Democracy

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Animating Democracy Initiatives

In 1999, Americans for the Arts launched the four-year Animating Democracy Initiative to foster artistic activity that encourages civic dialogue on important contemporary issues. With the Ford Foundation’s initial investment, Animating Democracy’s core activities included an informational web site, publications, field convenings, and the Lab.

Critical Perspectives
The Critical Perspectives initiative sought to expand who has voice and authority in critical writing about civically engaged art.  It aimed to deepen understanding of arts-based civic dialogue work through the engagement of three to four writers who each wrote about a project from his/her unique vantage point.  Three projects were the focus of Critical Perspectives, employing the unique capacities of theater, visual art, and historic preservation to reach people and stimulate them to talk together in new ways about issues that matter in their communities.  The Critical Perspectives book, resulting from the project, is a collection of reflective, critical, and creative essays exploring art, civic dialogue, and reflective critical writing.

 

National Exchange on Art & Civic Dialogue
Americans for the Arts held the Animating Democracy National Exchange on Art and Civic Dialogue in October, 2003 in Flint, Michigan on the campus of the Flint Cultural Center. Supported by the Ford Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, this national conference shared the learnings and findings of the initial four years of Animating Democracy. Over 200 artists, cultural and civic leaders, and community organizers attended from across the United States as well as from Japan, Paraguay, and Australia.

Visit the National Exchange page for more information including notes from 14 outstanding sessions and the transcript of an inspiring presentation by featured speaker Grace Lee Boggs, activist, philosopher, and cultural worker from Detroit.

 

The Exemplar Program
The Exemplar Program provided two years of support (2005-2007), totaling $150,000 to each of 12 small to midsized arts and cultural organizations nationwide. These organizations were recognized for outstanding cultural work in their communities and in the field, based on their participation in the Animating Democracy program of Americans for the Arts and the Working Capital Fund. Supported by the Ford Foundation, the two-year Exemplar Program aimed to foster a holistic and integrated approach to organizational health, institutional growth, civic engagement, and aesthetic investigation. The Exemplar Program also supported the learning interests of Exemplar participants and facilitated collective and collaborative learning that included and benefited the broader field.