October, 2006
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Click
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In this month's memo ALLIANCE GALA: NOVEMBER 15 at the MANHATTAN PENTHOUSE GRANTMAKERS IN THE ARTS CONFERENCE |
NEWS
FROM THE FIELD
Our venerated Dee Sarno will retire at end of the year as Executive
Director of Saratoga County Arts Center. Dee has long been a visionary
leader and exemplary colleague. She grew her organization from a tiny
office at the top of a long flight of stairs to become a major arts center
with terrific facilities in Saratoga. We welcome Dee's successor, Joel
Reed, as the incoming Executive Director
Congratulations
to Marilyn Hoyt, the new President of the New York Hall of Science.
Marilyn has been with the agency for 18 years. She succeeds Dr. Alan
Friedman, a 22-year veteran who will leave at the end of October to
start a consulting practice
ALLIANCE
GALA: NOVEMBER 15 at the MANHATTAN PENTHOUSE
What a celebration it will be! Hear the amazing Jon Faddis. Meet our honorees. Applaud their outstanding work.
Rush Philanthropic
Arts Foundation education and community service
Russell Simmons, Danny Simmons, and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons
Jon Faddis adovocacy of the arts
Jeffrey Hoone and Lightwork service to artists
UBS philanthropy in the arts
There will also be a Silent Auction which will have a beautiful array of art, crafts, event tickets and some surprises. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the artists impacted by Katrina. Individual Tickets are $150 and Artist Tickets are $100. The reception is from 6 - 8 pm.
Get ahead
of the crowd. Click here
to buy your tickets online. Or watch for your invitation in the mail.
FROM
THE UPSTATE OFFICE
Congratulations to all those organizations who applied for and received
funds through the New York State Music Fund in the first round of grants.
A healthy percentage of these grants, administered by Rockefeller Philanthropy
Advisors (RPA), were given to upstate organizations, many in rural areas.
There were four Rural Partners who received funding in this round; Adirondack
Lakes Center for the Arts, Hubbard Hall Projects, Roxbury Arts Group,
and Unison Arts and Learning Center. All four are art centers and the
funds help in strengthening or expanding their regular music presenting
programs. From the list of awards (available at http://rockpa.org)
it's clear that this terrific opportunity was well promoted statewide
- by Rockfeller Philanthropy Advisors with help from the Alliance, and
all the upstate arts councils. Good work. I hope a number of you applied
for the second round of grants.
A RURALS
CONVERSATION: Friday, October 20th, 10 -11 am. One item Martha would
like to discuss is our Rurals Gathering. If Rural Partners are interested
in holding one in the spring of 2007, please join this conversation to
share your ideas. Watch the Rurals list serve for the online sign-up,
and post your questions and concerns when you sign up to help formulate
our Agenda.
The Alliance collaboration with Columbia University and the Harlem Arts Alliance to train the next generation of arts leaders kicked off to a rousing start in September. Designed to give students an in-the-field, supervised in-depth experience in the research and practice of advocacy working with the Harlem community, this is a pilot program that begins to address some of our concerns with transition and succession and fostering the next generation of arts leaders in New York State.
GRANTMAKERS
IN THE ARTS CONFERENCE
New Opportunities in Grass Roots Advocacy and Public Policy
This presentation by advocacy leaders from four different states discussing
the advocacy issues and opportunities at the grass roots level, is a first
for the Grantmakers annual conference. Organized by Judy Weiner, this
is an attempt to bring these issues to the funders table at the national
level. This session poses a number of questions:
"Arts advocacy/service organizations are using a variety of innovative approaches that vary from state to state. What are they doing? How are they doing it? What is the outcome/impact? What else needs to be done? What are the implications and intersections with shifting demographic power bases? Session participants will gain an awareness of the influence and power of this movement, their connections to government, non-government, and commercial sectors, and the unexplored potential of this power base. The use of online communities and communication techniques will also be discussed."
Speakers
include: Sheila Smith, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts; Betty Plumb, South
Carolina Arts Alliance; Judith K Weiner, Alliance of New York State Arts
Organizations; Dan Hunter, Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences,
& Humanities. Moderator: Nina Ozlu, Americans for the Arts
BARRY'S
BLOG
Interested in advocacy discussions among arts leaders across the country?
Or in arts policy discussions? There is a relatively new blog that promotes
arts policy discussions that you may participate in if you so choose.
The most recent discussion is about advocacy. The questions that were
posted and discussed in September are particularly relevant for us in
New York since in the upcoming November election we will see major changes
and considerable power shifts in state government. Here are the questions
that were discussed on the blog:
"The upcoming November election promises a sea change in the fortunes
of the two parties that may result in a fundamental shift in power - at
the national and state levels. What are the implications for the arts
field? Does this election represent an opportunity or challenge for the
arts? Are the arts capable and prepared to play any role in these elections
that might improve its position in terms of influencing the decision making
process, budgetary and otherwise? What should the arts being doing in
the next 60 days? What are doing, if anything? Have we done enough to
put the issue of the value of arts & culture in front of candidates
across the country? Have we done enough to demand candidates take a stand
on funding for the arts?"
Want to hear responses from a number of states? Go to www.westaf.org/blog/
NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH
National
Arts and Humanities Month is being celebrated across the country this
month. This year, NAHM-a nationally recognized celebration of the arts-is
recognizing how the arts can bring cultural richness and vitality to communities
nationwide. The NAHM website is your source for tips and ideas on how
to celebrate the only nationwide celebration of the arts and humanities.
Promote events in your community on the NAHM event calendar. For more
information about National Arts and Humanities Month, e-mail nahm@artsusa.org.
For more information go to: www.AmericansForTheArts.org/nahm
REPORTS
ON GIVING
There are
three annual reports that provide analysis of developing trends in philanthropic
giving: Giving USA, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and
The Foundation Center. They provide information of interest to arts organizations
as you consider and assess your own fundraising strategies. The following
is a brief overview of giving that applies to the arts and humanities
sector.
Although giving reached record levels in 2005, with a growth of 6.1% over 2004 at $260.28 billion, and individual giving is up 4% from the year before, about half of the $15 billion in growth was attributable to relief efforts for the tsunami and Katrina.
Despite an overall growth in charitable giving, Giving USA reports that contributions to the arts, culture and humanities declined in 2005, to $13.51 billion, a drop of 3.4% (-6.6% adjusted for inflation). Smaller organizations are particularly vulnerable to the declines in giving experienced in the arts sector in recent years. Giving USA's report for 2005 suggests that if your organization finds itself in a position of declining revenues, this may be the time to increase resources allocated to prospect research.
Larger organizations bounce back more quickly after a downturn because they are more likely to have resources in place to continue aggressive fundraising activities when giving is down. Studies of advertising over the past thirty years show a similar effect. Companies that reduce advertising when the economy is weak lose market share to competitors who maintain advertising budget levels, a loss that continues to persist long after market conditions improve.
Success in
the long-term requires that smaller organizations consider this factor
when allocating scarce resources. It is essential to maintain long-term
relationships and to continue prospecting during periods of flat or negative
growth. Although fiscal realities of small organizations may make this
extremely difficult, this is not the time to reduce resources dedicated
to prospecting and development efforts.
The Giving USA report can be ordered online at http://www.aafrc.org/gusa/.
The State of Fundraising 2005 report can be found on the AFP website at
www.afpnet.org. Foundation Growth
and Giving Estimates: Current Outlook (April, 2006) can be downloaded
from The Foundation Center's website: www.foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/nationaltrends.html.
You may investigate the resources available on this website at The Foundation Center: www.foundationcenter.org/focus/arts/ . Registration takes less than a minute and is free.
For many
arts organizations, the close of a fiscal year can be an appropriate time
to celebrate fundraising successes and rethink missed opportunities. It
can be a time for a strategic assessment and a revised plan. The information
you can research on the above mentioned web sites give you updated information
on national philanthropic trends to inform your thinking.
The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a long history as New York’s service association for arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen cultural organizations. The Alliance informs the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support.
P.O.
Box 96
Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
Phone (631) 298-1234 / Fax (631) 298-1101