September, 2005

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Best wishes to James Jordan, who has retired as Director of the Music Program at the New York State Council on the Arts. (see job board)

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ALLIANCE COPACAGALA 2005: Celebrate the Arts in New York State

Join the Alliance and honorary gala chairman Richard J. Schwartz on November 7, 2005 as we acknowledge and honor the doers and dreamers who will receive awards this year:

HON. LOUISE SLAUGHTER
arts advocate award
THEODORE BERGER
lifetime achievement award
POETS & WRITERS
downstate organization award
ARTS CENTER OF SCHENECTADY-PROCTOR'S THEATRE
upstate organization award
QUANG BAO
M. Jacquie Lodico distinguished service award
MARVIN LEFFLER
Board Leadership Award

Invitations to the Gala will be mailed in September, but it's not too early to begin making plans to join us November 7, 2005 at the legendary Copacabana 34th Street and 11th Avenue, NYC for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and the awards ceremony, 6-8pm. Please read about the honorees at the Alliance Web site.

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FAST FORWARD:FRAMING THE FUTURE: Think Tank Update

50 selected arts leaders from every region in New York State will converge on Glens Falls September 12 and 13, 2005 to participate in "Fast Forward: Framing the Future", a think tank session which will inform and potentially transform the statewide arts community.

This "think tank" is a culmination of a 2005 statewide cultural needs assessment conducted by the Alliance which included an online survey sent to 3,000 organizations, site visits and 7 regional focus forums across the state.

The introductory session, on September 12, will feature speakers and panelists including Philip Morris, Randy Cohen, Glenn Pearsall, Roy Akins, Richard Driscoll , Paul McPhllips, Paul Hogan, Paula Joy Reinhold and Chairman Richard J. Schwartz who will document the current funding climate for the arts industry and present a number of challenges and opportunities facing cultural leaders in New York State. This plenary will stimulate "break-out" dialogue on September 13 and encourage the discourse necessary for creating new paradigms. The closing session report out and recommendations for the future including a larger conference will be facilitated by Milton Bloch.

In addition to these formal, participatory sessions, local host Patricia Joyce of the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council is planning interesting and enjoyable ancillary activities including, interactive tours of several Glens Falls venues, including the Arts Council, The Hyde Collection, The Wood Theatre and the Shirt Factory. There will also be a field building dinner emceed by Raona Roy.

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COMMUNITY ACTION TEAMS GRANT RECIPIENTS

The Alliance is pleased to announce the 4 organizations that will receive Community Action Teams (CAT) grants designed to assist them in designing, planning and/or organizing a new or existing community cultural development project. The CAT program is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and additional support from Natural Heritage Trust.

* Central New York Community Arts Council, Utica: For the development of an overarching full Community Cultural Plan which articulates the cornerstone role of the arts in downtown economic development and revitalization. The desired short term results are intensified coalition building of arts organizations and initiatives followed by a representative community coalition of arts, economic development entities, public/private developers, community volunteers to catalogue current disparate plans and to formulate an initial coordinated cooperative planning process that focuses on projects and solutions underway. Desired longer term results are implementation of a more comprehensive planning process complete with projected outcomes reflecting a more intensified coordination and utilization of arts based resources in conjunction with public private partnerships.

* Genesee Valley Council on the Arts, Mt. Morris: Documentation, Conservation and Exhibition of a large body of WPA work of significant historical and regional importance. Specifically the establishment of a public galley for these works, thought to be the second largest collection of WPA easel paintings in the United States. Working with the county and community the goal of this project is to find a way to share this piece of Americana not only with the community but develop it as a way of drawing tourists to the area. Working with consultants, they intend to establish a public gallery, access resources for the restoration and climate controlled storage of the work and research space for social and art historians to study these works.

* St. Lawrence County Arts Council, Potsdam: Development of several Satellite outreach centers addressing defined cultural needs in this geographically dispersed rural area, centers that grow from and serve the needs of the regions served. The problem they are working to address is the lack of access to the arts in their region. Creating small satellite arts centers in several different communities will allow the Arts Council to provide arts services, programming and opportunities for people all around the county. The goal is to create sustainable arts access centers in several different communities. The desired long term outcome of this project is more arts education, more arts experiences and opportunities and more social interaction for the residents and visitors to the county. These will lead in turn to a stronger arts community, a stronger and more effective arts council and a stronger economy and social network in the region

* Westchester Arts Council, White Plains: Development of a Marketing/Outreach Plan to bring audience to revitalized building and downtown. The building purchased and renovated by the Arts Council, called the Arts Exchange is located in the heart of White Plains, a district that the City of White Plains has been working to revitalize, with success, in the past few years. The Arts Exchange houses artists' studios, rooms for meetings and workshops, office space for arts related businesses, a state of the art gallery and performance space as well as a new Cultural Tourism Center. It sits on one of the highest trafficked corners, amidst restaurants, new retail establishments, high rise apartment buildings, a new performing arts center and a new park. Thousands of people walk past the Arts Exchange each day, yet don't stop in. The increased street traffic, coupled with their new showcase building, offers the Arts Council a tremendous opportunity to reach out to the neighborhood, to engage all member s of the community, realizing its potential to become a true hub for the arts in downtown White Plains.

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

The Alliance is proud to publish: Building a Donor Base written by Martha E. Strodel, Rural Arts Director. This piece was originally two separate articles Martha recently posted to the Alliance Rural Arts Network listserv. Feedback indicates that this information could be helpful to cultural organizations beyond the Rural Partnership. Thus, this month's column is devoted to these ideas that could provide food for thought for organizations of all sizes and locations. To read the article in it's' entirety, click here.

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COOPER TIRE AND RUBBER FOUNDATION FUNDING

The Cooper Tire and Rubber Foundation was established in 1953, and its fields of interest include museums, arts, elementary and secondary education, higher education, and youth-oriented programs.
ELIGIBILITY: Contact the foundation for specific eligibility criteria. Giving is on a national basis. Submissions should include a detailed description of the project.
FUNDING: Contact the foundation for funding details.
DEADLINE: None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Send letter of intent c/o Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Lima& Western Avenues, Findlay, Ohio 45840; phone (419) 423-1321.

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JOB BOARD

The New York State Council on the Arts is recruiting for the position of Music Program Director (M/C Grade 27). The program administers grants to nonprofit music organizations representing a broad spectrum of musical expression. The starting salary, customarily at the lower end of the range is between $65,000 and $75,000, plus $1,000 location pay. A full benefits package is available and includes life, health, dental, vision, and retirement plans. The candidate should have a broad, general knowledge of music and a comprehensive background in nonprofit management. Candidates must have a four-year college degree or equivalent and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the music field, or an advanced degree in music and a minimum of four years experience.

The position requires strong administrative skills. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills, written and verbal, and scrupulous attention to detail. Understanding and appreciation of a variety of musical aesthetics and the ability to work well with people are essential. Candidates should be available and willing to travel around the state to meet with applicants and attend arts activities. A valid driver's license is useful. Candidates must be computer proficient. The Music Program Director organizes and supervises the review process of approximately 300 grant applications within the context of Council policies and procedures. The Director advises the Council on policy as it relates to the music field and is the Council's representative to the music constituency. The Director supervises a program associate and reports to a deputy director. The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act stipulates that no individual may be employed without proof of authority to work in this country.

NYSCA is an EQUALOPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. Information on this employment opportunity is available at: www.nysca.org/public/about/employment.htm.

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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