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americans for the arts news
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Private Sector Blog Salon, Week of March 8
March 08, 2010—All this week on ARTSblog, the Private Sector Initiatives team at Americans for the Arts is leading a special blog salon. Follow the Private Sector Blog Salon from March 8-12 as more than twenty leaders from across the country discuss issues related to private sector giving and the arts.
Join bloggers Janet Brown, Colin Tweedy, Larry Thompson, Mark Brewer, Mary Trudel, John Killacky and many others in discussing why and how the private sector supports the arts. We’re hoping that these discussions will be provocative and inspire some new thinking on the future of arts support.
Visit http://blog.artsusa.org/category/private-sector/ to be part of the conversation.
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Chart the Future with Green Papers
February 25, 2010— As a way to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years in the arts field, Americans for the Arts has collected Green Papers from a variety of national arts service organizations and peer groups representing more than 20 different perspectives and disciplines. These Green Papers are short, easy to read, visions of the future meant to inspire a nationwide dialogue on the future of the arts. You can participate in one or more conversation topics by visiting the Green Papers section of the ARTSblog at http://blog.artsusa.org/category/greenpapers/.
Green Papers are a chance for you to talk about a particular discipline or interest area in a facilitated, open forum. Each participating organization who authored a Green Paper also selected an emerging leader Ambassador to facilitate discussion about the related Paper. The Green Papers ambassadors will continue this dialogue throughout the year--capturing and synthesizing the ideas, changes, and themes that arise from online discussions. Ambassadors will be led by a group facilitator, Eric Booth, and at the end of the year, new Green Papers will emerge that will reflect the overarching changes and ideas proposed through this open forum.
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Funding Changes for the Arts
February 01, 2010—Today the White House released President Obama's budget recommendations for FY 2011. Below is a statement from Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts on arts and arts education funding in the budget:
“At a time when the Americans for the Arts National Arts Index shows that because of the current economy support for the arts is at its lowest point in a decade, arts organizations have been relying on one area where funding has been on the increase—the leveraging power of federal funding for the arts and humanities. The Administration’s FY 2011 budget request of $161.3 million for the National Endowment for the Arts—while just a fraction of the $6.3 billion of direct expenditures for all arts nonprofits in the U.S.—is unfortunately a $6 million decrease from what Congress appropriated for FY 2010. We now turn to Congress to continue its investment trend in providing additional appropriations for the NEA. The FY 2011 NEA budget also includes an announcement of a new agency program called Our Town. We are excited to see that this important initiative is designed to strengthen communities through the arts. The backbone for the arts starts at the local level and having the federal government strategically invest in this kind community-based direction will spur further support for the arts. But why hamper the potential impact of this new initiative by reducing the NEA’s overall budget?
“The President’s budget also includes a number of new proposals to strengthen our education system and build a 21st workforce. However, the consolidation of the Arts in Education (AIE) program within the Department of Education’s new ‘Effective Teaching and Learning for Well-Rounded Education’ category puts us at unease and could lead to a diminished focus on arts education. This consolidation of the only identified arts-specific education program at the Department of Education seems to be in contradiction to the Administration’s previous strong vocal support of the arts. While the total available AIE grant funds are unknown at this time, it is an unbeneficial move at a time when arts education cuts are happening across the country. The arts are a proven integral part of every child’s development, preparing them for school, work, and life in the competitive 21st century global economy.
“The nation’s creative industries and arts workers are ready to continue to play their role in assisting with economic recovery, job training and creation, and the development of a well-rounded education that includes robust learning in the arts in order to provide workers of tomorrow with the creative and innovative skills they need today. The 5.7 million jobs and $166 billion in economic impact from the nonprofit arts sector alone hang in the balance. Further commitment from the federal government is needed to allow these groups to reach their full potential.”
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Young Professional Development Opportunities
January 25, 2010— Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce that Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has renewed its support for Americans for the Arts' Professional Development Fund for Emerging Arts Leaders of Color. A total of five Joyce Fellows from the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) will be selected to participate in this program.
Fellows will receive stipends of $3,000 to support their attendance at the 2010 Americans for the Arts Half-Century Summit, 2010 National Arts Marketing Project Conference, and Arts Advocacy Day 2011. In addition, fellows will have special opportunities to meet field leaders, work alongside mentors, and receive individualized career coaching.
In order for our sector to remain healthy and vibrant, we need to ensure that we are identifying and retaining young professionals within our workforce. Further, we need to actively cultivate, expand and support talented, culturally diverse, emerging leaders. Based upon recommendations from the Emerging Leaders Council, Americans for the Arts has been working to enable more emerging leaders to fully participate in national meetings and events for their own development and so they can connect with the broader community of arts professionals from across the country. Therefore, this Professional Development Fund has been designed to target an important segment of our workforce: emerging arts leaders of color.
Download application materials and eligibility information here, or for more information contact Stephanie Evans at leadership@artsusa.org or by phone at 202-371-2830 ext 2036.
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First National Arts Index Measures Health and Vitality of the Arts
January 20, 2010—Americans for the Arts today announced the National Arts Index at a press conference held at the National Press Club and kicking-off its 50th anniversary year. The National Arts Index is the first study designed to measure the health and vitality of the arts industries in the United States. The National Arts Index is composed of 76 national-level research indicators produced by the federal government and private research organizations.
 The National Arts Index fell 4 points in 2008 to a score of 98.4, reflecting losses in charitable giving and declining attendance at larger cultural institutions, even as the number of arts organizations grew. The 2008 downturn in the Index was not wholly unexpected. With 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations and 600,000 more arts-related businesses, 2.24 million artists in the workforce, and billions of dollars in consumer spending, the arts industries largely track the nation’s business cycle. Want to Learn More
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US Conference of Mayors Honors the Arts
January 21, 2010— Today, Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors presented the 2010 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and musician Michael Feinstein. The awards honor elected officials and artists that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts.
- Gov. Kulongoski receives the 2010 Award for State Arts Leadership for advancing both policy and budget initiatives that brand culture and creative endeavors as critical to the state’s economy and future.
- Mayor Hannemann receives the 2010 Award for Local Arts Leadership for creating opportunities to use the arts as a catalyst for economic development and community revitalization in Honolulu.
- Michael Feinstein receives the 2010 Award for Artist-Citizen. He is a multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” and is considered one of the premiere interpreters of American popular song.
This evening, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is also honoring Americans for the Arts with the President’s Award. The award is in honor of Americans for the Arts’ 50 years of outstanding work in promoting, serving, and advancing arts and culture throughout the country.
For more information about both awards, visit the online press room.
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PSA Featured on MTV Screen in Time Square!
January 12, 2010— This week, The Arts. Ask for More. PSA campaign’s Brahms Breakfast PSA will be running on the MTV 44 ½ screen located in Times Square. This is a fantastic way to get the word out to the public about the importance of arts education in kids’ lives. If you find yourself in Times Square this week, stop for a moment and look for the ad which will be playing at :10, :20, :30, :40 minutes after the hour every hour. The MTV 44 ½ screen is directly across from the MTV studios.
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New Chair of BCA Executive Board Named
January 08, 2010—Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a division of Americans for the Arts, announces the selection of Joseph C. Dilg, Managing Partner of Vinson & Elkins LLP, to serve as chairman of BCA’s Executive Board. The BCA Executive Board is a 14-member group of corporate leaders who provide leadership and expertise on key BCA initiatives including messaging, advocacy, and strategic alliances within the private-sector community. He succeeds J. Barry Griswell, former chairman of the Principal Financial Group and president of The Des Moines Foundation, who is stepping down after three years of service as chair.
Mr. Dilg is Managing Partner of Vinson & Elkins LLP, one of the world’s leading energy law firms and is based in Houston, TX. He joined the BCA Executive Board in 2002 and serves on its nominating committee. Vinson & Elkins was honored by BCA in 2005 as one of the inaugural BCA TEN companies for the firm’s support of the arts among its employees and service to the Houston arts community.
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Councils Elect Members
December 15, 2009—The Arts Education, Emerging Leader, and Public Art networks of Americans for the Arts announce the election of new members to serve on their advisory councils.
ARTS EDUCATION COUNCIL
- Ron Jones - Dean of the College of the Arts, University of South Florida - Tampa, FL
- Stephanie Riven - Director, Center of Creative Arts - St. Louis, MO
- Victoria J. Saunders - Victoria J. Saunders Consulting - San Diego, CA
- Donna Collins (re-elected)- Executive Director, Ohio Alliance for Arts Education - Columbus, OH
- Steven Tennen (re-elected) - Executive Director, Arts Connection - New York, NY
EMERGING LEADER COUNCIL
- Michelle Grove - Events and Grants Manager, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County - Silver Spring, MD
- Letitia Ivins - Civic Art Coordinator, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Civic Art Program - Los Angeles, CA
- Charles Jensen - Director, The Writer’s Center - Bethesda, MD
- Gabriela Jirasek - Marketing and New Media Associate, Chicago Humanities Festival - Chicago, IL
- Ian David Moss - Blogger, Createquity.com - Providence, RI
- Scarlett Swerdlow - Advocacy and Communications Director, Arts Alliance Illinois - Chicago, IL
- Bettina Swigger - Executive Director, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region - Colorado Springs, CO
PUBLIC ART NETWORK COUNCIL
- Renee Piechocki - Artist/Public Art Consultant - Pittsburgh, PA
- Lajos Héder - Environmental Artist/Architect, Harries/Héder - Cambridge, MA
- Martha Peters (re-elected) - Vice President, Public Art, Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
For more information on the council elections, please visit the press room.
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Ruth Lilly, Arts Patron, Passes Away
December 31, 2009—The Board and Staff of Americans for the Arts are saddened to share the news that Ruth Lilly, noted philanthropist and arts patron, died on Dec 30 at age 94. Ms. Lilly was a lifelong supporter of the arts, in both her home state of Indiana and throughout the country. In 2002 Ms. Lilly generously presented a $120 million gift to Americans for the Arts.
"The selfless vision and generosity of Ms. Ruth Lilly has benefitted numerous arts groups, artists, and cultural audiences across the United states. Her extraordinary gift to Americans for the Arts allowed us to greatly expand our work in serving nonprofit arts groups and local arts agencies, as well as advancing the arts for all. She will be deeply missed." said Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.
Ruth Lilly was the last surviving great-grandchild of pharmaceutical magnate Eli Lilly. Over the course of her life, Lilly gave away the bulk of her inheritance; an estimated $800 million reported USA Today. A great deal of her philanthropic focus was given to institutions in her native Indiana. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said Lilly ''personified the family tradition of overwhelming generosity and special devotion to the state of Indiana.'' ''Her countless gifts will keep on giving for generations,'' he said.
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