June, 2003

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

SHERRE WESLEY, President of the Dutchess County Arts Council has announced her resignation effective September 2003. Ms. Wesley will be finishing her Ph.D. dissertation at Columbia University. In addition to ably serving the arts community in Dutchess County, Sherre was also president of the Alliance Board of Directors for two consecutive terms. We wish her much luck and success in the future. She will be missed.

The Bronx Council on the Arts is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. As part of the celebration honorees that have contributed to the cultural well being of the Bronx are being acknowledged. They include Chairman Richard J. Schwartz, JP Morgan Chase, Dr. Dolores Fernandez, and Hon. Madeline Povenzano. This annual Festival of the Arts and Members Meeting takes place on June 19, 2003, 5-8PM, at the Dancing Crane Café.

Congratulations to JANET T. LANGSAM, executive director Westchester Arts Council and Alliance Board Member, was honored by the Hudson River Museum with a 2002 Uniting the Arts Award and was also name Entrepreneur of the Year by the Westchester Fund for Women and Girls.

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"A LIVING LEARNING LABORATORY culture builds community: UTICA 2003."
October 15, 16, 17, 2003

Conference Location:
Hotel Utica
102 Lafayette Street
Utica, NY 13502
1-877-906-1912
Sleeping Rooms negotiated at a favorable rate of $89/night, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. Reservations made on your own. Call the hotel directly and use the Alliance conference in order to this special preferred group rate.

Registration Fees
$165 for Members of the Alliance and all Local Host Organizations, with second person attending from an organization $150. $220 for Non-Members.

Description
If you attend only one conference this year, this should be it! The gathering will be paced and punctuated to provide valuable time for participants to make friends and renew acquaintances. As in a Laboratory---lab coats optional---Attendees will study organizations on a number of levels by spending two full mornings of the conference on behind the scenes site-visits and candid onsite roundtable exchanges led by staff and board at 4 different organizations. Two large and two small organizations will be showcased: Sculpture Space, Oneida County Historical Society, Central New York Community Arts Council and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. All are within 5 miles of each other and thus easily accessed by attendees. Descriptions of activities at each of the four sites follow:

The Oneida County Historical Society converted an impressive Classical Revival Christian Science church to serve as its new home in 1991. The Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the rich history of Oneida County and Central New York. Kevin Marken, President of the OCHS, will provide participants with a close up inspection of the Society's collection, archives, exhibition fabrication, research library and Book and Gift Shop. He will lead a discussion of program development, educational programming and fundraising. On exhibition at the time will be WW II and Oneida County, Celebrating Our Journeys (ethnic heritage), The Revolutionary War and Hotel Utica.

The Central New York Community Arts Council, founded in 1966, is the major arts service organization for Oneida, Herkimer and Madison Counties, offering a wide array of programs and services for individuals and arts organizations. CYNCAC also owns the magnificent Stanley Theater in Utica, which it has restored and operates. It is now conducting a $10,000,000 fundraising drive to expand the stage and back-of-house support areas. The visit will include a tour of the non-public spaces (stage, dressing rooms, etc.) and a preview of the ambitious expansion plans now in progress. Ron Thiele, Executive Director, will lead the tour and lead a participatory discussion of the organization's many programs and the current fundraising efforts for the Stanley Theater.

Sculpture Space, Inc. is an artist-run workspace uniquely equipped to serve sculptors. Since its founding in 1975 it has provided space, specialized equipment and financial and technical support for over 300 professional artists from around the world who have undertaken ambitious projects at the facility. Sculpture Space is the recipient of the 1987 Governor's Excellence in the Arts award and a 1990 MacArthur Institutional Advancement Grant among many other awards, grants and honors. Sydney Waller, Executive Director will provide a tour of the main building and grounds and lead a roundtable discussion about programs and recent leadership transition. She will also detail the complex network of support and types of annual fundraising efforts required to operate the facility. Three artists - one from Germany, New York and New Mexico - will be in residence at the time with works in progress.

Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute has been operating since 1935. Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute (MWPAI) comprises three divisions: the School of Art, Performing Arts and the Museum of Art. The Institute occupies an 11-acre campus and is deeply involved in the community development of the surrounding area as well as providing a comprehensive spectrum of art resources for the entire area. MWPAI was the recipient of the Governor's Excellence in the Art award in 1998. Milton Bloch, President and Paul Schweizer, Director of the Museum will conduct a brief tour of the campus (including the school and dance studio) followed by a visit to the museum's state-of-the-art art storage, preparation areas, and other non-public spaces. An interactive discussion will follow highlighting the planning and community development/revitalization initiatives. Exhibitions on view will be Rodchenko, Carter Art Glass and major works from the permanent collections.

As indicated, each visit will include an on-site discussion of organizational methods, successes, strategies and programs. Participants will have the option of focusing on larger organizations or smaller ones, whichever they feel may provide most useful and parallel lessons for them. The site visits will be integral to the conference structure.

Themes of interest for afternoon sessions are fundraising, board staff relations, marketing, collaboration and community building and service. Parallel sessions for small and emerging organizations and large organizations on each of these topics will be run by expert panels. These build on the onsite interaction at the 4 study organizations. One session per time slot will deal with a more philosophical discussion of community development.

The confirmed keynote speaker is Paul Westlake. Mr. Westlake is managing principal of the architectural firm vanDijk, Westlake, Reed, Leskosky based in Cleveland and Phoenix. The firm is almost 100 years old and is a noted national theatre and historic restoration firm specializing in landmark performing arts facilities. Through its specialization, the firm has become an established national leader in the revitalization of communities through historic performing arts projects. His remarks will address the issues of how strongly the arts can influence and change downtown revitalization and renewal and will be augmented with his wealth of personal experience and on the powerful ability of the arts to drive current and future development. Congressman Sherwood Boehlert and the Mayor of Utica, Tim Julian will be on hand to greet conference attendees.

Evenings will be programmed to promote social interaction and networking at the Stanley Theater and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, an incomparable museum, compliments of our enthusiastic hosts, Central New York Community Arts Council and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.

For more information: (631) 298-1234 or pkbarts@aol.com

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CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

CELEBRATE THE ARTS OF NEW YORK STATE
AWARDS GALA 2003
Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations

For the past twelve years these annual awards have recognized significant contributions towards advancing cultural development in New York State.
We invite OUR field, who understand and value the rich fabric of cultural life statewide, to make nominations.

For each nomination please submit a one-page narrative describing why the nominee deserves recognition. Of particular interest are community involvement and empowerment initiatives, local partnerships, commitment, as well as the allocation of resources for cultural development projects and programs. Support materials may be included.

Nominations are invited for

Arts Organization Awards: Upstate and Downstate
To honor both an upstate and downstate organization that has made outstanding contributions to the cultural community of New York State. These endeavors include, but are not limited to: collaborative efforts, significant community partnerships, arts education, cultural development, community revitalization and artistic excellence.

Board Leadership Award
To honor exemplary Board of Directors' leadership by an individual or a group governing an arts organization in New York State. This award is given annually in honor of John A. Thorne.

M. Jacquie Lodico Service Award
To honor an arts administrator for outstanding accomplishment and distinguished service to their organization and community.

Deadline for Nominations is July 15, 2003 - 5 PM

Awards Ceremony will be held
Monday, November 24, 2003
Tavern on the Green
Central Park at 67th Street
New York City

Please send nominations to: Awards Panel, Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations, P.O. Box 96, Mattituck, New York 11952-0096. (631) 298-1234; (631)298-1101 (fax) jkweiner@worldnet.att.net; awippert@worldnet.att.net.

Indicate award category. Only one nomination in each category may be submitted.

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CALL FOR ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' NOMINATIONS

The Alliance Board Development Committee seeks nominations from the field for potential Alliance Board members. Please submit candidate names to the Alliance Board Development Committee, 245 Love Lane, P.O. Box 96, Mattituck, NY 11952. In a brief letter, describe the attributes of your candidate. The three-year term of office becomes effective January 1 and can be renewed for an additional three-year term. Members of the Board are elected by the Alliance membership from a slate presented by the Board Governance Committee at the Annual Meeting on October 17, 2003 during the Conference in Utica.

FROM THE UPSTATE OFFICE: By Martha Strodel, Director of Rural Arts Program

The tightening economy is straining the usual funding resources for community-based arts and cultural organizations. We need to look to our communities for wider and stronger involvement and support. In addition, family and work commitments are limiting volunteer and board pool resources. To thrive, an organization needs a board that is effective, committed and dynamic, and board members need their time and strengths well used.

To address these issues, I'm pleased to inform you of the availability of THE FREE BOARD TUNE-UP, a new service for Rural Partners through the Rural Arts Program.

The BOARD TUNE-UP is a 30-minute personalized session with the Alliance Rural Arts Director, with time for questions and answers. Your board can use our statewide expertise and knowledge to gain inspiration and encouragement, and assist in evaluating and improving their performance. The Board Tune-Up would be scheduled during a regular board meeting for their convenience, and board members would have access to requested follow up information.

The idea is to pick one or two topics that your board wants information about, or assistance with. Below are listed some of the topic areas that could be addressed, but the focus is to help your board with their issues, so if you have a specific interest not listed below, we can work together to design a session most helpful to your board.

• General board roles, responsibilities and rewards
  
• Need for planning and self-assessment; setting goals and priorities and monitoring!
  
• Developing and maintaining a dynamic, effective board (board grids, expectations, evaluations, communications, board handbooks, etc.)
  
• Involving the community
  
• Focus on fundraising locally

For more information, or to schedule a Board Tune-Up, contact Martha Strodel at 518-623-2508 or by email: mstrodel@capital.net.

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PUBLICATIONS OF NOTE

ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY NATIONAL REPORT, the full report of the groundbreaking study, includes a summary of national findings, definition of terms, detailed tables, and more. Members: $40.00. Nonmembers: $50.00. bookstore@artsusa.org. www.AmericansForTheArts.org

PUBLIC ART REVIEW
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AnimatingDemocracy/resource_center or www.publicartreview.org
Public Art Review's new issue, Take Action, includes "Street Stories" by Jamie Purinton and Matthew Pottenger, on "the street as open narrative"; "Finding Our Way to the Flag" by Suzanne Lacy, asking if civic discourse is art (based in part on Animating Democracy's Learning Lab); "Reimagining Cultural Policy" by Caron Atlas, proposing a policy driven by the possibilities of social change; and "Beyond the White Cube" by Grant Kester, on activist art and the legacy of the 1960s.

FREE EXPRESSION POLICY PROJECT
www.fepproject.org/
Free Expression in Arts Funding, A Public Policy Report provides a complete survey of free expression policies among state arts agencies and a random sample of local agencies. It reports on interviews with agency officials regarding artistic freedom and funding controversies and on their procedures for anticipating and handling controversy, and includes recommendations for preserving and strengthening artistic freedom in the funding process.

THE FOUNDATION CENTER
www.fdncenter.org
Its first ever Spanish-language publication, Guía para escribir propuestas, is a full translation of the Guide to Proposal Writing. This comprehensive manual offers instruction on writing successful proposals, pre-proposal planning tips, guidance from grantmakers and--exclusive to the Spanish-language edition--a list of technical assistance providers who help Spanish speakers with prospect research, proposal writing in English, and other services.

MEMPHIS MANIFESTO SUMMIT
www.memphismanifesto.com
Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class, and the "Creative 100" met May 1-2, 2003 for the Memphis Manifesto Summit to compose "a definitive report on transforming cities that want to compete for the Creative Class--young, mobile professionals--whose presence, or lack thereof, is helping to develop the future of American cities." (APINews)

THE NONPROFIT QUARTERLY
www.nonprofitquarterly.org
"Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding Nonprofit Capital Structure": Clara Miller explains the elements of capital structure and why this often-overlooked facet of financial planning deserves greater attention.
"Costs Are Cool: The Strategic Value of Economic Clarity," by Susan Colby and Abigail Rubin, looks at some of the ways economic clarity (fully understanding the true costs of providing programs and services) can inform important, stand-alone resource-allocation decisions and affect the organization as a whole, providing a building block for sound strategies.
"Cutbacks Strategy Checklist": This checklist serves as a brainstorming tool and a route to direct action for getting through tough economic times.

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS DEADLINES
www.arts.gov

Deadline: June 16, 2003. Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth (Standard Review Grants)
Deadline: August 18, 2003. Challenge America: Access to the Arts (Standard Review Grants)
Deadline: August 18, 2003. Heritage and Preservation
Deadline: February 2, 2004. Translation Projects Poetry
Deadline: March 1, 2004. Creative Writing Fiction and Non-Fiction

PARTNERS FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
www.listeningtour.org
Community Development and the Role of Culture is a new grant program inviting neighborhood-based arts organizations to apply for funding to produce a community development strategy. The purpose of the funding is to determine the role such organizations can take in mixed-income, mixed-race communities, and the role that active public space can play in assisting the transition often associated with dramatic shifts in demographics and market forces. Emphasis is on the importance of partnerships between diverse stakeholders to strengthen the position of arts organizations as conduits for civic engagement. Eight to ten planning grants of $30,000 to $37,500 will be made.

XEROX
www.freecolorprinters.com
This Xerox program makes color printers available to small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, churches, and educational institutions through an online application.

PNN ONLINE
www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=555
During these tough economic times, learn how to secure funds by showing a grantor that you can properly handle and control costs while delivering the promised services.

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JOB BOARD

COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES OF STATEN ISLAND Grants Manager (DEC Coordinator) FULL-TIME Permanent. The Council for the Art and Humanities of Staten Island (COAHSI) seeks an experienced Grants Manager to oversee its five re-granting programs, including the New York State Council on the Arts' Decentralization (DEC) regrant program. The Grants Manager reports directly to the Executive Director. Individuals familiar with Staten Island and New York City's cultural/artistic community are strongly encouraged to apply. As one of the principal nonprofit organizations of Staten Island, COAHSI values employees with a demonstrated interest in serving artists and cultural organizations for community development.

Requirements: The candidate must have exceptional administrative and communication skills, and the ability to work well with a diverse community. Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Access and Excel. Previous community work and grants administration experience preferred. This position is highly detail-oriented and requires basic financial literacy as well as excellent organization skills.
Please send or fax (no calls please) resume, cover letter and a brief writing sample to:
Grants Manager Search Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island 1000 Richmond Terrace Staten Island, NY 10301 FAX: 718-442-8572, E-Mail: ljwatters@statenislandarts.org

FLUSHING TOWN HALL Executive Director Search RE-OPENED. Effective charismatic leader needed to serve as Executive and Creative Director of award-winning Queens-based NYC arts institution with budget of $1.5M, staff of 17, 80 volunteers and active board of directors. This seasoned arts generalist must have experience in serving the needs of artists and arts organizations of diverse background through strategic alliance. Candidate must have creative programming ability in visual and performing arts, proven fundraising capability with contacts in cultural and education foundations and outstanding managerial and communications skills. Bachelor's degree essential master's preferred with a minimum of 5 years top management experience in comparably sized organization. Send cover letter and resume BY JUNE 20, to Jo-Ann Jones, Executive Director, Flushing Town Hall. 137-35 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11354.

HUNTINGTON ARTS COUNCIL Grants for the Arts Coordinator PART-TIME. The Grants Coordinator is the organization's primary manager and contact person for two regrant programs (Decentralization-NYSCA and JPMorgan Chase) and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the program, including scheduling, information dissemination, outreach and technical assistance provision. The position requires full-time hours and commitment to the job three to four times a year. The duties include guidelines development, managing the panel process, and program follow-up.
Qualifications:
Familiarity with operations of community-based not-for-profit organizations
An interest in promoting community arts activity in a variety of disciplines
Strong communication skills in relating to people of diverse backgrounds
Willingness to spend significant time traveling across the county or service area to visit artists and arts groups, attend events, and to promote the program
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage long-term projects
Ability to work independently
Computer literate, knowledge of Microsoft Word and Access a plus
Bachelor's degree or comparable experience
Please send letter, resume, and three references to:
Grants for the Arts Coordinator Search, Huntington Arts Council, 213 Main St., Huntington, NY 11743. Deadline: The position will be filled as soon as possible.

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 28-year 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.

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