Animating Democracy Programs include special initiatives such as the Animating Democracy Lab funded by the Ford Foundation, periodic convenings focused on arts- and humanities-based civic engagement and dialogue, and the on-line Animating Democracy Project Profile Database which provides summaries and contact information for a wide variety of arts and humanities-based civic engagement and dialogue projects.

Special Initiatives

Through funder support, Animating Democracy provides grants and advisory support to arts and cultural organizations across the country to implement projects that experiment with or deepen existing approaches to arts- and humanities-based civic engagement. Recent projects include:

  • The Animating Democracy Lab (1999-2004), which provided support to 35 arts and cultural organizations to advance the creation and presentation of arts-based civic dialogue work.
  • The Exemplar Program (2005-2008), which awarded 12 small to midsized arts and cultural organizations nationwide, recognized for their outstanding cultural work in their communities and the field.
  • The Arts and Civic Engagement Impact Initiative (2007-2009), which supports selected local arts-based civic engagement projects that have specific social change goals and works with project leaders to assess and better understand social change effects of the work.

Convenings
Animating Democracy periodically sponsors presentations, workshops, and learning exchanges focused on arts- and humanities-based civic engagement and dialogue. Learn about:

  • Upcoming Animating Democracy professional development opportunities
  • The National Exchange on Art & Civic Dialogue, October 2003
  • Past Learning Exchange reports

Project Profile Database
Animating Democracy’s Project Profile Database features profiles of a wide range of projects that demonstrate the capacity of the arts and humanities to stimulate public dialogue about contemporary civic issues and features over 30 case studies from the Animating Democracy Lab.

Submit a Project Profile
Animating Democracy is always seeking profiles of projects initiated by artists and cultural organizations as well as organizations in other fields who wish to share their experience and findings with other professionals. Visit this section of the website to share your story with the field.