HOW WE SERVE ORGANIZATIONS:

PARTNERSHIPS

The ISC Partnerships Program fosters diverse partnerships that are critical to pollinating new ideas and relationships, out of which ultimately spring sustainable opportunities for individual artists and the partners themselves. Contributors are selected by their values, needs, and commitment to further integrating working artists into society.

We serve as a match-maker, connecting like-minded organizations who can benefit from working together. For example, we might introduce a small community college to a large state school to create an exhibition exchange program. Or like-minded organizations might share simple resources such as mailing lists and curriculum, all focused on building out a new arts industry framework based on pragmatic solutions to helping artists sustain their lives. Partnering usually transcends monetary exchange and we’ve found many overlapping initiatives exist that can be strengthened through collaboration. We are currently working with over 60 partners in the effort to create a transparent community of like-minded, value-driven, grass-roots, academic and nonprofit organizations in the US and abroad. If you have an interest in joining us, feel free to contact us.

Key Components:

Facilitating a fluid exchange of pragmatic information between diverse groups of organizations with shared values and attention to rural and underprivileged/underserved communities.

• Catalytic “match-making” between academic institutions and arts organizations to incubate solutions.

• Convenings with academic institutions and other organizations.

• Membership — partners that participate in ISC receive hands-on data and access to our network, advice, and direction.

• Connecting with university and college Career Development departments to provide sustainable pathways and current professional development to share with their students.

Why It’s Needed:

In the visual arts, no central place exists for institutions to exchange ideas and resources focused on sustaining artists’ lives. By connecting organizations to each other who normally would not be aware of similar issues being faced across sectors, we are leveraging the power of collaboration to address the abundance vs. scarcity paradigm. Although the arts are increasingly interdisciplinary, ISC provides the DNA to connect the tissue between siloed organizations in music, theater, dance and the literary arts that can lead to untraditional opportunities for creators of all stripes. Our shared networks are essential to increasing sustainable options between our partners. By sharing resources and contemporary pedagogy, our programs allow academic institutions to receive objective, current information outside of their own often isolated departments.

Partners with whom we are in conversation:

As a result of previous partners programs Sharon Louden has built, she amassed a wide network of more than 60 institutions and organizations she worked with at Chautauqua Visual Arts: Augusta University, Austin Peay State University, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Eastern Tennessee State University, Erie Art Museum, Florida State University, Foundwork, Georgia Southern University, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, International Sculpture Center, California State University - Northridge (CSUN), Marshall University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Ohio University, Penn State University, Ringling School of Art and Design, Schweinfurth Art Center, Sheridan College, Tyler School of Art, University of Central Arkansas, University of Florida and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to name a few.

We are focused on public institutions, community colleges, and public universities in rural areas of the United States where marginalized communities may benefit most from the resources and networking we offer.

DEAI focus:

All information and initiatives are transparent and shared with artists of color, different abilities, women, and those who reside in underserved and underrepresented communities in order to create tangible, pragmatic solutions for sustaining their creative lives.