Claude Bunny Massassa is a contemporary artist from Gabon. She created Bunny Studio in 2016, a start-up dedicated to photography production, which became DWABI Studio in 2021. As an artist, she has represented Gabon in many international exhibitions in Senegal, Uganda, France, the United States, and Italy. In her art, she denounces social stigmas around issues of identity and mental health, and explores themes of traditions and myths.
Executive Director Kimberly Aceves- Iñiguez has been passionately committed for over 20 years to social justice organizing and advocacy efforts that bring voice and power to youth, LGBTQ people, people of color, and working-class communities in the Bay Area. Before coming on as the Executive Director for RYSE, Kimberly served as the Executive Director for Youth Together, the founding organization of the RYSE Center.
Kanwarpal Dhaliwal is one of the co-founders of RYSE and currently acts as the Associate Director. She supports and guides the implementation and integration of healing-centered practices, grounded in racial justice and liberation, and also develops, promotes, and advocates for policies, investments, practices, and research that enliven healing, justice, and liberation. Kanwarpal believes that the purpose of her work and life is to contribute to movements, communities, and legacies of liberation that honor the ancestors who fought for her existence and survival, and to forge a world that is just and gentle for future generations.
Sagal Ali is the founder and executive director of SAF. After a few years in her career in heritage protection in the cultural sector, she decided to develop the initiative to directly support young creatives in Somalia by launching her own foundation. She hopes to bridge the social gaps and inequalities women face in Somalia, both in society and in the arts scene.
Co-founders Catherine Dunga and Marleen Palmaers created Kitambo to bridge the gap between the African diaspora in Colombia and the narratives from the continent. From Kinshasa and Antwerp respectively, they work to connect African artists from the continent and their peers from the Colombian diaspora.
Martha Kazungu is a curator, art Historian and Founder of Njabala Foundation, an organization that curates periodic exhibitions and organizes a public program of activities to create a safe space for female artists to thrive and blossom.
Alicia Hansen is a photographer and teacher from New York. She founded NYC SALT in 2008 and, beyond teaching valuable creative skills to her students, has developed a long-term support system to uplift them through school and into their early artistic careers.
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What we have done so far?
In 2014 the first project results have been brought to light, with As-Is analysis, benchmark report and social media and community building strategy finalised. Continuous monitoring of the results in terms of community-building has been started, which allowed us to fine-tune our online communication strategy and strengthen lettera27’s brand.
With regard to impact measurement component of the project, we conducted a comprehensive mapping of the management and performance measurement tools available in the profit sector, with an aim to evaluate them and adapt into the non-profit environment. Balanced Scorecard and Key Performance Indicator methodologies have been identified and pre-selected as the most suitable tools.
Jems Robert Koko Bi, The Passengers, 2012, courtesy of the artist
“You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.”
Nelson Mandela
In 2015 we have been developing and testing our performance monitoring and evaluation tool – Balanced Scorecard. Some 35 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been identified and organised into 11 organisational performance areas, such as Management, Communication, Administration, Finance, Fundraising, R&D etc. A pilot in-house evaluation test has been conducted and based on this, a comprehensive Performance Monitoring Plan, including timeline and lessons learnt, has been developed.
In addition, we have developed detailed strategic plans in the areas of Communications and Fundraising, as well as Guidelines, which are meant to facilitate replicability of the good practices in communications and resource mobilisation. The Guidelines provide small and medium cultural organisations with a practical and easy reference for designing successful strategies leading to achieving sustainability. Published under the Creative Commons license, the documents are free for download, broad use and sharing.
In 2016 we have refined the produced management tools through the test of the Balance Score Card tool with 3 cultural organizations in Italy in the field of performing arts, artistic research and knowledge production and dissemination.
The project is entering its last phase, which will conclude with the publication of the project’s findings under Creative Commons license.
Who is the target?
Small and medium cultural organizations in Italy.
