February, 2007
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MARK YOUR 2007 CALENDAR WITH THESE IMPORTANT DATES February
28 - March 5: March
6: March
12 and 13: September
9, 10 and 11: |
In this month's memo GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS GREAT START FOR NYSCA FUNDING ARTS
DAY IN ALBANY is MARCH 6 2007 REGIONS & REGIONAL CAPTAINS ADVOCACY DAY IN WASHINGTON IS MARCH 12 and 13 ARTS SUMMIT: SEPTEMBER 9, 10, 11 IN SCHENECTEDAY ALLIANCE
CONSULTANT DIRECTORY REVISED FEDERAL ARTS FUNDING DECISIONS POSTPONED TO 2007
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GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET IS GREAT START FOR NYSCA FUNDING
Governor Spitzer's proposed 2007-2008 budget includes $47.5 million in
NYSCA aid to localities (grants). That's a $5 million increase over this
year. We are advocating for $54 million in grants money, an $11.5 million
increase, so the Governor's budget gets us almost half way there! The
Governor's proposal also includes $6 million for NYSCA administration.
Let’s keep the momentum going. Sign up for Arts Day on March 6, contact your legislators through the online advocacy center and work to get the full $54 million in money for grants.
NEWS
FROM THE FIELD
Saratoga County Arts Council to Honor Dee Sarno
The Saratoga County Arts Council (SCAC) will honor its former Executive
Director, Dolores "Dee" Sarno at an open house at Longfellow's
Restaurant in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, February 25th, 2 - 5 pm.
For many years, Dee has been the face and voice of community arts in Saratoga County. Dee started SCAC in the late 80's, working out of the Saratoga Springs Chamber of Commerce office and the trunk of her car, as she traveled throughout Saratoga County building interest and support for arts and cultural organizations and events. Her contributions and energy have been felt most notably with the establishment of The Arts Center on Broadway in Saratoga, a vital facility that serves the wider Saratoga County region with numerous cultural programs and services. Dee retired as SCAC director in December, 2006; new Executive Director Joel Reed worked under Dee as Program Director, and took over as director on January 1.
Dee put the same energy into the wider, statewide field of arts administration as an active member and former board member of the Alliance. Many of you have worked with her in our efforts to strengthen the field and build support for arts funding, and would like the opportunity to send your congratulations for her many years of fine work and best wishes in her retirement.
Members of
the community will be invited to offer toasts and tributes to Dee throughout
the open house at Longfellows. If you would like to join this celebration
to honor Dee Sarno, you can send a personal email for Dee, care of Joel
at jreed@saratoga-arts.org. Please include your organization and personal
comments for Dee, so Joel can introduce your note as one from many Alliance
members throughout New York State who have worked with Dee. Or, plan to
attend. For more information, contact Joel at 518-584-4132 X 206.
Join your
colleagues and celebs in Albany on March 6 as we put the arts front and
center on the legislative agenda and before the many thousands of visitors
trolling the Legislative Office Building. Stop in the WELL to see the
exhibits and the performances, rest a moment, and catch up with old friends.
Start making appointments with your legislators between 9 - 11 AM and
12:30 - 3 PM. A rally will be held 11 am - 12 Noon in the Legislative
Office Building (LOB) Hearing Room. Click here
to register for Arts Day.
ADVOCATE
FOR THE ARTS AT HOME AND ONLINE
NYS LOCAL ARTS ADVOCACY WEEK & ONLINE RALLY: February 28 - March 5
Let your voice be heard. Participate in Local Arts Advocacy Week and let your elected officials know what public funding for the arts means to you and your community. New York State has a long and proud history of supporting the arts, and for many people this truly is "the State of the Arts." We will build on this history, and seek the increased support that will keep New York State identified with the arts.
Our message is clear: Increase funding for NYSCA to $54 million, or just $2.80 per NYS resident. Last year's NYSCA level of $42.5 million represents the first increase in 6 years. That's good news, but it is still far below the 1988-89 level of $54.3 - without being adjusted for inflation! This is a time of change in Albany. It's time to build on our strong past and regain some of what we've lost. Let your officials know how much the arts contribute to their districts.
During
Local Arts Advocacy Week in-person and online communications will bring
our arts message to legislators' home districts. According to Judith
Kaufman Weiner, Executive Director of the Alliance of New York State Arts
Organizations, "Local Arts Advocacy Week is a grassroots effort to
personalize and communicate the local power and impact of the arts."
The Alliance Regional Captain Network will spearhead and coordinate local
advocacy events and meetings throughout New York State. Ten Regional Captains
cover 58 of New York's 62 counties.
At home
local advocacy efforts include participation in arts award ceremonies,
meetings in district offices, distributing advocacy materials, coordinating
mailings, and making announcements at exhibitions, performances and classes.
The Online
Rally (February 28 - March 6) is a quick and easy way to participate
by sending an email message to your representatives. Click here
to send a personalized message. Last year the Online Rally generated
about 3,000 emails to legislators….we will top that in 2007.
2007
REGIONS & REGIONAL CAPTAINS
There are
frequent updates to activities during Local Arts Advocacy Week. Contact
your regional captain to participate and for additional information.
Western
Sarah Lentini: slentini@artsrochester.org
Cayuga, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne,
Wyoming, Yates
Celeste Lawson: celeste.lawson@artscouncilbuffalo.org
Erie, Chautauqua, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Allegany
Central
Megan Koenig: mkoenig@cnyarts.com
Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Onondaga
Southern
Tier
Richard Driscoll: director@artspartner.org
Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Chenango, Tioga, Chemung, Steuben, Broome
North
Country
Caroline Rubino: artsco@westelcom.com
Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, St Lawrence, Warren, Saratoga
Capital
Kay Stamer: gcca@greenearts.org
Greene, Columbia, Albany, Schenectady, Renssalaer, Schoharie
Hudson
Valley
Elaine Giguere: elaine@ArtsAllianceSite.org
Sullivan, Ulster, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess,
Westchester
& Rockland
Joanne Mongelli: JMongelli@westarts.com
Long Island
Diana Cherryholmes: dcherryholmes@huntingtonarts.org
Suffolk, Nassau
Harlem
Linda Walton:linda@harlemaa.org
Harlem Arts Alliance
ADVOCACY DAY IN WASHINGTON IS MARCH 12 and 13
Advocacy Day includes a Congressional breakfast, advocacy training, meetings with your members of Congress, and the annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on the Arts and Public Policy. The Alliance coordinates and leads the New York delegation on the Hill and makes the Congressional appointments for the delegation.
ARTS
SUMMIT: SEPTEMBER 9, 10, 11 IN SCHENECTEDAY
Save the dates and join your colleagues and friends in an interactive
statewide Alliance Arts Summit hosted by Philip Morris and
Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady. The Summit is designed
as a focused interactive event and with full engagement for all participants
and many 'behind the scenes' discussions about downtown transformations
by the arts. Alliance members will receive registration priority and discounts.
If you want to make suggestions for the Summit content, please get in
touch with any of the following Summit Planning Committee members: Sarah
Lentini, Kathryn Hollinger, Celeste Lawson, Ron Thiele, Richard Driscoll,
Martha Strodel.
ALLIANCE CONSULTANT DIRECTORY REVISED
Directory of Professional Consultants for Arts Organizations of New York State is being updated on the website. That portion of our site (www.thealliancenys.org) will be under construction during February while this work is being completed.
The directory is provided as a service to community based arts organizations. It includes professional consultants who handle organizational issues and a listing of architectural professionals who work with cultural facility renovation and re-use. It provides information on each consultant's areas of expertise, qualifications/experience working with cultural organizations, education & specialized training, and recent examples of consulting work.
The revised directory will include a new search feature; one will be able to search by geographic region of the state served by a consultant, as well as by name and by areas of expertise. Also, the revised information includes contact information for references on recent consulting work.
If you are
a consultant who works with nonprofit arts organizations based in New
York State and would like to be included in the Alliance Directory of
Professional Consultants, please send an email inquiry to: mstrodel @nycap.rr.com.
The listing is presently free, but we encourage consultants to join the
Alliance to support our work in the field of community-based arts organizations
throughout New York State.
FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES
NYSCA deadline is March 1
Don't wait until the last minute. All NYSCA grant requests, including
multi-year grants, must be registered by midnight March 1.
NEA Deadline
The NEA deadline for locals is March 12. However, before you can even
submit your application, you MUST be registered with CCR and grants.gov.
Here is the link on the NEA website for the checklist to complete everything
that is required BEFORE you can submit your application the NEA. http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/grantsgovChecklist.html
This registration process will take 1 - 3 weeks to complete. Remember
to start the registration NOW if you are planning to submit an application.
FEDERAL
ARTS FUNDING DECISIONS POSTPONED TO 2007
The Senate and House of Representatives failed to make FY 2007 funding decisions for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the U.S. Department of Education, and other arts programs prior to their fall adjournment. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved NEA funding at $5 million below what was approved by the House in May. Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) circulated a letter to fellow senators, asking for an increase in funding for both the NEA and NEH, and thanks to input from advocates across the country, 43 senators have signed on in support. The final outcome will be left to the 110th Congress, which convened
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