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    Intel meets Random Acts of Culture™

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    On May 24, Ballet San Jose surprised workers at Intel World Headquarters with performances of Dancing on a Dime. Why Does Knight Foundation Fund Random Acts of Culture™? Knight Foundation, like its founders Jack and Jim Knight, focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities. To that end, we strongly believe...
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    Paula Kerger: Communities rely on public media for information that helps them make important decisions

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    Above: Paula Kerger President and CEO, PBS This post is part of the Digital Revolution and Democracy series, which offers idea-inspiring interviews with thought leaders who are shaping the future of media and democracy. More at knightfoundation.org/focas. This year has been a complicated one for PBS, as federal funding was nearly cut off entirely for the 41-year-old nonprofit broadcasting institution, says President and CEO Paula Kerger (@paulakerger on Twitter).   "Government funding is very important if you care about access, and making sure that all Americans have the ability to see public broadcasting content," Kerger said.  She credited an outreach campaign on behalf of PBS for successfully preserving its funding.
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    Penumbra Signature Series

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    By Carra Martinez, August Wilson Fellow, Penumbra Theatre and University of Minnesota Founded in 1976, Penumbra Theatre provides a culturally-specific theatrical voice, speaking to the rich histories and experiences of African American life. Under the leadership of Lou Bellamy, Founder and Artistic Director, Penumbra has successfully begun to share its...
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    Minnesota State Fair commemorative artists narrowed

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    By Lindsay Dickson, Minnesota State Fair Foundation This past August, artists around the state were invited to apply to create the 2012 official commemorative art of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. The final piece will be the chosen artistʼs visual interpretation of this annual event and will be unveiled to coincide...
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    Ballet at the airport: Random Acts of Culture™ San Jose

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    In May 2011, Ballet San Jose surprised travelers at San Jose International Airport with performances. Enjoy the video above. Why Does Knight Foundation Fund Random Acts of Culture™? Knight Foundation, like its founders Jack and Jim Knight, focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities. To that end, we strongly believe...
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    Journalism in the Open: Meet the 2011/12 Knight-Mozilla Fellows

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    Today in London, our partners at the Mozilla Foundation are announcing the first cohort of Knight-Mozilla Fellows. As Dan Sinker describes below, each of the five is an accomplished developer, and each will be placed within a world-class newsroom. At Knight Foundation, we’re of course eager to see what the fellows produce with their partner news organizations. But because the code they produce will be open source, the fellows will have an impact far outside of their home newsroom. – John S. Bracken Dan Sinker, who leads the Knight-Mozilla News Technology Partnership: This week I've spent a lot of time writing about the opportunities that lie at the intersection of open-source philosophies and journalism. Today the "thinking out loud" stops and the "making it happen" begins. And that begins with the announcement of the 2011/12 Knight-Mozilla Fellows.  
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    ZERO1 Garage: An inside look

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    By Joel Slayton, ZERO 1 October 27 marked the kick-off of the ZERO1 Garage, where principles of artistic creativity will be applied to real world innovation challenges. The buzz among the 40 participants - who included art world professionals, business leaders, tech entrepreneurs, and policy makers - was at high...
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    YOUMedia Miami: empowering teens by building digital literacy skills

    Published November 4, 2011 by

    Gia Arbogast, branch administrator for the Miami-Dade Public Library System Soon at a Miami library, high school kids will learn how to use technology to visualize their favorite book, create short animated films, even tell an autobiographical, digital story. Called YOUMedia, the Knight-funded digital literacy classes are a way to get kids to think critically about their lives and their community - to experiment with who they are and what their communities can become. While at the The Urban Libraries Partners for Success Conference 2011, Knight sat down with Gia Arbogast, branch administrator for the Miami-Dade Public Library System, to talk about the launch of the program and its potential impact for the community:
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    Find a variety of glass art in Charlotte

    Published November 3, 2011 by

    North Carolina has a well-known craft tradition and glass art in an integral part of this rich genre. One can find amazing glassworks in many places, especially in the N.C. mountains in spots like Penland School of Crafts. There’s also a small, yet growing, glass community in Charlotte. Of course,...
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    In a digital society, libraries become important places for people to engage and connect with their city

    Published November 3, 2011 by

    Over the next two days, directors of some of the most creative libraries in the U.S. and key civic leaders are sharing ways public libraries can help strengthen community engagement. The Urban Libraries Partners for Success Conference 2011 brings together thought leaders in today’s civic engagement movement and young people who will shape the future of American communities. “Civic engagement comes in many forms and libraries are at the top of the list of places where people can get involved,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez told the crowd as he helped open the conference. “Libraries contribute to a stronger sense of community and help produce solutions to local issues. I’m confident that will continue to hold true.” Knight Foundation sat down with Susan Benton, president and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council to learn more about the connection between libraries and community engagement. Q: What is the role that libraries play in developing community engagement?  S.B: Libraries are part of the natural infrastructure of the community. In many neighborhoods, we are the primary community asset and the place where people come together on a regular basis. Q: In what kinds of ways do you see citizens interacting with their local libraries?
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    Nari Ward’s “We the People” at the Fabric Workshop

    Published November 3, 2011 by

    The ongoing exhibit “We the People” at The Fabric Workshop and Museum highlights some of artist Nari Ward’s more recent sculptural and installation work. In this show, Ward examines the ideas of citizenship, discrimination, materialism and poverty through three-dimensional media. Ultimately, the ideas expressed in these works reflect his experiences...