June, 2006

NYS BUDGET UPDATE

We still anticipate that the legislative override of the Governor’s veto will hold and that NYSCA will receive a $7.1 million increase. We cannot be any more specific at this time, so stay tuned. To re-cap:

RURAL CONVERSATION: LET’S TALK RURALS!

The Alliance is offering a Rural Conversation open to all Alliance Rural Partners on Friday June 9th from 10 to 11 am.
 
It is based on the success of the recent Alliance Advocacy Conversations and the enthusiasm of the participants for the opportunity to interact with their peers.  Similar to the recent Advocacy Conversations, this will be an opportunity to ask questions, discuss plans, make suggestions and network with your peers.

This is a phone conference and the process to participate is simple. Sign up online and post your questions or the issues you would like to discuss at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=530332140708

The day before the call we’ll send you a confirmation email with the call-in information. We will remind you again on the day of the call. We’ll use your questions and issues to format the conversation. So let’s talk, Rurals! Reserve your place for the Rural Conversation and submit your question, and join your peers in discussion on Friday, June 9th.

RURALS: Catch one of the last three rural workshops

• Wednesday, June 21, 11 am - 2 pm, Saratoga Springs

“Cultivating New Audiences” with co-presenters Anne Ackerson and Martha Strodel, hosted by Saratoga County Arts Council: The Arts Center at 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The workshop will explore changing demographics that affect audience development and provide examples of best practice techniques that can be adapted by local cultural organizations to widen attendance and support. Workshop participants are encouraged to bring samples of their audience/member surveys and development tools to share. For information and registration call 518-584-4132 or email: deeed@nycap.rr.com.

• Tuesday, June 27, 11 am - 2 pm, Narrowsburg

“Using Technology to Build Audiences” with Chris Andreola of ADC Studio will explore using internet and email tools, electronic tracking of data and using data collection to build audiences and market services and programs. Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, 37 Main Street will host the workshop; lunch is included with the $10 per person fee. Contact DVAA at: 845- 252-7576 or email elaine@artsalliancesite.org.

• Wednesday, June 28, 9 am – noon, Binghamton

“Board Training Workshop,  or What Have I Got Myself Into?!” Presenter: Donna Hill, Program Officer, Community Foundation for South Central New York. Being a board member of a nonprofit is a privilege; it’s also a responsibility. How does this play out on a day-to-day basis? The workshop will look at some of the practical issues re board membership, such as the respective roles of board and staff, the balance between governance and fundraising, ethics, and building effective board/staff partnerships. The workshop is presented as a service to non-profit arts and cultural organizations in Broome and Tioga counties. Broome County Arts Council will host the workshop at the Decker Cultural Center, 31 Front Street in Binghamton. Cost is $15; $10 for BCAC members. Call 607-723-4620, Ext. 301 or email: sball@artscouncil.com.

Light refreshments will be served at each of the workshops. Pre-registration for each workshop is advised; the registration deadline is generally two days prior to the workshop. To register or for directions to a workshop, call or email the host organization.

These workshops are supported in part by Corning Incorporated Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts, State & Local Partnership Program.

REGIONAL MEETINGS

This year the regional meetings will explore the issue of "Building New Audiences", a topic identified by the field in the 2005 online survey/regional forums/Think Tank, as a pressing issue facing community-based cultural organizations statewide.

Hudson Valley/North Country
Tuesday, June 13, 3-5 pm: Westchester Arts Council, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY. This meeting will follow up on an evening session entitled "Gifts of the Muse", with a Wallace Foundation representative (funders of "The Values Study" done by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism) and will be a discussion on the intrinsic value of the arts on June 5, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Joanne Mongelli at 914-428-4220 or jMongelli@westarts.com.

Wednesday, June 14, 2-4 pm: Greene County Council on the Arts, the meeting will take place at the historic Thomas Cole House in Catskill, followed by a tour of the building and grounds at Cedar Grove. Participants are invited to view “Jasper Cropsey: Interpreting Nature” which will be on exhibit at Cedar Grove through October 29th. Contact Kay Stamer at: 914-943-3400 or kay@greenearts.org.

Thursday, June 15, 11-2 pm: hosted by Arts Council for the Northern Adirondacks and will be held at Blue Seed Studio in Saranac Lake. Caroline Rubino will also present information about the Creative Industries Report and North Country participation in an NEA Arts & Economic Impact Study. A light lunch will be provided. Contact Caroline or Karen at: 518-962-8778 or: artsco@westelcom.com.

Southern Tier/Western New York
Tuesday, July 18, 3-5 pm: hosted by ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes, 32 West Market Street, Corning. Contact Ginnie Lupi at 607-962-5871 or glupi@stny.rr.com.

Wednesday, July 19,, 10 am – 12 noon at Arts & Cultural Council of Greater Rochester, 277 North Goodman Street, Rochester. Contact Christina Laurel at 585-473-4000 EXT 222 or: claurel@artsrochester.org.

Thursday, July 20, 12 noon-2 pm: hosted by Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County at location to be announced. Light lunch to be provided. Contact: Celeste Lawson at: 716-856-7520 or celeste.lawson@artscouncilbuffalo.org.

Long Island
Tuesday, July 25, 10 am – 12 noon at Huntington Arts Council, 213 Main Street, Huntington. Contact Diana Cherryholmes at 631-271-8423, EXT 13 or huntarts@optonline.net

The regional meetings are free and open to all arts and cultural organizations. The format will blend a miniworkshop with group discussion of best practices. Content and handouts will be based on two resources that explore ways to build new audiences and relationships within the community: "The Values Study: Rediscovering the Meaning and Value of Arts Participation" published by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and "A New Framework for Building Participation in the Arts", a report by RAND that presents the findings of a study on arts organizations across the country who are actively expanding their efforts to increase public participation in their programs.

The meetings will also include relevant and timely updates and public policy issues, and the building of public discourse on the arts with the potential to increase audiences, donations, programs and public participation. The meetings are always an opportunity to network with your peers and discuss issues of regional concern.

Our thanks to the Regional Meeting Hosts for providing this opportunity for the Alliance to interact with cultural organizations throughout the state and discuss timely issues with the field. Please plan to attend and pre-register for the Alliance regional meeting scheduled for your area by phone or email.

ADVOCACY CONVERSATIONS: THE SUMMARY

Read what your colleagues talked about in the three Advocacy Conversations convened by the Alliance in May. Facilitated by Dr. Sherre Wesley and Judy Weiner, the Advocacy Conversations began with updates on state and federal funding and discussion about best practices for local advocacy campaigns. Interesting exchanges followed when the conversation focused on the questions participants submitted in advance when they registered for the calls. The questions were grouped in four topic areas and the discussions are summarized below:    

I.                   NYSCA Internal Allocations

·         There is a disconnect between what the arts are about (innovation, the new, etc.) and what NYSCA funds.  This year, because of the increase, there is an opportunity to adjust funding.

·         Decentralization succeeded in reaching new and emerging arts.

·         NYSCA has had no new initiatives for a long time.  When they did have such initiatives, they made a positive difference to the field.

·         Old templates are used to determine funding that don’t adequately address issues of the new.

·         Some have had success in pitching the new in terms of/via association with the familiar.

·         Need more support for small organizations.

·         Ways that the field can have an impact:

a.      Submit recommendations for panelists.

b.      Encourage NYSCA staff to get out in the field; we acknowledge that this is tied to funds for travel.

·         Schenectady is lacking an organization to take the lead on advocacy.  New partnerships are developing to try to fill the void created by merger and subsequent dissolving of Albany-Schenectady League.

·         Link between participants from Saratoga and Schenectady was made in the conversation.

II.                Community Engagement

·         An example of a template: both children drawing pictures, and senior citizens’ communication about arts programs.

·         The importance of year-round activity and work in the home districts was emphasized.

·         An example of how asking about relationships via online surveys can unearth valuable information.

·         Emphasize our ability to give politicians face time with constituents.

·         Focus on engagement through technology

·         Greater use of technology for connecting….particularly young patrons with the arts.

III.             Funding arguments

·         An example of the importance of meeting with the business community on their own territory and developing relationships with economic development.

·         The economic argument, with slight variations, continues to be used and well received.

·         Sullivan County’s plan development, and the importance of quality of life and authenticity issues.

·         Authenticity arguments are effective within folk and traditional arts advocacy.

·         Binghamton has been successful in demonstrating how the arts have changed the flavor of the city.  It is part economic development, but much more.

·         Example from Providence, RI suggests that private funding/people with deep pockets are essential for arts re-development projects.

·         Cultural Development Area bill discussed as alternative funding route; need to stay creative in our approaches

IV.              Artists Lives

·         Housing, estate planning, etc. are not just issues for NYC.

·         Older artists are moving out of the City and adding new responsibilities to local arts organizations, and their directors….e.g. An Executive Director was asked by two artists to be the executor of their estates.

·         An example of work with the tenants association of a building on the riverfront in Long Island City, Queens.  Landlords are now familiar with the real estate cycle created when artists inhabit an area, and buy and wait for the arts to turn neighborhoods around before ousting artists in favor of higher paying tenants.  Artists are leaving NYC.  This tenants association, and artists in general, have received very little assistance from local politicians.  Government must get involved.

·         NYFA has had preliminary discussions around the real estate issues and ways to keep artists in the City.

·         A question regarding health insurance led to referrals to the Freelancers Union and to local chambers of commerce.

·         Recounted issues of real estate, aging, health care

·         Contractor and liability issues were raised at recent VLA workshop

·         Several years ago, the Alliance for the Arts created a pamphlet on estate planning vis-à-vis HIV/AIDS.  We should see if it is still available, and current.  Explore update/distribution.

·         Group was made aware of Joan Jeffri’s project (Columbia University) on aging artists.

FEDERAL UPDATE

HOUSE APPROVES INCREASE FOR NEA AND NEH BUDGET: On May 18 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a floor amendment to increase FY 2007 funding for the NEA by $5 million. Approved by a voice vote, the increase was contained in an amendment introduced by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Chris Shays (R-CT), co-chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus. The amendment also provides an increase of $5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and was also co-sponsored by Reps. Jim Leach (R-IA) and David Price (D-NC), co-chairs of the House Humanities Caucus, along with Rep. Norm Dicks, senior democrat on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Approval by voice vote signified that the amendment was noncontroversial. With the increase, the NEA would receive $129.4 million in FY 2007, while the NEH would get $146 million. The House then debated and later defeated, by a vote of 306 to 112, a second amendment offered by Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO) to cut $30 million from the NEA's budget.

ARTISTS DEDUCTION, OTHER TAX PROVISIONS STILL IN LIMBO:Congress has finished work on a major tax bill that extends the President's tax cuts without including a package of provisions affecting the charitable sector. The omitted provisions include the artist deduction, which would allow artists to take a fair-market value tax deduction for certain charitable gifts of their own works, various other incentives for charitable giving, and a package of reforms, all of which the Senate had approved. Negotiations continue on including the omitted charitable provisions in a second major tax bill that is now under consideration. The negotiations also entail making changes to some of the Senate-approved provisions that had become quite controversial. It now appears that the Senate is no longer backing the provision that would have imposed a "floor" on itemized charitable contributions that could have created a disincentive to charitable giving among middle-class donors.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

MAKING BOOKS SING, a ten-year-old $700,000 Equity theatre and arts

education organization, seeks a Managing Director. This position is dedicated to continuing Making Books Sing's strong financial health during our next stage of  organizational growth.  Primary responsibility is to diversify, grow and manage our contributed and earned income bases:

Execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for foundations, corporations and individuals; Implement a marketing strategy with surround events, newsletters, mailings and website management; Oversee all areas of general management, including contracts, cash flow, budgeting and audit preparation; Work with Artistic Director, Education Director and Board on strategic planning.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of eight years experience in a non-profit theatre (preferred) and a proven track record. Excellent oral, written, computer, budgeting and social skills are a must. www.makingbookssing.org. Send  resume, cover letter, salary history to mbssearch@aol.com. Target start date: July 1.

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The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 31-year 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