|
The UCIRA has been in existence for several decades. For much of its history the UCIRA was known as the Intercampus Arts Program (ICA), and was funded as an Academic Initiative of the UC Office of the President (UCOP). In its early years, the program largely sponsored system-wide tours of artists from outside California. The program played an important role in enhancing the university's educational mission, by funding activities that the campuses couldn't afford otherwise. Later, as UC arts activity increased, the focus shifted to the support of projects originating from within the system. As growing numbers of nationally prominent artists joined the UC faculty, the need became apparent for a program to support their creative work and to encourage collaborations among artists at different campuses.
In 1999 an important change occurred, as the UCIRA was reclassified as a state-wide Research Unit. Shortly thereafter, the UCIRA's Policy Board recommended a change in the program's name to the "UC Institute for Research in the Arts." The term "institute" seemed a more appropriate designation for a system-wide funding entity like UCIRA. Likewise, the board viewed UCOP's new designation of UCIRA as a research program to represent an important symbolic statement about the value of creative work as a legitimate form of research. While including the term "research" in the UCIRA's name, the board was adamant about reaffirming its primary commitment to the support of artistic production. Funding artists and their work will always be UCIRA's top commitment. In a process that took nearly a year, the new name was finally approved. With the name change came a new set of priorities, as the UCIRA began to consider ways it could better support the research and creative work of UC faculty, students, and staff.
Grants for individual artists
In 2001-02, the UCIRA began funding UC artists in their creative endeavors. For the first time the UCIRA offered support for the production of art works by individuals as well as groups. The Policy Board initiated this change in recognition of the limited research support that campuses provide to artists, as well as the diminishing availability of arts fellowships and production grants outside the university. These grants of up to $5,000 are disbursed through our Demonstration Projects category, which also will continue to support such projects as touring performances and exhibitions. This change was UCIRA's first step among several that are planned to support arts research and creative work within the UC system. In addition to changing its funding priorities, the UCIRA continues to aggressively to increase the support available for UC artists. During the coming year, the UCIRA continue working towards a systemwide "University of California Arts Initiative" to examine the needs of UC artists and to develop a plan to meet those needs. This effort constitute the first system-wide analysis of arts facilities, resources, and personnel involved in arts research, instruction, and public programming.
+ Read More
|
