Research Opportunities in the Arts
A multi-year effort, focusing on arts organizations founded by and for communities of color, is expected to produce more than 40 new studies
Learning is central to the Wallace philanthropic strategy. In the new arts initiative, we seek to build understanding about how arts organizations founded by, for, and with communities of color define and advance their organizational well-being. The initiative has three major programmatic foci of activity:
There is a strong research program attached to this initiative, which is expected to produce more than 40 new studies about different aspects of the arts ecosystem in which arts organizations of color are vital builders and contributors. Research opportunities include:
- Cross-Site Project Studies. As the 18 Wallace-funded arts organizations implement their projects, a study led by Social Insights will investigate how arts organizations are working towards their own organizational well-being in relationship to their goals for supporting community well-being. The study will also document assets and challenges they face in their efforts.
- Community Development through the Arts Studies (Deadline has passed). Arts organizations and/or community development organizations founded by, with or for communities of color working, in partnership with researchers, are invited to propose studies designed to produce insights into the depth, breadth, and texture of community cultural development approaches designed to support the well-being of communities of color through the arts.
- Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) with BIPOC Arts Organizations (Proposals due June 23, 2025). Academic scholars are invited to propose RPP Planning projects or Full RPP studies in partnership with arts organizations founded by, with, or for communities of color to address shared questions that are of interest to participants and of importance to the field and to scholarship. RPPs will include funds for post-doctoral researchers.
- Field Studies led by Arts Service Organizations serving BIPOC Arts Organizations and Artist Networks-Round III (Deadline has passed and program has been sunsetted). Arts service organizations are invited to submit planning, implementation, or expansion research proposals that address questions important to their work and/or to that of their constituencies while advancing knowledge about the larger arts ecosystem.
- Research on Regranting Funds to Small BIPOC Arts Organizations. This effort involves two studies. Creative Equity Research Partners (CERP) will document how the nation's six Regional Arts Organizations adopt more inclusive grant-making practices as they regrant some $8M to dozens of smaller arts organizations. The study will attend to commonalities as well as variations across regions. Additionally, a study led by McNeil Creative Enterprises will document how twelve small arts service organizations reach and redeploy some $12M to their constituent members.
If you have any questions about the research, please write to artsresearch@wallacefoundation.org.
