September, 2004
| NEWS
FROM THE FIELD UPCOMING ALLIANCE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE NEW YORK STATE BUDGET: NYSCA Grants to the Field HELD LEVEL A NOTE ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEMBER MONEY AND GOVERNOR VETOES FROM THE UPSTATE OFFICEL Martha Strodel, Director Rural Arts Program
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Welcome
to:
Raymond F. Zaccaro who has been named as the new Executive Director
of the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts.
Kathleen Frascatore who has been named as the new Executive Director of Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts.
"MADE
IN NEW YORK: Celebrate the Arts of New York State Gala"
Copacabana
November
8, 2004
Join the Alliance as we acknowledge and honor the doers and dreamers who will receive awards this year. Special Thanks to the Gala selection committee who evaluated an unprecedented number of nominations to select:
TOVAH
FELDSHUH
arts advocate award
ANITA DURST
young
visionary award
NY1
media award
DIXON PLACE
downstate
organization award
KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART
downstate organization
award
BURCHFIELD-PENNEY ART CENTER
upstate organization award
RON
GRAHAM
M. Jacquie Lodico distinguished service award
To learn more about the honorees, visit the Alliance's Web site.
Invitations to the Gala will be mailed at the end of September, but it's not too early to begin making plans to join us at the legendary Copacabana 34th Street and 11th Avenue, NYC for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction of fine items exquisitely crafted in New York State and the awards ceremony, 6-8pm.
COMMUNITY E-INSTITUTE: APPLICATION DEADLINE September 7, 2004
The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations is proud to offer the Community E-Institute to arts leaders and/or teams of cultural community activists seeking an innovative and unique learning community to gain the skills and insight to effectively galvanize their community. The Community E-Institute is designed for arts administrators, board members, business and government leaders, and cultural activists who would like to gain new perspectives and strategies for community organizing. Participants will analyze strategic challenges based on the needs and assets of their communities. They will learn to motivate and mobilize others to realize goals and objectives, influence strategies, evaluate human and financial resources, negotiate for mutual gain, and build coalitions and partnerships. The Community E-Institute will take place in the Fall of 2004. The first in-person meetings will take place on October 5 - 7 on the beautiful Cornell campus in Ithaca. This will be followed by 6 weeks of online modules. The E-Institute will conclude with a second in person meeting in Buffalo December 1 - 3. For questions please contact Judith Weiner jkweiner@thealliancenys.org or (631) 298-1234. To apply Application: PDF, Application: Word
NEW YORK STATE BUDGET: NYSCA Grants to the Field HELD LEVEL
On
August 11, after a delay of more than 4 months, the New York State legislature
has passed the new 2004-2005 state budget, totaling $101 Billion, approximately
3 percent more than the previous State budget. The New York State Council
on the Arts budget is as follows: Aid to Localities, grant money distributed
to the field is $37.4 million, this allocation being held level from last
year. The State Purposes portion; NYSCA's administrative money is $4.921
million which is a cut of $179,000 from last year's budget.
A
NOTE ABOUT LEGISLATIVE MEMBER MONEY AND GOVERNOR VETOES
For
those of you that have an interest in Member Money, or have request(s) pending,
please note that Member items survived in the budget. Although no member money
has not yet been disbursed, it would be prudent to follow-up on your request(s)
at this time. Further, the outcome of the Governor's extensive veto list is yet
to be determined. Inevitably there will be a three way discussion: What should
be restored? Will there be a supplemental budget? Will there be over-rides? We
are in a wait and see mode.
FROM THE UPSTATE OFFICE: Martha Strodel, Director Rural Arts Program
In early August, I took a road trip that covered a good portion of upstate. I visited some Rural Partners and other rural arts organizations that had requested guidance, and visited a number of arts groups in small upstate cities. The trip was an eye-opener; most groups are financially struggling with the late state budget and reduced NYSCA monies. Other money sources are in high demand and tight supply, as older groups compete with new ones for limited funds. A number of the cities seem to be suffering too, from declining economies, job losses and a lack of vision and planning on the part of city leaders.
On their home turf, I could see how many rural arts organizations are crucial to their local economies. Some are key to downtown redevelopment; their facilities and programs attract consumers and visitors, or lead in renovating historic buildings and districts. But another interesting focus is on using the arts for job development and retraining. Arts Council for Chautauqua County has worked toward this goal for a long time. They provide equipment and facilities in media and music training and production. This month a new arts radio station will begin broadcast. As director David Schein explains: arts & entertainment & communications can provide good paying jobs.
One of David¹s goals is to educate foundations to support such efforts. But there are other ways to think about tapping new support for arts economic/job development funds. The Cultural Development Areas legislation provides for an arts/job development link; when passed, it can be creatively used to develop new funding for the arts. And groups in rural areas may find their local or county economic development agencies willing to work with them as job training sites.
Notes
from the 2004 Rural workshop series, "Empowering the Board"
In
mid-May, Susan Schear presented "The New Spirit of Collaborative Partnerships
for Non-Profits" hosted by Ulster County Arts Council. Susan started with
some definitions:
*
Collaboration is a mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship that
two or more organizations enter to work together to achieve specific results.
The relationship extends over a period of time, but the individual identities
of each organization are maintained.
* Partnership is a legally binding
agreement between two or more entities that is intended to produce benefit for
both that is shared in a predetermined way; individual identities may or may not
be maintained.
Some
suggested reasons for developing a collaboration:
* To strengthen core
competency, by blending knowledge and structure that accomplishes a task in a
unique way.
* Mandated from funding sources.
* To extend services and
programs to wider audiences and to provide a fuller continuum of services and
programs.
* To benefit jointly from shared resources and shared costs.
Some
Concerns/Fears of Collaborations:
* Loss of identity and visibility
*
Accountability, ethics and integrity of each participating organization
* Sharing
responsibility as well as power.
Elements of a Effective Collaboration:
*
Research a potential collaborator and develop a relationship with persons within
the other organization before moving forward.
* Clarity needed on each organization¹s
mission, goals, values and culture. Clarity is also needed on the mission goals,
etc. of the proposed collaboration.
* Determine the benefits and commitments
for each organization within the proposed collaboration.
* Agree to recognize
that large amounts of planning and time will be necessary for each participant,
working alone and together.
* Participants need to develop trust and respect
for each other and be willing to make the extra effort to understand and openly
communicate with each other.
* Maintain all agreements and communications
in writing.
* Follow written agendas for each meeting; provide a written summary
and follow up of meetings; create a time and action calendar for all participating
organizations and identify responsibilities and assignments of each.
* Assess
and evaluate the collaboration at intervals and at completion.
Program Director: Huntington Arts Council. The Huntington Arts Council is a not for profit community arts agency, founded in 1963. The Council serves a dual mission - providing services for member arts organizations and making the arts accessible to 250,000 community residents in suburban Long Island. The Council's programs and services include an annual summer festival, arts education programs, regional regranting, technical assistance and publications.
Job
Description: The Program Director is responsible for managing Council presenting
programs. Primary responsibilities include producing the Huntington Summer Arts
Festival, an outdoor festival featuring over 50 nightly free performances by regional
and national artists. Specific duties include reviewing & booking talent and
negotiating contracts in coordination with the Executive Director; hiring and
supervising technical crew; planning educational activities associated with festival
in coordination with AIE Director; creating the festival calendar for the Arts
Cultural News (90,000 distribution); overseeing all marketing and publicity including
creation of press releases, flyers and programs with the Marketing /Publicity
Intern; coordinating stage facility use, equipment and maintenance with the town;
managing program budget; overseeing and critiquing performances; and overseeing
volunteers and merchandising of the festival. The Program Director is also the
point person for all use and rental of the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington.
Specific duties include attending and overseeing all stage rentals and uses of
the stage by the town; arranging technical staff for events; being the contact
person with all inquiries of stage rentals and assisting in stage rental contracts;
and being the emergency contact for any problems with the stage. In addition,
the Program Director will serve on Town committees, assists with grantwriting
as it relates to programs related to the position; assists at fundraising events
and managing other projects including technical assistance workshops, and other
projects as needed. During the Huntington Summer Arts Festival, the Program Director
works a six-day work -week. Other weekend and evening work required throughout
the year to review performances and work at the Chapin Rainbow Stage for all stage
events.
Qualifications:
Minimum of three years in performing arts programming, Excellent communication
and negotiating skills, Experience working with public officials and volunteers,
Computer literacy, Superb organizational skills, Bachelor's degree
Technical
Theatre knowledge a plus
Benefits:
Health insurance, Retirement annuity (after one year), Two weeks vacation
To
apply: Send a current resume, cover letter and three references and salary requirements
to Program Director Search, Huntington Arts Council, 213 Main Street, Huntington,
NY 11743. Deadline for application is September 3, 2004. Position is available
immediately.
The Huntington Arts Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 29-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.
245
Love Lane, P.O. Box 96
Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
Phone (631) 298-1234 /
Fax (631) 298-1101