March 2009

News of the Month

Creative Campus Innovation Grants and Webinar – Arts Presenters announces the second year of the Creative Campus Innovations Grant program, calling for grant application submissions from higher education institutions interested in building interdisciplinary cross-campus collaborations. Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, this grant program supports innovative partnerships to integrate the work of arts presenters across the campus, including the academic curriculum, and within the surrounding community. » Find out how to apply Join our webinar on March 25 to answer any questions related to the Creative Campus program, guidelines and application process. » Webinar details

Bay Area Seminars: April 24 and 25 – If you're from the West Coast, plan to attend this new seminar by Ken Foster in Oakland on April 24 and 25. (Same seminar, repeated both days.) The author of Performing Arts Presenting: From Theory to Practice has practical plans for presenters facing the most uncertain U.S. economy in 70 years. » Find out more and sign up

April is Jazz Appreciation Month – Let's join together to help spread the word about our great American musical treasure beloved around the worlds! APAP President and CEO Sandra Gibson is chair of the JAM Task Force this year, and she invites you to participate, educate, appreciate and share jazz with your colleagues and audiences. The Smithsonian Jazz website offers a wide variety of education and promotional materials you can download and use: www.smithsonianjazz.org.

Economy Watch

Activity and Attendance Stabilize While Fundraising is a Concern – When compared to the December results from the first AMS/Arts Presenters Economic Tracking survey of presenters and facilities, some areas have shown improvements while fundraising continues to lag far behind initial goals. More than half of presenters and facilities reporting have cut expenditures with a third freezing staff. Ten percent have cut staff. » Read the full February survey report

Impact of the Economy on the Field of Presenting 2 – Webinar Phone-in Recording Available – On March 18, Arts Presenters hosted a second conversation with field experts on the relationship between the economy and presenting, building on the dialogue started with last December's call and APAP Conference NYC 2009. »  Download the audio recording

Government Affairs

Increase in National Endowment for the Arts Funding for FY2008 – On March 11, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009. The new spending level at $155 million reflects a $10.3 million increase over the fiscal 2008 funding of $144.7 million and folds the Challenge America funding into the general grants program. Included in the appropriations for the Department of Education is an increase of $633,354 for the arts education competitive grants, for total funding for the grants program in 2009 of $38.66 million.

Advocacy and Action Alert: White Space – On March 12, Arts Presenters attended a meeting with the office of Acting Chairman Michael Copps at the FCC to further advance the discussion of the agency affirmatively authorizing and embracing the use of wireless frequencies in performance. If your organization is anticipating issues related to vacating the space between the 700 and 800 MHz frequencies, we want to hear from you. Please contact Leah Frelinghuysen, Public Affairs Director at 202-212-6875. » Read background information

Advocacy and Action Alert: Tax Asset Relief Program (TARP) – On March 19, Arts Presenters will attend a meeting with the office of Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to discuss ways to amend S. 463, which currently hampers the worthwhile charitable and philanthropic efforts of corporations receiving TARP funds. If your organization is in danger of being affected by or has already had to cut programs due to this new legislation, we want to hear from you. Please contact Leah Frelinghuysen, Public Affairs Director at 202-212-6875.

National Service Legislation – Both the House and the Senate have introduced various pieces of legislation taking significant steps to reform and expand national service programs. Arts Presenters has signed on to two national letters supporting legislative efforts that includes building a nationwide community-based infrastructure fund to leverage investments in service. » Read letters

Arts Advocacy Day: March 30 and 31 – If you or your organization plans on attending Arts Advocacy Day 2009, please let us know how we may assist you in scheduling visits with members of Congress as well as Federal agencies. Please contact Leah Frelinghuysen, Public Affairs Director at 202-212-6875. Arts Advocacy Day 2009 begins Monday, March 30th in Washington, D.C.

National Endowment for the Arts Personnel Update – Earlier this year, Patrice Powell, longtime NEA colleague and Deputy Chair was appointed Acting Chairman of the NEA. Chairman Powell will provide oversight for agency grantmaking and day-to-day agency operations while supervising administrative activities. » Read bio

Patrice Powell