Recovery and Transformation in the Wake of COVID

ArtsFund was thrilled to have organized and moderated “How can Funders leverage COVID data for sector recovery and transformation” as a part of Grantmakers in the Arts’ 2022 Converge Transform conference. Joining with leaders across the nation, we welcomed an expert panel including Torrie Allen, President & CEO of Arts Midwest, based in Minneapolis, MN; Catherine Peterson, Executive Director of ArtsBoston, based in Boston, MA; and Elizabeth Rouse, President & CEO of ArtsMemphis, based in Memphis, TN; it was moderated by ArtsFund’s President & CEO, Michael Greer.

The panel discussed data from before and during the pandemic and how that data informed their work supporting short, medium, and long-term transformation for the arts and culture sector. After kicking off the ideation, panelists hosted engaging breakout sessions where participants dove deeper into the discussion around how we can act now to support a more robust, equitable, and resilient sector tomorrow. Some key takeaways from the session were:

• Unrestricted funding is key and funders must continue to be flexible and eliminate barriers to that funding.
• Good data is essential—especially as organizations work to change and rebuild their audiences and business models.
• Use the data and learnings for good storytelling so that people across the spectrum can understand and act.

Thanks to the incredible leaders who joined us, all who participated, and GIA for hosting us at this important conference.

Read more on the Grantmakers in the Arts blog: Recovery and Transformation in the Wake of COVID — The Reader (giarts.org)