Fall 2006

Dear Friends,

In our recently published Annual Report, I reflected in my opening letter on how the Irvine Foundation views communications as an important strategic tool to advance our mission of service to the people of California. In doing so, we build on the lessons of many of our peer foundations that have successfully integrated communications with their program and grantmaking activities. In this context, I believe that one of the key opportunities — and obligations — facing foundations is to help frame deeper understanding of the key issues and challenges facing the fields in which we work.

As one such example, Irvine recently published a working paper entitled “Critical Issues Facing the Arts in California.” This working paper was the result of a set of interviews with arts leaders and a literature review conducted by AEA Consulting. As the paper points out, California is a source of extraordinary artistic and cultural innovation and creativity. It is on the leading edge of many of the developments in the arts worldwide. This is cause for pride and celebration. However, the arts also face real challenges to its future viability. The working paper describes five key factors which, if not addressed, may threaten the health and well-being of the arts in California.

The arts and cultural sector is “facing major, permanent, structural changes,” the working paper concludes, brought on by demographic changes, advances in technology, globalization and shifting consumer behavior. The key message — that current challenges are the result of long-term, structural factors, not a cyclical economic downturn — is a sobering one.

In circulating this working paper to a broad set of constituents, our goal has been to invite discussion and debate, to identify additional research that is needed, and to begin to outline possible solutions. In this phase, we have sought to engage other arts funders, artists, arts administrators, and cultural and policy leaders throughout the state. We are encouraged by the attention and debate that the working paper has generated so far.

In the first month the paper was available on our Web site, it was downloaded almost 4,000 times. The paper has sparked a healthy discussion on a Web log we created for that purpose, and it will be the focus of a meeting this fall of arts funders in California. While we are pleased with the response, our task, as the state’s largest private funder of the arts, remains to focus on identifying solutions to the challenges surfaced in the report and then to work with others to support their implementation.

Foundations are in the fortunate position of being able to take a comprehensive view of a particular field of work. Given that privilege, we have an obligation to identify patterns and possibilities, to test these ideas and hypotheses with the field, and to work in partnership to address shared challenges. The arts working paper is just one example of Irvine’s attempt to play this constructive role. I welcome your comments at any time about this approach and how we might more effectively meet our obligations.

Sincerely,

James E. Canales
President and CEO

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