GOING FURTHER TOGETHER

Abstract

In this paper, the argument that nonprofit arts organizations will see impactful growth in audiences and participants by building relationships outside of their sector is supported with research that examines: past and present community arts programs, new funding strategies such as the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Community Impact Arts Grant (CIAG), successful and unsuccessful examples of collaborations between arts and social service organizations, and new models for participatory arts engagement. The benefits and risks of integrating joint programming were also explored and evaluated. This presented research validates that by working together to integrate arts programming with social service groups, many of which already incorporate an active arts practice into their work, nonprofit arts organizations can expand their community reach and provide new outlets to increase arts access and fulfill their mission.