"Let's Talk: What Artists Need To Thrive" is a series of Zoom conversations for artists to be in dialogue with arts funders.
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation is committed to ensuring that diverse, visionary artists thrive in the Bay Area. Systemic barriers have made access to funding for artists inequitable and complicated, especially for Black, Indigenous and People of Color and the organizations they lead. Let’s Talk is a live series of Zoom conversations we launched in December 2022 to address these issues directly by listening, engaging in meaningful dialogue and being accessible and transparent, especially with artists who have historically been unacknowledged by or excluded from philanthropy. The series is hosted by and co-created with Bay Area artist Beatrice Thomas. We will apply what we learn in these sessions to improve our approaches and advance equity.
The goals for this series are to:
Address issues that matter most to artists
Build connections with a wider community of artists
“‘Let’s Talk’ is our chance as artists to directly connect with a funder and shape the future of arts grantmaking. Whether you’ve never applied for a grant or have applied for dozens, we want your voice added to the chorus advocating for more equitable access to joy.”
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation enhances quality of life by championing the arts, promoting early childhood literacy, and supporting research to cure chronic disease.