Foundation Leaders and Scholars Forecast New Trends in Cultural Philanthropy

Washington, DC - Key figures at national foundations and prominent scholars will explore new trends in cultural philanthropy at a public forum sponsored by the Center for Arts and Culture on Monday May 3, 1999 from 3.30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW in Washington, DC. This free public event is the third in the Center’s spring series of public programs examining critical issues in the cultural sector.

How will culture fit in the world of philanthropy in the next century? At a time when new foundations based on new fortunes appear every day and the stewardship of traditional philanthropic organizations is passing to a new generation, how will the donors of the 21st century think about their support for culture? What trends will emerge in individual giving, private foundations, and corporate philanthropy?

To answer these questions, the Center has assembled a distinguished panel of experts from the philanthropiccommunity: Marian Godfrey, Culture Program Director of the Pew Charitable Trusts; Suzanne Sato Vice-President, Arts and Culture, the AT&T Foundation; and Loren Renz, Vice President for Research at the The Foundation Center; and scholars of this subject: Francie Ostrower, Harvard sociologist and author of Why the Wealthy Give, and James Allen Smith, author of notable studies of American foundations and think tanks and President of the Center for Arts and Culture's Board of Directors.

The Center for Arts and Culture is an independent, non-partisan, national institution based in Washington, D.C. that explores new policy directions in American artistic and cultural life. Through research, convening and communication, it promotes intelligent and informed debate on those dimensions of American life where culture and policy meet. “If we are to understand the cultural sector in the new century, we will need to understand the economics of culture,” said Center for Arts and Culture Executive Director Gigi Bradford. “This program on new trends in cultural philanthropy is an important first step.”

Calling the Question, a series of public programs addressing policy issues in the cultural sector, provides forums for a wide range of views. This program is the final one in the Center’s spring series. In upcoming Calling the Question programs the Center will continue to examine the changing face of this dynamic field. Programs will resume in Fall 1999 with three programs on the impact of globalization.

The Calling the Question series is made possible with support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation and is presented in collaboration with the National Building Museum.