April, 2005

Summary of Results:
Alliance Cultural Needs Assessment

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has undertaken a Cultural Needs Assessment in 2005 to understand the trends and the issues facing New York State's cultural organizations and to determine the most effective, relevant, and important services needed to strengthen and empower those organizations.

The Cultural Needs Assessment is a two step process comprised of an Online Survey followed by seven Regional Focus Groups coordinated through the Alliance Regional Captain Network. The data is analyzed and managed by the Alliance's Associate Director Patricia Berman and her team with the advice of Dr. Stephen Chris, Buffalo State College.

The Cultural Needs Assessment Survey was distributed electronically in February 2005 to 3,000 cultural organizations in New York State. This sampling reflects a 15% return, which is considered statistically relevant. The responses are summarized in this report. The next part of the analysis will be a regional exploration conducted through a series of seven regional focus groups in May and June to determine if there are specific issues relevant to specific regions of New York State which have not yet been reported. The results of this survey are currently being used to plan upcoming Alliance activities and will greatly impact the future of the Alliance's work to serve the arts organizations in New York State.

HOW MANY RESPONDED
265 Responses through 3/16
40% of respondents are members of the Alliance
60% are not
11.3% are Arts Action Members

WHO RESPONDED
9.7% are Arts Councils
14.8% are Arts Centers
12.3% Museums or Historic Societies
19.5% Theater
6.4% Visual Arts
3.4% Literary
3.8% Electronic Media
1.7% Film
14.8% Music
7.6% Dance
5.9% Statewide Service

BUDGET INFORMATION
Budgets range from 0-15,000 to 22 million

50.8% have budgets that have increased
27.1% decreased
no change 22%

CONSTITUENTS SERVED
Serve artists: 75%
Serve the General Public: 95.8%
Serve Children: 73.8%
Serve Seniors: 62.5%
Serve Ethno-Specific: 31.2%
Other Cultural or Service Agencies: 46.2%

THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES THE ALLIANCE PROVIDES:
Local Advocacy Training: 37.7%
Professional Development and Training for Boards and Staffs: 57.5%
Technical Assistance 46.2%
Info and Networking 75.3%
Online Communication and Training 27.4%
Regional and Rural Workshops 24.7%
Conferences/Retreats 17%
Regional Meetings 16.1%
Public Policy Leadership 40.8%
Professional Consultant Services 42.2%

TOP SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN PRIORITY ORDER

* Performances
Theater/Concerts/Opera/Dance/Music Touring-High Quality Low Cost, Play productions, Community Theater

* Educational Programs
Youth, Seniors Community K-12, pre-K, home based, AIE curricular, adults, seniors, kids)

* Exhibitions
Includes Museum/Shops

* Workshops
Includes Residencies and Classes

* Arts Information
Includes Directories and Websites

* Ethnospecific programming
* Regrants and Grants
* Support Arts Development and Creation

CHALLENGES IN THE FIELD IN PRIORITY ORDER

1) FUNDING
Lack of Financial Resources/Funding Sources/Seed Money/Operating Support Project Support/fundraising/Cash Flow/New Sources of Contributed Income/lack of general operating support/increase in multi-year support, increase unearned income, increase individual contributions, lack of capital funds, new sources, new revenue streams, consistent funding, expanding base, diminishing foundation corporate support, capital, reaching corporate decision makers lack of GOS funding, program support, increase earned revenue)

2) STAFF
Staffing/need for/funding salaries/changing from all volunteer staff//Professional Staff/Funds to Pay/ retention/ staff development

3) SPACE
Affordable Space /Space Acquisition/Renovation/need for adequate facilities maintenance/acquisition, increase needed, renovations, suitable venues for events, space constraints

4) BOARD
Board Members/Board Training/Recruitment Board of Trustees (expand, revitalize)

5) MARKETING
Marketing/ Visibility/Publicity /Recognition of Value

TOP SUGGESTIONS OF HOW THE ALLIANCE COULD HELP

1) FUNDING
Funding Sources for Endowments, Capital Campaign Consultation, Upper Level Fundraising Training/Planned Giving/Major Donor Cultivation, Grant Resources Capacity Building Grants, Assist on Funding, $ tips, Individual giving, Large in- kind contributions, Compiled list of corporate funders specific to the arts, Creating arts revenue streams, Funding, government funding sources, Arts funding trends, Money, Collaborative fundraising training, Central Information on Funding,
Corporate Sponsorship and Relationship Networking, Funding for equipment/Furniture and equipment resource referrals, Earned Income Ideas, Funding Opportunity Alerts, Cultivating Individual Donors, Connecting Institutional Givers and Arts Organizations, Fundraising training

2) BOARD
Board Development, Board Training, Growing the Board, Board Recruitment Tools, Board Building Seminars, Boards networking event, Board Pep Talk Session

3) ADVOCACY
Advocacy/Lobbying Lobbying State and Federal/Networking opportunities with legislators, Advocacy peer led sessions, Meet the legislators forums, How to build successful partnerships with legislators, Hold forums between agencies and effective elected officials, Regional and Federal Policy updates

4) MARKETING
Promotional Assistance Collaborative Regional Marketing---How tos, Online email/web marketing, Promotion of local arts, Public awareness campaign along the lines of Americans for the Arts, Marketing consultation, Cheap Ways to Advertise, Develop Relationship with "I love New York", Publicity/Marketing Workshops

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a long history as New York's primary service association for community based arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen community cultural organizations. The Alliance monitors, informs and mobilizes the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support and developing effective grassroots public policy.ing community support and developing effective grassroots public policy.

245 Love Lane, P.O. Box 96
Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
Phone (631) 298-1234 / Fax (631) 298-1101