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Schedule
Changing Communities/Evolving Best Practices:
Innovations from United Arts Funds
United Arts Funds Preconference
June 1–2, 2006
Milwaukee, WI
UAF Preconference

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Thursday, June 1, 2006
8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Registration, Bookstore, Technology Center, and Exhibits Open
9:30 a.m.–11:45 a.m.

UAF 101: Establishing an Effective United Arts Fund (OPTIONAL)
UAF managers discuss logistics of start up as well as actual problems faced by established UAFs. Simultaneous session of BVA 101

Presenters: Alecia Townsend, Deputy Director, Greater Hartford Arts Council, and Jeff Hawthorne, Director of Community Affairs, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland, OR

12:00 p.m.–12:15 p.m.

Official Welcome
Presenters: Christine Harris, President, United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee, WI, and 2006 United Arts Funds Preconference Chair; Margot H. Knight, President and CEO, United Arts of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, and 2006 United Arts Fund Council Chair; and Naomi Sheridan, Executive Director, Business Arts Council, San Francisco, CA, and BVA Affiliate Chair

[Joint session with Arts & Business Councils/Business Volunteers for the Arts meeting attendees]

12:15 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Research Report: What Do We Know About Who We Are and What We Do? What Do We Need to Know?
Join Randy I. Cohen, Vice President, Research and Information, Americans for the Arts, Washington, DC, as he presents new statistics for both groups on 2005 activities and addresses broader issues of private-sector support. The session will end with brainstorming what we need in terms of next steps in research.

[Joint session with Arts & Business Councils/Business Volunteers for the Arts meeting attendees]

1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Networking Lunch
2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m.

The Importance of Relevant Messaging (Part One): The Big Picture—Making the Case for the Arts
How can we make an effective case for the value of the arts to business communities at large? Join a discussion on the “Grow Wisconsin Creatively” PSA campaign currently making the case in Wisconsin with Anne Katz, Executive Director, Arts Wisconsin, Madison, WI, and Jim Armstrong, Creative Director of Good for Business, Madison, WI.

[Joint session with Arts & Business Councils/Business Volunteers for the Arts meeting attendees]

3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

The Importance of Relevant Messaging (Part Two): The Local Level—Making the Case for Your United Arts Fund.
The balance between communicating the UAF value and the arts message itself will be presented and discussed with field samples of UAF case statements and public messaging. Representatives from Ellingsen-Brady, the creative agency for the United Performing Arts Fund will participate.

Moderator: Margot H. Knight, President and CEO, United Arts of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Joint Preconference Opening Reception
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Take the opportunity to get in the swing of things and attend the preconference reception in the gallery of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, one of the country’s leading visual arts colleges. Sip some wine, nosh on appetizers, then explore Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. The appearance of this turn-of-the-century warehouse and manufacturing district may fool you at first, but behind the historic facades lie Milwaukee’s best-kept secrets. Here you will find the highest concentration of art galleries in the city, plus antique shops, restaurants and night spots, unique specialty stores, architects, advertising agencies, graphic designers, and artists. The Third Ward is also home to Milwaukee’s Public Market, the William F. Eisnar Museum of Advertising and Design, and the Broadway Theater complex.
Friday, June 2, 2006
8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Registration, Bookstore, Technology Center, and Exhibits Open
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.

A Corporate Conversation: The Changing Dynamics of Corporate Giving
What is the corporate donor looking for today and why? How does the corporate donor monitor and measure impact of their support? How does the corporation view a united fund campaign versus direct group funding?

Presenter: Edward J. Zore, President and CEO of Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee, WI

[Joint session with Arts & Business Councils/Business Volunteers for the Arts meeting attendees]

10:15 a.m.–11:10 a.m.

Relationship between Arts Groups and their UAFs
What is the nature of these relationships? How do they differ by size of group? Where do we lead and where do we stand back? How are they evolving? How do arts groups view their relationships to United Arts Funds? What is the difference in perceptions among large, medium, and smaller arts groups? Executive directors from various-sized arts groups and representatives from UAFs discuss the issues.

Moderator: Christine Harris, President, United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee, WI

11:20 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Allocation Methodology: Changing Approaches
This session reviews how we make decisions about allocation of grant-making funds. What are the trends, problems, and issues we must grapple with? What is our responsibility to communicate this process? New research on allocations initiated by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia will be presented by Beth Richards, Consultant for Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, PA.

Moderator: Jim Clark, President and CEO, Lexington Arts and Cultural Council, Lexington, KY

12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

Keynote Luncheon: Tim Decker, Creative Director and former award-winning Animation Director/Art Manager of Disney Interactive/Buena Vista Games
So, we think we're in the business of creativity? Exploring how we as arts groups and as individuals can better capture and deliver a creative advantage to our communities. Discover together how the arts sector can truly be in partnership with the business sector in expanding the role and value of creativity and innovation. Learn how to "be" in the creative process in our own business. Finally, enjoy your own artistic expression in a surprise activity!

[Joint session with Arts & Business Councils/Business Volunteers for the Arts meeting attendees]

2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m.

Volunteer Development
This session looks at the work of volunteer cultivation, from single-event volunteer, to BVA, to campaign manager, to board member. How can volunteers be groomed throughout the period of engagement with the organization? What are the trends in voluntarism that we need to understand?

Presenters: Karen Davis, President and CEO, Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, PA, and Patrick Rath, Vice President of Development/Campaign Director, United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee, WI

[Joint session with Arts & Business Councils/Business Volunteers for the Arts meeting attendees]

3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

The Role of Diversity and Regionalism
If we are to increase our funding base, the wholesale changes to today’s communities must be reflected in the people who play a role in the arts community.

Presenters: Mary McCullough-Hudson, President and CEO, and Vanessa White, Director of Community Engagement & Diversity, Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund, Cincinnati, OH

4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Evolving our Relevance
The role and responsibility of UAFs to measure our impact based on changing environmental demands. How do we measure our impact? Do we need a community definition of the value of the arts, a la United Way’s community impact? If environmental changes make us less relevant, do we diminish or fade, or do we simply evolve to maintain our relevance?

Moderator: Christine Harris, President, United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee, WI

5:30 p.m. Adjournment

For more information about this program or any Americans for the Arts programs and services, please contact us by e-mail or call us at 202.371.2830