October 2009

Message from the CEO, Sandra Gibson

Dear Colleagues, As a field, we've sailed through the summer, weathered the deepening economic crisis and settled into challenging conditions for our work. Arts Presenters enters the fall with a new three-year strategic plan and a renewed commitment to expand and deepen service to you. I've been buoyed and energized by the resolve and resilience I have observed over the last several months. In September, I was invited to attend an international forum hosted by the government of Colombia as the sole U.S. representative, focusing on how cultural and creative industries can play a key role during an economic crisis. Arts Presenters has been asked by the Colombian government to help foster important professional exchanges and provide our members with opportunities to learn about these cultural works. This is just one example of our impact and presence around the world as a go-to cultural exchange leader.

Sandra Gibson

Over the course of the coming months, you will be hearing much more from us on how we are working to connect you with those important cultural exchanges necessary to building partnerships and collaborations with international artists. If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to apply for our Cultural Exchange Fund grant. Arts Presenters recognizes that promoting global cultural exchange is essential for audience and community engagement in the performing arts and grants like these provides an opportunity for presenting professionals to expand and deepen their knowledge of artists, traditions and cultures from around the world.

Best,

Sandra Gibson

News of the Month

APAP in the News » Read here

Website and member database improvements in process! – The staff has been working diligently on a new member database system that will provide members with an improved interface for keeping their member records (such as those pesky staff lists!) up to date. The system will help Arts Presenters better track and serve and support members. This system will also provide the backbone for the Association's new web platform. This platform is also under construction and will feature an expanded online artists roster and member directory along with brand new member profile pages. These improvements will be launched ahead of this year's conference and are the first step toward a comprehensive online marketplace and peer networking platform. Stay tuned for details, beta views, and webinars about this exciting new initiative!

Building Better Boards – Arts Presenters is offering a webinar phone-in, moderated by Peggy Outon, founding Executive Director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on building and strengthening boards. We invite APAP members and their board members to join us on Thursday, October 22 at 3:30 pm (EDT) to discuss ways in which executive staff and board members can work together to identify and respond effectively to opportunities and challenges as we look forward to a new decade in the presenting field. Participants from the field will be invited to share success stories about the contributions – both tangible and intangible – of board members. Please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/773411739 to register.

Study of Greening the Performing Arts Field Survey – Arts Presenters, in cooperation with Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and Booz Allen Hamilton is proud to have this opportunity to field the first study of greening in the performing arts industry. Whether you're a presenter, artist, agent, producer or manager, your input matters. The survey will only take 15 minutes of your time but will add great value to the overall mission of understanding how our industry is progressing on this important subject. Look for your survey invitation in your inbox on October 30!

The results of the survey will be shared at the APAP Conference in New York this coming January.

APAP Conference 2010 Risk. Opportunity. Now. Now is the time to come together. Please visit www.apapconference.org for all the latest news and updates on the conference!

Government Affairs

Health Care Update – The Senate Finance Committee passed their version of the health care reform bill on October 13 which sets in motion all three existing health care bills in Congress to move forward under the amendment process. This week, leaders in the House and Senate continue with backroom deal-making to bring unified bills to the floor in their respective chambers with Democrats in Congress wrangling over the public option and other elements of reform. On October 2, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) introduced health care reform legislation that seeks to address the goals President Barack Obama outlined in his September joint session speech to Congress. The American Health Care Solutions Act, H.R. 3713, proposes solutions to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, and prohibits dropping coverage on individuals who become sick. For more information on this bill, please visit Rep. Rogers' website.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization Update – Education Secretary Arne Duncan plans to introduce ESEA reauthorization to Congress in January 2010 and is hard at work drafting the critical language and shaping the policies that is designed to transform the existing legislation into a force that will drive academic success and prepare students for higher education or the workforce. At a recent education forum, the Secretary said, "Let's build a law that discourages a narrowing of curriculum and promotes a well-rounded education that draws children into the arts and sciences and history in order to build a society distinguished by both intellectual and economic prowess." For more info, please visit http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

Arne Duncan

NEA Appropriations – Congress delayed finalizing appropriations legislation and passed a continuing resolution to keep the government running through October 31. This legislation will keep funds flowing to all federal agencies at fiscal 2009 levels, and give Congress more time to work through the appropriations process. The Senate and the House are currently conferring on the FY 2010 request for NEA funding for final approval from the President.

Important message from the NEA – The fallout from the ongoing controversy surrounding ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) affects grantees, subgrantees, subcontracts, or other subrecipient agreements with ACORN or its affiliates. Please refer to the following notice for more information on this new presidential order: www.nea.gov/manageaward/m10-02.pdf