June, 2005

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Congratulations to Alliance Associate Director, Pat Berman, who received a scholarship to participate in "Leading the Charge", the Americans for the Arts 2005 Annual Convention. The convention is taking place in Austin, TX, from June 11-13, 2005.

Top

CELEBRATE THE ARTS GALA: CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

For the past fourteen years, the Alliance has acknowledged significant contributions towards advancing cultural development in New York State at a Gala Awards Ceremony. These awards recognize organizations and individuals who contribute significantly to the rich landscape that make New York the State of the Arts.

We invite nominations for awards in the following categories: Upstate and Downstate Organization and the M. Jacquie Lodico Distinguished Service Award. The awards will be presented at the Celebrate the Arts in New York State Gala, which will take place November 7. 2005, at the Copacabana, 560 West 34th Street New York City. To nominate an organization or individual, please respond by 5pm July 1, 2005. This is a wonderful opportunity to promote your organization, your supporters and your partners. Self nominations are welcome.

Top

ALLIANCE REGIONAL MEETING FOCUS GROUP SCHEDULE

The Alliance is convening Focus groups throughout the state through the Regional Captain Network as the next step in the comprehensive Cultural Needs Assessment for New York State. Meetings have already taken place in the North County and the Capital District. The schedule of the remaining meetings follows.

For additional information, or to attend one of the meetings, please contact Pat Berman at the Alliance office: 631-298-1234 or PKBARTS@aol.com

Top

FAST FORWARD: Framing the Future- GLENS FALLS, NY/SEPTEMBER 12-13 BY INVITATION…………. OR APPLICATION

Invitations are being mailed to Alliance members and selected arts leaders for Fast Forward: Framing the Future, a think tank session designed to inform and potentially transform our statewide arts community. This gathering will feature speakers and panelists of note who will document the current funding climate and present a number of challenges and opportunities facing our diverse constituency. This informative session is designed to stimulate dialogue and discourse necessary for creating new paradigms and planning for a vital future for the arts industry designed to stabilize, grow and secure the role of the arts in communities in New York State.

It will take place September 12 and 13 in Glens Falls, New York, hosted by Patricia Joyce and the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council at the lovely Queensbury Hotel. We expect an RSVP by July 15, 2005. If you do not receive an invitation, but feel you'd like to attend, please contact Pat Berman at the Alliance office (631) 298-1234 or PKBARTS@aol.com, for an application.

Top

ARTS CAUCUS AMENDMENT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE

May 19, for the first time in six years, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a floor amendment to increase federal funding for the arts and humanities by simple voice vote, with traditional opponents of the cultural agencies not even bothering to mount an opposition. The amendment specifically allocates a funding increase of $10 million to the NEA's Challenge America program and $5 million to the NEH's We the People initiative. Consideration of the funding increase will now move to the U.S. Senate, where advocacy efforts will be made to match this funding level.

Top

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

Alliance Rural Workshops 2005: Empowering Your Organization

Rural Workshops 2005: The last workshop in this series is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15th at Kirkland Art Center in Clinton, NY. "Capital Campaigns" will feature Raona Roy, President of the Arts Center for the Capital Region; Ron Thiele, Director of Central New York Community Arts Council (CNYCAC) and CNYCAC Board President Susan Matt. This workshop will offer plenty of opportunity to ask questions and get answers about running successful capital campaigns. The workshop will run 4 - 6 pm and is hosted by Kirkland Art Center located on Park Row in Clinton,NY. Cost is $10 per organization. To register, call KAC at 315-853-8871 or email them at: kacinc@adelphia.net. Light refreshments will be served.

The other workshops in this year's series provided helpful information to questions that organizations need to address in today's world of decreasing finances and increasing competition. If you would like workshop handout materials from any of these workshops (see below), please let me know. (mstrodel@nycap.rr.com) I'll be glad to mail this information to you.

"Innovative Collaborations" with Susan Koblin Schear. The handout material provides a guide to understanding the process of successful collaborations with a look into the benefits and challenges that collaborations provide.

"Vision, Visibility and Vitality: Building A Vibrant Community Identity" with Carol Jeschke. For this workshop, a self-analysis survey on membership was developed and refined with workshop participants' input. This has been posted to the Alliance website
(www.thealliancenys.org) if you would like a tool to begin reviewing your membership program. Carol also developed a solid research packet that includes guidance on selecting useful software for nonprofit organizations.

"Becoming Donor Worthy" with Anne Ackerson explores the importance of organizations getting their "house" in order to successfully go after donor funds, the role of the board in this process, guidance on effective fundraising and a sample metric (measurable) system to analyze the status of an organization's donor worthiness.

Top

OPPORTUNTIES RECOMMENDED BY AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS

TOOLS TO IMPROVE CULTURAL TOURISM
http://cac.ca.gov/ami/ct/index.php

Arts Marketing Institute Fellow Felicia Shaw has created a web primer on how communities can begin developing their cultural heritage assets to increase tourism. It has handy features such as tools to identify a community's cultural assets; how to measure readiness to launch a cultural tourism campaign; tips on how to shape a story that will capture visitors' imaginations; and how to get organized, find partners, build infrastructure, and market and promote your brand identity to finally welcome new visitors. Plus, there's a comprehensive list of professional associations and service organizations.

EMERGING LEADERS INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM
http://www.socialedge.org/?13@@.3c431ead
Deadline: August 15, 2005. The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society is now accepting applications for its Emerging Leaders International Fellows program. The program provides leadership training through applied research and professional mentorship for young scholar-practitioners in the nonprofit sector. The program is open to individuals under the age of 36 who are interested in building third-sector capacity in the United States and overseas.

NOMINATIONS UNDER WAY FOR BUSINESS COMMITTEE
FOR THE ARTS' 10 BEST LIST
Deadline: open. Business Committee for the Arts (BCA) is creating a 10 Best List to recognize exemplary business support to the arts. The first ever of its type, the list is sponsored by Forbes Magazine. E-mail to bestlist@bcainc.org to request a nomination brochure and form. Nominations for the BCA's list opened in April. The list will be announced on October 5, 2005, during a national recognition event to be held at the Ruin Museum of Art in New York.

CREATIVE ASSETS: SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR ARTS MANAGEMENT
http://www.umass.edu/aes/
Dates: June 20-22, 2005. Creative Assets: Summer Institute for Arts Management will be held in Amherst and North Adams, MA. This year's summer program will feature an exciting partnership with the Center for Creative Community Development (C3D) and MASS MoCA. C3D will be hosting on Tuesday, June 21, 2005, for a day in the field in North Adams, MA where we will see, feel, and experience and experience the intertwined stories of a community and its major arts center. Choose from three program tracks: Fundamentals of Arts Management, tools and professional skills that can help your organization reach its goals; It's About People, cross-.cultural communications and personal effectiveness; and The Creative Community, cultural assets and healthy communities.

Top

JOB BOARD

Delaware Valley Arts Alliance is seeking a part-time Gallery Director for a
year-round program of exhibitions. The gallery director is the primary liaison between the artists community, DVAA staff and board and the general public. The position has a mid-July start date. Candidates should have strong background in contemporary art as well as organizational, writing and public relations skills. A working knowledge of word processing, internet and database is required. Experience with sales helpful. Duties include installing/hanging monthly exhibitions; hosting openings; writing press releases; coordinating art work for press and for printed invitations; preparing support material for grants; assembling jurors; tracking sales/payments to artists. Send letter of interest and résumés to: DVAA Search, P.O. Box 170, Narrowsburg, NY 12764.

Top

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 30-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