… neither our politicians nor our storytellers can concoct a vision of a future in which Black America is thriving…Whatever the solution to the erosion of liberal democracy, it should be commonly held that no path back to power that does not consider Black America can be the American Dream.”
— Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan Cottom’s recent article in the New York Times addresses the past, present and future of Black America, framed through a personal lens of the NBC TV show A Different World (1987-1993), and its Netflix reboot. As we know, a show is not just a show; art, culture, policy, news, justice –- urgent stories emerge from an interconnected network of siloed sectors, a fractured but vibrant ecosystem.
October has highlighted some very harsh realities around national, state and philanthropic support for media arts, civic media, youth media and documentary film. The evidence of widespread cultural erasure is profound: the frenetic cycle of grant cancellations and clawbacks, the institutional excision of the histories and contributions to this country of non-white people, the proliferation and “normalization” of racist and sexist algorithms and AI agents, and the sunsetting of legacy programs supporting civic, community, public and independent media. The list goes on.
So, what do we do with all this reality? At the Alliance, while we wait to hear from powers-that-be if programs like Ford Foundation’s JustFilms will survive this moment (and if we and our organizational partners will survive as well), we move forward with the vision for change that has been part of our bedrock for decades. As a national arts service organization, the Alliance for Media Arts + Culture provides access (often from behind the scenes) to innovation and organizational mentorship, infrastructure support, grants, workforce leadership, services for low-income communities, new partnership models, program research and development services; essential connective tissue for a dramatically changing field.
If you lead an Arts Service Organization (ASO), of any size — it is not too late to contribute to the national ASO Survey — the deadline has been extended to December 18, 2026. I serve on the Advisory Cohort for the Survey and can attest to the care and intentions of its makers, Alejandra Duque Cifuentes and her team at DC Consulting. Please add your voices. As the defunding of arts and culture continues, new models are being explored in both community and academia, with a shared goal of reimagining civic media infrastructure. It’s time for Arts Service Organizations and the artists and communities we serve to speak up.
As always, now is a really good time to join the Alliance. You can donate on the Membership page. Donating to support the programs you love like Arts2Work, our Innovation Studio, and the Open Archive Initiative — is always a great way to show support for the work and help us help others.
Notes From the Field
Youth FX Awarded $35,000 NYSCA Reserve Fund Grant to Support Our Long-Term Sustainability
We’re excited to share that Alliance member Youth FX has been awarded a $35,000 grant through the 2026 NYSCA Reserve Fund Grant Program, administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)! Youth FX is one of 59 arts organizations across New York State receiving a combined $1.76 million in funding through this initiative, which is designed to help nonprofit arts organizations build financial stability, strengthen their resilience, and sustain their work for years to come.
Join American Documentary at their upcoming 2026 House Party!
American Documentary invites you to come together with filmmakers, friends, and supporters for their annual House Party, a celebration of independent documentary storytelling and the community that makes their work possible. During the event, AmDoc will honor Diane Quon, the Academy Award®-nominated producer of Minding the Gap, with its Creative Visionary Award, and Wendy Ettinger, a producer of the Academy Award®-nominated The War Room and co-founder of Chicken & Egg Films, with its Industry Champion Award. The annual benefit will take place Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in Brooklyn, New York. Read about this year’s awardees and purchase tickets.
Artful Evenings: Water’s Edge with Artist Sky Hopinka
In celebration of Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian presents an evening with filmmaker and visual artist Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Indians) on Thursday, November 5, from 6–9 p.m. ET. Hopinka will screen three of his short films, followed by a discussion with exhibition curator Rebecca Head Trautmann. Both artists share interest in Indigenous homelands, cultural knowledge, and traditional practices. The evening will also feature art-making activities and an opportunity to explore Lowe’s work on view.
Grants and Calls
Sundance Institute: Merata Mita Fellowship
Indigenous artists who identify as women and are developing a feature film are eligible for the Sundance Institute’s Merata Mita Fellowship. The fellowship was founded to pay tribute to Merata Mita, screenwriter, director, and former advisor and artistic director of the Sundance Institute’s Native Filmmakers Lab. The program provides a cash grant, yearlong creative support, mentorship, and an opportunity to attend the Sundance Film Festival.
Deadline: November 3rd
Sundance Institute: Graton Fellowship
Filmmakers from California-based Native tribes have the opportunity to apply for Sundance Institute’s Graton Fellowship. Two selected artists will each receive a $25,000 grant to support a narrative or documentary feature, along with a year of mentorship, creative development resources, and support to attend the Sundance Film Festival.
Deadline: November 16th
The Film Fund: Narrative Short Film Funding
The Film Fund is seeking submissions for narrative short films, offering production funding of up to $10,000. Applications require a one-sentence pitch describing the film’s premise and how the funding would support its production.
Deadline: November 17th
Workshops, Festivals, Convenings
San Diego Asian Film Festival, November 5th–14th, San Diego, CA
Three Rivers Film Festival, November 4th–15th, Pittsburgh, PA
DOC NYC, November 11th–29th, New York, NY
Cucalorus Film Festival, November 19th–22nd, Wilmington, NC
Austin Film Festival, October 29th–November 5th, Austin, TX
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, November 5th–15th, Philadelphia, PA
by Priscilla Genet
Earlier this month, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella mirrored President Trump in calling for an end to “wokeism” through the removal of art and historical objects from the National Museum in Bogotá. Objects selected for removal included those tied to feminist, LGBTQ+, and political history, as reported by NPR. This sparked a wave of protests, drawing a wide range of demonstrators, including artists, students, activists, and academics. Historian Mauricio Nieto said of the removals, “This is an insult to academia, an insult to reflection, an insult to the truth.” Bogotá Judge CĂ©sar Enrique Osorio ordered the government to temporarily halt further removals and preserve the removed objects, but critics fear the decision to remove them sets a troubling precedent.
Disney and ABC are in an ongoing legal battle with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over an early license review ordered in April of this year, following previous conflicts surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s commentary. The FCC has set its sights on Disney as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), alleging discriminatory hiring practices. Disney filed a federal lawsuit challenging the review in August, arguing that it is retaliation for the network’s programming and violates its First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan heard arguments from both sides on October 6. The FCC maintains that Disney is obstructing a lawful investigation into discriminatory employment practices.
Job Bank
Director of Digital Experience, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Artistic Director, The Apollo, New York, NY
Finance Associate, Arts FMS, Remote
Finance Consultant, Arts FMS, Remote