Rachel Molloy on LinkedIn: Please consider joining us this Sunday at Checkerspot Brewing for Schwingo… (2024)

Philanthropy and Arts & Culture institutions have the power to bring about significant change by addressing funding inequalities. By examining the dynamics of donor relations, museum exhibitions, and the struggles faced by theaters, we can begin to shift cultural hierarchies and create a more equitable society. One example of how philanthropy can make a difference is by supporting underfunded arts programs in BIPOC communities. By providing financial resources and opportunities for artists and performers in these areas, we can help level the playing field and ensure that everyone has access to the arts. Read our Op-Ed by Monica Fernandez to learn about the internal assessment of upending cultural hierarchies in Arts and culture: https://buff.ly/3qPAyDZ

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For black and brown artists to escape the “starving artist” narrative, we need a spotlight, center stage.But the unfortunate truth is, artists from our community often don't find those opportunities on the stages that define personal brands and careers. As an organization created by artists, for artists, my team decided to start from the bottom and build our own stage with edenat.org. This #GivingTuesday, you can help us get one step closer by donating to our mission—to create a paradise on earth for artists of color.100% of your gifts go to:- Bringing the captivating 'Witness' Exhibit by Genel Ambrose to Miami during Miami Art Week, highlighting black women artists.- Offering exhibition opportunities to 10+ underrepresented artists of color.- Providing lunches to 250+ artists during our Creative Entrepreneurship Summit.- Creating performance opportunities for 5 talented musicians of color.- Ensuring fair compensation for 20+ artists, creators, and chefs.- Hosting a community service day, distributing 1,000+ lunches to Miami citizens in need.Will you help us reach our goal? Click to support! https://lnkd.in/g4FebUTzIf you can’t donate, don’t trip! A simple re-share will create a whole lotta impact.See the comments for the event site if you want to attend!#EdenAt #GivingTuesday2023 #SupportArtistsOfColor"

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Whether you choose to participate/join in this great cause & event or contribute directly, your generosity can create meaningful change. Details below

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The Small Acts of Community campaign kicks off today. Focused on the belief that small acts of community have great worth - this is something I’m super proud to be a part of. One of the lines of the student oath for taekwondo has always been my favorite “I shall build a more peaceful world.” I have always believed that world starts with the small things and those build up, add up, and inspire others. It was the premise behind my only large scale solo art show (featured about 4000 origami cranes). Today, as part of my professional work, and in joyous activism, we will be asking people to commit acts of community. Could be an act of kindness - say hello, hold a door open. Could be a larger act of community - help pick up some trash, help your neighbor out, volunteer your time with an organization near and dear to your heart. Things that are free and don’t cost a thing. Got some spare money - donate it to a good cause. Before you say but I don’t have any money - as part of the smaller events leading up to today, I was handed $1.23 from the pocket of an obviously unhoused man after taking with him about the campaign and we were told to put it to the community. Think you can’t make a difference? Think again. Check out the Small Acts campaign online at https://lnkd.in/er7jD6GF. Sign it, live it, and start making a difference today!

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"As money continues to be thrown around and politicians increasingly get involved in shaping how we collectively mourn and remember our friends and family, I hope you will join me in starting a public dialogue framed by these questions: What actions have other business owners taken in response to mass shootings at their businesses? Do tourist attractions and gift shop trinkets (the OnePulse Foundation already has anonline storefrontselling T-shirts, tote bags, and yard signs) appropriately honor our slain friends and family? Who benefits from keeping the Pulse memorial a privately owned space and what are the ramifications of this? Would we benefit from creating a public memorial elsewhere that everyone could freely access at any time, without restrictions? How can we refocus our efforts and our funds to create a publicly owned Pulse memorial?"https://lnkd.in/eqpDfq8C

Here we are staring down 2024 and I have failed, once again, to get my hair cut since the last shaving. So, I guess we will let it grow... unless you are able to help me raise some money as I team up with St. Baldrick's Foundation in the fight against childhood cancer. This year, in a hope to raise more money, the shave date will be determined by how much I raise. If I am able to raise $1,500 by January 15, 2024, the hair will grow (and beard) through the end of the month. If I can raise $3,000 by February 15, then the hair (and yes, the beard) will grow through the end of February. If I can hit $5,000 by March 15, I will not shave until the end of March. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024! OneGroup Retirement Advisors ONEGROUP Risk Management and Insurance St. Baldrick's Foundation #cancerresearch #cancersucks https://lnkd.in/eVECyXe6

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As I reflect on the season that is just now drawing to a close (but not quite! Don't miss jess pretty's call and response, details in bio), I find myself continually awe- and/or dumb-struck by how starkly dichotomous things feel these days. I'll explain: I'm an artist; and I co-direct an organization which lives and breathes and depends upon the work of artists; and I have witnessed, this year, a return to a sense of risk-taking, of spectacular failure, of big swings, of "leaving it all on the stage", of keenly interested eyes and faces and bodies in the audience, of post-show conversations at the bar, of commitment to (and gathering together in shared commitment to) the thing. The thing that brought me, for better or worse, to this beautiful and disastrous line of work, in the first place. It's so heartening, I could cry. This year has ALSO been marked - or scarred - by a series of profoundly destabilizing funding setbacks. I'm well acquainted with (and have fully internalized) the surreal ups and downs of the not-for-profit life, but, BUT: it feels existential in a way that it hasn't, before now. I could name examples - the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs being chief among them - but life is short. Needless to say, a substantial (for us) chunk of public and private dollars have rapidly disappeared. A number of foundations which have historically supported us are shifting their funding priorities, or simply not funding us anymore; others are closing altogether. It’s real.Should The Chocolate Factory Theater exist? Does New York City, and the world, and the artist community, need a place like ours? Of course it should. Of course it does. And I hope that you agree, because your support is essential to our survival. We do important work. We meaningfully (help to) sustain the lives and careers of artists who bring important, lasting ideas into the world. We pay those artists (110 in FY24, to be precise), and our staff, a living wage. Artistic, administrative (& we’re a very small team, to be clear), and technical labor comprises 80+% of our budget. Please support the Chocolate Factory Theater by making a donation to our June Appeal!https://ow.ly/sYwR50Sf1fW

At United Arts, we are passionate about the transformative impact of arts and culture on our society. Recent findings from the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) report highlight just how significant this impact is, both economically and socially.Economic Impact: In 2022, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated a staggering $151.7 billion in economic activity. This includes $73.3 billion in spending by arts organizations and $78.4 billion in event-related expenditures by audiences.Job Creation: This sector supported 2.6 million jobs and provided $101 billion in personal income to residents across the country.Tax Revenue: Arts and culture activities contributed $29.1 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments.Community Pride: 89% of arts event attendees expressed that these activities instill a sense of pride in their community.Social Connections: The arts foster social connections, community pride, and cultural understanding, making our communities more vibrant and inclusive.Why It Matters:Investing in arts and culture is not just about supporting creativity; it’s about fostering economic growth, enhancing community livability, and promoting social well-being. At United Arts, we are committed to continuing our work to ensure that arts and culture remain a vibrant and integral part of our community.Join us in supporting the arts. Together, we MAKE ART HAPPEN across Wake County!Support: https://lnkd.in/gKTfDcm9Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/evrUQW7v

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Americans for the Arts recently released their thorough Arts & Economic Prosperity study, including the following two key findings that hit very close to home. As the director of a community-based, non-profit arts and culture center, I get to see firsthand every day the economic impact on our neighborhoods and pride in our communities that is driven by artists and arts organizations. "Pride in community.89% of attendees agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.” 86% said they would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available,” and 86% felt it important that future generations alsobe able to have that cultural experience.""Arts and culture drives commerce to local businesses.When people attend a cultural event, they often make an outing of it—dining at a restaurant, paying for parking or public transportation, enjoying dessert after the show, and returning home to pay for child or pet care. Attendees at nonprofit arts and culture events spend $38.46 per person per event, beyond the cost of admission—vital income for local merchants and a value-add that few industries can compete with."

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“Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”Maya Angelou“Hope” is my contribution to the annual ArtCan fundraiser. From ArtCan with Love is a one-night-only event offering postcard sized contemporary artworks donated by ArtCan artist members worldwide. Hundreds of unique pieces will be available for just £40 each. See exhibition details below.Remember – Friends of ArtCan get early access to the sale as part of their membership. As you can see from my posts, I am a great advocate of women but as a society we must not neglect boys. The world needs young men to know what masculinity looks like when men are at their best now the original narrative has been considerably revised and acknowledged.The book I’m currently immersed in (more to come on this one) is “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. He talks about the rewiring of childhood from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood, and he has a chapter specifically on how phones/screens have affected boys. The first striking quote is this one:“ when we feel the social order weakening or dissolving, we don’t feel liberated; we feel lost and anxious”…Audio credit: @charliemackesy From ArtCan, With Love23rd July 20246pm - 8pmBermondsey Project Space, 183 - 185 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UW #contemporaryart #artcanpostcard #hope #youngmentalhealth #fear #phonegeneration #anxiety #positivity #kindnessmatters #boys #rolemodelsmatter #childrenarethefuture #masculinity #figurativepainting

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