A CALL for the Future

In the words of Steward Pickett, renown environmental scientist: CALL’s pursuit to engage artists, scientists, and communities helps keep minds open, exercise sensitivity to social and cultural contexts, and reinforce the exploratory outlook needed for our collective advancement. CALL is virtually unique in promoting the kinds of interactions and projects from which such innovation can emerge. Art is a powerful bridge.  

Several weeks ago, CALL was hit with the abrupt termination of our grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This has meant an immediate loss of nearly $250,000. We appealed and won back some of these funds, but are left with a daunting gap. 

We do not believe the answer is time to turn away. With your help we can make a new pathway and territory for CALL and for the communities we work with. We must mobilize our collaborators and supporters to proceed with this vital work.

To accomplish this, an important first step has been made: we are pleased to announce that Agnes Gund has made a $50,000 Leadership Gift for this year and another for the following year. Our urgent goal is to raise $50,000 to match this year’s donation by the end of August. We are reaching out to you, our community and supporters, for encouragement and assistance. 

You can help us bridge this gap and ensure our work continues to thrive and fulfil our commitments to the communities where we are currently focused—Milwaukee; the Bronx; and Corona, Queens. We ask you to consider a special, one-time $5,000 contribution.

The capricious cancellations of Federal funds threaten to erode CALL’s capacities. We have pioneering work planned to start this summer in Corona, Queens with two gifted artists, Niceli Portugal and Emilio Martinez Poppe. The artists will engage the community around growing risks of cloudbursts (increasingly hazardous rainfalls).  

Thanks to the feedback and enthusiasm we have received we know what we do is having a positive impact. We remain determined because there is so much to be done, especially in the face of a warming planet.  

We hope you will be part of the future with us.