Philanthropy Front and Center-Atlanta

Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations

During Funding for Arts Month, we are continuing to offer special events and resources aimed at helping artists and nonprofit arts organizations become better grantseekers and increase their funding. 

Don’t miss our last Arts Month workshop on Thursday, October 22.  Elizabeth Labbe-Webb, VSA arts of Georgia, will present “So You Gotta Wheelchair Ramp…What Next?” This session is designed to explain the original Americans with Disabilities law and to discuss the changes that were made in January. It will explore the "why" of the ADA as well as some tried and true ways to help arts and cultural organizations deal with the "how" in their own spaces and programming. This workshop is step one for any organization or artist committed to ensuring that they continue to be leaders in the work of making the arts and culture open and inviting to underserved populations.

Listen to our interviews with leaders in the arts:

• Adam Natale, director of membership and program development at Fractured Atlas, talks about advocacy for the arts and his organization.
• Sherry Heyl, founder of Concept Hub, Inc., a social media agency in Metro Atlanta, talks about social media and her presentation during Funding for Arts Month.
• Lisa Tuttle, Fulton County Arts Council Public Art Program Education and Outreach Coordinator, talks about Fulton County's public arts program and her program on public art project proposal writing during Funding for Arts Month.
• Erik Speakman, of Speakman Management Consulting, discusses partnerships and sustainability for arts organizations and about his program on collaborations and partnerships during Funding for Arts Month.

If you are an individual artist searching for funding, we recommend our reference guides for artists, filmmakers, musicians, and writers. These guides list helpful web sites and resources available at our libraries, including:

• Battenfield, Jackie. The Artist's Guide. Da Capo Press, 2009.
  Provides advice and resources for artists in several areas including startup, marketing, exhibitions, networking, financial management, business issues, daily operations, and other topics.
• Warshawski, Morrie. Shaking the Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video Projects. 2nd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2003.
  A step-by-step guide that covers planning a project, doing research, writing a proposal, soliciting donations from individuals, and more.
• Pen Literary Awards
  This database provides a comprehensive listing of PEN's awards programs for writers working in a variety of genres. It is available for free use at the Foundation Center-Atlanta library.

Managers of arts organizations can identify useful books and articles by browsing our topical resource list Funding and Managing Arts Organizations. To find other arts-related materials that we have recently added to our library collections, search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature.

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Arts Month 2009

If you are working in the arts, I hope you were able to attend our Resource Market for the Arts this past Monday. We had a great crowd (in spite of the rainy weather!) who visted with over 25 organizations who provide resources and/or funds to artists and arts organizations.  Our handout from the market profiling the organizations who were there should be available at our web site shortly.

We also had 2 great programs last week.  On Monday our program on advocacy and the arts highlighted ways you can use advocacy to sustain your arts funding. Listen to our podcast of Adam Natale from Fractured Atlas discussing advocacy.

On Friday Sherry Heyl from Concept Hub, Inc. spoke about how to develop a communications plan for your organization using social media tools.  Listen to Sherry talk about planning for your use of social media.

Both of these programs were videotaped.  Look for them at our video archive in a few weeks.

Don’t forget to join us for this week’s programs:
Professional Growth for Individual Artists: The Business of Art
Tuesday, October 13, 5:30-7:00 pm
This session will explore information and resources to help artists increase their skills in promoting work and developing effective presentations as well as provide best advice on how to survive as an artist.

Beyond Survival: Collaboration, Partnerships and Sustainability
Thursday, October 15, 2:30-4:00 pm
Learn the essential information and practical tools needed to ensure a successful collaboration. This presentation will highlight keys to organizational sustainability for arts and cultural organizations.

Visit our calendar for information on our other Funding for Arts Month programs.

Kayron Bearden. Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta 

Funding for Arts Month Continues…

We kicked off Funding for the Arts Month this afternoon with our annual Resource Market for the Arts.  Over 25 organizations who provide services and/or funding for artists and arts organizations were at the Rialto to share information about their programs.

Attendees were also treated to an informative presentation about using advocacy to sustain your arts organization.  Speakers Adam Natale, Fractured Atlas, and Jan Selman, ALL-GA, did a great job of helping us understand how to advocate for our organizations or issues. If you weren’t able to attend the workshop, don’t despair—we videotaped it, and the video will be available in our video archive in a few weeks.

Join us at our upcoming arts month programs:

• Developing Your Communication Plan for Social Media, October 9, 11:00 am-12:30 pm
  Learn how to direct your organization's social media endeavors and how to develop a more effective communications plan. 
• Professional Growth for Individual Artists: The Business of Art, October 13, 5:30-7:00 pm
  This session will explore information and resources to help artists increase their skills in promoting work and developing effective presentations and provide best advice on how to survive as an artist. 
• Beyond Survival: Collaboration, Partnerships and Sustainability, October 15, 2:00-3:30 pm
  This presentation will highlight keys to organizational sustainability for arts and cultural organizations. Attendees will also learn the essential information and practical tools needed to ensure a successful collaboration. 
• Public Art Project Proposal Writing, October 20, 6:30-8:00 pm
  Learn how to write a well-developed, clear and organized public art proposal. This presentation will offer insight into the proposal writing and commission selection process. 
• So You Gotta Wheelchair Ramp…What Next?, October 22, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
  This session is designed to explain the original Americans with Disabilities Act and to discuss the changes that were made in January 2009. It will explore the "why" of the ADA as well as some tried and true ways to help arts and cultural . 

Visit our calendar to register for these and our other classes in October.

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Resource Market for the Arts on October 5!

October is Funding for the Arts Month here at the Foundation Center-Atlanta.The kick-off event for the month will be a Resource Market for the Arts—a day to network with peers and learn about available funding, resources and services. Join us on Monday October 5 for the Market where representatives of local organizations who fund the arts and/or provide services to arts organizations will be available to answer your questions about their programs and chat one-on-one.

Preceding the Market at 12:00 pm, Adam Natale, Director of Membership and Program Development,  Fractured Atlas, and Jan Selman, Executive Director, ALL-Georgia, will discuss how advocacy can sustain funding for the arts.  Find out how you CAN influence politicians' decisions about the arts and how to wield your power and successfully advocate for arts funding and increase awareness of the impact of the arts and culture on communities.

Topics will include:
• Why advocacy is important for culture and arts nonprofits at the legislative and community levels
• Tips for strategic and effective advocacy
• Creating advocacy action plans

Listen to our podcast with Adam Natale about advocacy and about his organization.

When:
Monday, October 5, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 pm  Resource Market for the Arts:   
12-1:30 pm  Sustaining Arts Funding Through Advocacy:  

Where:
Rialto Center for the Arts
at Georgia State University
80 Forsyth Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303

These events are cosponsored by the Foundation Center-Atlanta, Fulton County Arts Council, Alternate ROOTS, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Council for the Arts, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and Southern Arts Federation.

Visit our calendar to register for our other programs and events in October:
•  Developing Your Communication Plan for Social Media, October 9, 11:00 am-12:30 pm
•  Professional Growth for Individual Artists: The Business of Art, October 13, 5:30-7:00 pm
•  Beyond Survival: Collaboration, Partnerships and Sustainability, October 15, 2:00-3:30 pm
•  Public Art Project Proposal Writing, October 20, 6:30-8:00 pm
•  So You Gotta Wheelchair Ramp...What Next?, October 22, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Resource Market for the Arts

Join us on Monday, October 5, from 1-3 pm at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University for our annual Resource Market for the Arts.  Over 25 agencies who provide resources, services and/or funding to arts organizations and artists will be available to describe their services and answer your questions. 

Preceding the Market at 12:00 pm, Adam Natale, director of membership and program development at Fractured Atlas, and Jan Selman, executive director of the Arts Leadership League of Georgia (ALL-GA), will present Sustaining Your Arts Organization Through Advocacy. Learn how to bolster your organization's case for funding through arts promotion and advocacy. The discussion will include why advocacy is important for culture and arts nonprofits at the legislative and community levels, tips for strategic and effective advocacy, and creating advocacy action plans.

Check our October calendar for information about our other programs during Funding for Arts Month in October. And at our web site you'll find Focus on Arts Funding — a "one-stop shop" of free, easily accessible information including an interactive U.S. map of arts grantmaking, podcasts, research reports, and helpful links.

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Coming in October: Our Funding for Arts Month

Throughout October, the Foundation Center is celebrating Funding for the Arts Month!
Join us to learn more about arts funding at special events, free classes, and webinars. 

Visit our October calendar to register for upcoming programs. You might also want to subscribe to Arts Funding Watch, our free e-alert service featuring recent grants and news in the arts. At our web site you'll find Focus on Arts Funding — a "one-stop shop" of free, easily accessible information including an interactive U.S. map of arts grantmaking, podcasts, research reports, and helpful links.

The kick-off event for the month will be a Resource Market for the Arts—a day to network with peers and learn about available funding, resources and services. There's information for everyone!

When:

Monday, October 5, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 pm

Where:

Rialto Center for the Arts
at Georgia State University
80 Forsyth Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Preceding the Market at 12:00 pm, Adam Natale, Director of Membership and Program Development, Fractured Atlas, and Jan Selman, Executive Director, ALL-Georgia, will discuss how advocacy can sustain funding for the arts.

Visit our calendar to register for our other programs and events in October:

• Developing Your Communication Plan for Social Media, October 9, 11:00 am-12:30 pm
• Professional Growth for Individual Artists: The Business of Art, October 13, 5:30-7:00 pm
• Beyond Survival: Collaboration, Partnerships and Sustainability, October 15, 2:00-3:30 pm
• Public Art Project Proposal Writing, October 20, 6:30-8:00 pm

The Resource Market is co-sponsored by The Foundation Center-Atlanta, Fulton County Arts Council, Alternate ROOTS, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Council for the Arts, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and Southern Arts Federation.

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Resource Market for the Arts

October is Funding for Arts and Humanities Month at the Foundation Center-Atlanta.

The kick-off event for the month will be a Resource Market for the Arts—a day to network with peers and learn about available funding, resources and services. There's information for everyone!

Preceding the Market at 12:00 pm, Adam Natale, Director of Membership and Program Development, Fractured Atlas, and Jan Selman, Executive Director, ALL-Georgia, will discuss how advocacy can sustain funding for the arts.

When:

Monday, October 5, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 pm

Where:

Rialto Center for the Arts
at Georgia State University
80 Forsyth Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Visit our calendar to register for our other programs and events in October: 

•  Developing Your Communication Plan for Social Media, October 9, 11:00 am-12:30 pm
•  Professional Growth for Individual Artists: The Business of Art, October 13, 5:30-7:00 pm
•  Beyond Survival: Collaboration, Partnerships and Sustainability, October 15, 2:00-3:30 pm
•  Public Art Project Proposal Writing, October 20, 6:30-8:00 pm

These events are cosponsored by the Foundation Center-Atlanta, Fulton County Arts Council, Alternate ROOTS, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Council for the Arts, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and Southern Arts Federation.

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Local and National Funds Addressing the Arts Crisis

Although the economic crisis is impacting every sector, the arts community seems to be especially hard hit.  Declining philanthropic dollars and earned income (ticket sales) have been a double whammy on the arts sector.  All is not lost, however; there is some light in the dark tunnel. 

Atlanta Arts Recovery Initiative
In June, The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, a partnership of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, announced the Atlanta Arts Recovery initiative, a two-year, $2.5 million program designed to keep metro Atlanta’s small and midsized arts organizations stable as they face the turbulent economy and unpredictable financial challenges. The Initiative builds on the Arts Fund’s previous program of grantmaking, management consulting and loans to strengthen arts organizations.  It includes two grant cycles each year in 2009 and 2010 with each cycle distributing $500,000 in general operating support.

Already, the Arts Fund has awarded $500,000 to 11 organizations during its spring grant cycle.  Recipients include: Actor’s Express, Atlanta Celebrates Photography, Atlanta Chamber Players,
Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County, Dad’s Garage Theatre Company, Georgia Shakespeare, Madison Morgan Cultural Center, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Theatre in the Square,
True Colors Theatre Company, and Youth Ensemble of Atlanta.  You can find information about the organizations and grant amounts at the Arts Fund web site.

It is too late to apply this year, but it’s not too early to begin planning for the 2010 grant cycle. 

Arts Stabilization Toolbox and Arts Loan Fund
The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund is continuing its Arts Stabilization Toolbox awards, which are awards of management consulting projects that help organizations implement scenario planning, update strategic plans, build stronger boards and improve financial plans. Further, changes to the Arts Loan Fund program will increase the maximum size of loans from $25,000 to $40,000 and extend the timeframe that organizations have to pay back loans.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The Recovery Act has appropriated $50 million in funds to The National Endowment for the Arts to be distributed in direct grants to fund art projects and activities that preserve jobs threatened by the current recession.  Nine Georgia arts organizations will receive a total of $625,000 through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These organizations include:  Atlanta Ballet, Inc., Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Inc., Center for Puppetry Arts, Fulton County Arts Council, National Black Arts Festival, Phoenix Theatre Academy, Inc., Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center, Inc., Sautee Nacoochee Community Association, Inc., and Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia.  You can find details at the NEA web site.

Funding for the  Arts Month in October 2009
Join us in October for our Funding for the Arts Month Activities as we present free classes, workshops, and podcasts aimed at helping artists and nonprofit arts organizations.  Our kickoff event will be our annual Resource Market for the Arts on Monday, October 5, at the Rialto Center for the Arts.  Visit our calendar for information about our other programs in October.

Pattie Johnson, Director, Foundation Center – Atlanta

NEA Survey of Public Participation in the Arts

Periodically, the National Endowment for the Arts has looked at arts participation in the United States in partnership with the U. S. Census Bureau.  It has just published its latest survey, Arts Participation 2008: Highlights from a National Survey—a statistical snapshot of engagement in the U.S. with the arts by frequency and activity type.

The survey is not designed to determine why arts participation increases or decreases from survey to survey—but rather to look at how arts participation is affected by social, cultural, or economic patterns or by policies and programs in the arts arena.  The 2008 survey results present an especially challenging question: how did the economic downturn affect participation in the arts?

When the survey was conducted in May 2008, the recession, although not officially declared, had already made travel and other costs a problem for many Americans.  Although the survey cannot prove that weak consumer spending had a direct impact on participation in the arts, the survey results do show that adult attendance at arts events declined for almost every art form in 2008 as compared to the last survey in 2002.

The report presents charts and tables representing the results of the survey and reports some key findings, including:

1 in 3 adults attended an arts museum or an arts performance in the 12-month survey period.
Smaller percentages of adults attended performing arts events than in previous years.
Long-term trends suggest fundamental shifts in the relationship between age and arts attendance.

For more information about these and other key findings of the survey, read the report.

Does your experience with arts participation reflect these findings? Let us know.

Kayron Bearden, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta

Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund Launches Arts Recovery Initiative

by Josh Phillipson

Arts organizations are continuing to have difficulty making ends meet across our region and the country, and while donors are digging deep to support human services and emergency assistance, the arts are seen as superfluous and not as important. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta believes arts are absolutely essential to a healthy community, which is why they created the  Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund in the first place back in 1992.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund is a partnership between the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta providing support to small and midsized arts organizations in a 23-county region. Since 1993, the Arts Fund has funded more than $7 million in grants and management consulting awards to 84 arts organizations, creating more than 50 new staff positions in arts groups across the region.

To get more support directly in the hands of the arts community, the Arts Fund has launched the $2.5 million Atlanta Arts Recovery initiative to support small and midsized arts organizations with general operating support, management consulting and loans during the economic crisis. Initial funders include the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, the Kendeda Fund, Zeist Foundation and Bank of America. The Arts Fund also announced its first round of 2009 grants in the region.

Expanding on the Arts Fund’s previous program of grantmaking, management consulting and loans to strengthen arts organizations, the Atlanta Arts Recovery initiative will include two grant cycles each year in 2009 and 2010 with each cycle distributing $500,000 in general operating support. Professional consulting projects through the Arts Stabilization Toolbox awards will help organizations implement scenario planning, update strategic plans, build stronger boards and improve financial plans. In addition, the Arts Loan Fund will increase the maximum size of loans from $25,000 to $40,000 and extend the timeframe that organizations have to pay back loans. The Arts Fund is encouraging arts organizations to consider implementation of new program or operating models that help them adapt to the new economic environment.

You can find more information about the initiative in a recent article in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution or at the Arts Fund web site.

Josh Phillipson is a program associate with the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund.