What will local foundation funding look like in 2009?

News
Casey Selix at minnpost.com offers this excellent interview with Vickie Bensen, the McKnight Foundation's arts program officer. More proof that your grandparents wouldn't recognize this economy: The McKnight Foundation lost 700 million dollars in net assets in 2008. I'm going to sit here and think about 700 million dollars for a second. . . um. . . ow. . . Can we help put faces on this situation? Are there amazing things you or your organization won't be able to do because the funding has dried up? Are there things that you're thankful to still be able to do because the McKnight remains as committed as they can be to the local arts scene?
Alan M. Berks

Alan M. Berks is a Minneapolis-based writer whose plays have been seen in New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and around the Twin Cities. He helped create Thirst Theater a while back. Now, he’s the co-founder of this here magazine. He’s also written Almost Exactly Like Us, How to Cheat, 3 Parts Dead, Goats, and more.