ACI Vision & Values In Practice
The ACI envisions a healthy and coordinated arts & culture ecosystem rooted in the collective good of the sector and the people it serves.
To realize the ACI vision, our work focuses on two main areas:
- Resource Coordination
- Grantmaking
Please refer to the graphic below to understand how the ACI works toward these goals.
History
In December 2021, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced a $100 million commitment to transform the financial strength and long-term viability of Western New York’s arts and culture community through the establishment of an endowment that will support the sector now and forever.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Investment
Internal Capacity
The Community Foundation’s current strategic plan will guide us through 2028 and identifies the following four community goals:
- Achieve racial equity
- Promote economic mobility through educational achievement, workforce readiness and access to family sustaining jobs for residents living in low-income households
- Steward significant environmental resources in the context of climate resilience
- Promote regional vibrancy through architecture, arts and culture
The Internal Capacity fund provided by the Wilson Foundation opened the opportunity for the Community Foundation to dig deeper into truly defining our Goal IV: Promote regional vibrancy through architecture, arts and culture. The first step was to create a full-time Director of Arts & Culture role in April 2023 to develop a cohesive and actionable strategy for WNY’s arts & culture sector. This role evolved into a Senior Director position in January 2026.
Drawing on professional lived experience and the inputs below, the ACI developed this Vision that guides our work: A healthy and coordinated arts & culture ecosystem rooted in the collective good of the sector and the people it serves.
Learnings
The ACI is committed to analyzing our grantmaking data so we can remain nimble and flexible in responding to the evolving needs of the arts sector, in accordance with our stated values.