Through fiscal sponsorship, IAM seeks to advance its mission to steward and empower independent art and media projects foster community and civic participation, and facilitate cultural engagement and free expression. This is a First Amendment thesis of creating a healthy democracy through free expression, open inquiry and civil discourse. Media, journalism, the arts and culture are all arenas of social interaction and civic engagement. Yet even in the Internet era, these arenas are closed to public participation due to commercial or institutional barriers. We support diverse, non-commercial works in the arts, humanities, and media of all sorts. Work eligible for fiscal sponsorship with IAM includes the design, production, promotion and presentation of visual art, performance, music, mixed media and transmedia, online/digital media, film, video, radio, journalism and civic information, publishing, educational activities, open civic-design projects, and public convening. Ultimately, we champion those media producers and culture makers who are doing significant work to advance civic engagement and cultural participation in our communities and our democracy.