LINC

www.lincnet.net

Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC) is a 10-year initiative to improve artists’ ability to make work, build social capital and contribute to democratic values.  LINC builds on recent research by the Urban Institute (www.usartistsreport.org) that identifies more than 5,000 programs and services for artists but points to the need for new efforts that:

• Expand financial supports for artists’ work;
• Improve artists’ access to essential material supports such as live-work space and insurance; and
• Bolster knowledge, collaborations, and public policies that affect the work of artists and their contributions to communities.

LINC seeks to assist the people, organizations, and communities already at work in supporting artists, and to address needs not being served.  Efforts include funding community-wide strategies to improve conditions for artists; building online information concerning live-work spaces and health insurance for artists; and working with field leaders to advance knowledge and best practices.

LINC values artists as the shapers and carriers of cultural values—tradition-bearers, idea generators, change agents, and social entrepreneurs.

LINC values artists as an important aspect of the independent workforce, generating economic benefits for themselves and the communities in which they live.

LINC is dedicated to the development of innovative practices that serve and support artists.

LINC values activities that model inclusiveness and diversity as key opportunities in the stewardship of artists’ communities and in the development of organization staff.

LINC values community-based approaches that match local skills and knowledge with external expertise to solve problems and create opportunities.

LINC supports organizations that are collaborative through the use of “open source” strategies essential to the acceleration of innovation and achievement.

LINC's Commitment to Artography

LINC sees a great benefit in connecting the community of artists and arts organizations that are joined to the values and ideas of Artography with the information resources that LINC has developed through its other programs and activities.  The artists and communities represented in Artography are very much the intended beneficiaries of the work LINC is engaged in.  The information and tools developed in the areas of health insurance and space for artists can be especially useful to the broad field of organizations that serve artists.

To learn more about LINC and its activities, visit www.lincnet.net.