Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced that 45 cultural organizations in Atlanta have been selected to participate in the Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program. A list of the organizations can be found here. The invitation-only program seeks to strengthen the organizational capacity and programming of small and midsize cultural organizations within seven U.S. cities: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. More than 200 cultural organizations have been selected to participate and will be announced on an individual basis per city throughout the summer and early fall.

Through the $43 million multi-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide unrestricted general operating support as well as arts management training in areas that include fundraising, strategic planning, marketing and board development.

“The arts inspire people, provide jobs, and strengthen communities,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This program is aimed at helping some of the country's most exciting cultural organizations reach new audiences and expand their impact.” The AIM program is part of Mike Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, an effort to help cities across the United States generate innovation.

“Our Administration was proud to add a million dollars to support the arts in our 2019 budget,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “But investing in the arts also makes good business sense. It unleashes the creative synergies that bring people together to solve problems and advance innovation. That’s also the goal of our One Atlanta vision: to take a diverse palette of cultures and communities and blend them all into a tapestry of success for everyone. We thank Bloomberg Philanthropies for sharing that vision.”

The unique program focuses on multiple organizations in each urban area to encourage and support the healthy creative infrastructure of cities. AIM targets arts non-profits because of the vital role that they play in building communities, driving local economies and supporting artists. Since 2011, AIM has helped more than 500 small and midsized organizations in all creative disciplines, including theater, visual arts, music, film, literature and dance. Participating organizations reported significant improvements in board development, fundraising and overall income over the two-year program. This new round of funding increases Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support for this initiative to $108 million since 2011.

“Atlanta has a booming creative sector. The city is home to more than 500 cultural organizations, many with a national or international profile and within that, a very robust small and mid-size cohort. We are excited to see what we can do to enhance that excellence,” said Kate D. Levin, Head of Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Program.

The foundation is also pleased to join the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in supporting the vibrant cultural community of Atlanta.

Bloomberg Philanthropies will develop curricula and conduct seminars for the program in partnership with leading experts, including the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, led by Institute Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan. AIM organizations will engage in activities that strengthen their long-term health and goals, and will receive one-on-one consultations and implementation support for organization leaders and their boards.

All organizations invited to participate in the 2018 expansion of the AIM program are nonprofits that have been in existence for at least two years. Organizations will be required to secure 20% of their AIM grant in matching dollars; reach 100% board participation in fundraising; and maintain up-to-date information in DataArts, an online management tool that assists arts organizations across the country in collecting, learning from, and using data effectively. The grants will be unrestricted to allow recipients to utilize the funds to address their greatest needs.

Previous AIM cities have included Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.

Watch this video for an overview of the Arts Innovation and Management program:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KJy8DgjRDg&feature=youtu.be.