Arts Organizations,
Where did all this come from in two weeks!? Below you will find information on a RFP for “Your Town: The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design”, 2008 MT Nonprofit Wage and Benefit Report is now available, a grant available from Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC), the Big Read is accepting applications from non-profit organizations, seeking proposals to lease and manage a summer stock theatre in Virginia City at the Opera House, Alan Brown sits down for an extensive interview, The Board Builds Its Sense of Self: Body-Building for Boards, Nonprofit Embezzlement: More Common and More Preventable Than You Think, National Museum of the American Indian: Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust grants, Tourism Cares grants, Hitachi Foundation: Business and Communities Grants Program, several items from the Artful Manager blog, and two job openings.
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Regards,
Beck
Beck McLaughlin Education & Web Services Director Montana Arts Council PO Box 202201 Helena, MT 59620-2201 406-444-6522 Arts in Education Hotline 800-282-3092
Your Town: The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design is helping to empower community leaders to revitalize their downtowns, build greenways, and conserve important land resources all across America. Since 1991 Your Town has sponsored over 55 design workshops in 29 states. The Your Town program was founded in acknowledgement of the environmental and cultural values embedded in America’s natural, agricultural, and small-town landscapes, which are endangered by both economic stagnation and poorly-planned growth.
If you think your community would benefit from a design workshop, please consider reviewing the attached RFP. Not-for-profit organizations are encouraged to respond the RFP by December 12, 2008. If you would like more information about Your Town program, please visit the Endowment’s web site and the Your Town program web site at http://www.arts.gov/partner/design/index.html and http://www.yourtowndesign.org/ (The Bitterroot Valley received a design workshop last year – Beck)
2008 Montana Nonprofit Wage and Benefit Report Now Available!
Montana Nonprofit Association is pleased to announce that the 2008 Montana Nonprofit Wage and Benefit Report is now available for purchase. The survey reports salary and benefit data for 164 nonprofits, 2,170 employees, and 16 of the most common position descriptions. Montana Nonprofits can research wages and benefits by position, mission, nonprofit location, and budget size. The MNA website provides a list of positions and benefits covered and an order form for purchase.
MNA member fees are $50 for the first report and $25 for additional copies. If you already received a copy in the mail as a participant, you may purchase additional copies at the $25 rate. Non-member rates also apply. http://www.mtnonprofit.org/wagebenefitssurvey.aspx
Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC)Launches a New Cycle of ARTOGRAPHY: Arts in a Changing America
ARTOGRAPHY is a grant opportunity designed to establish a deeper understanding of how artistic practice reflects the impact that changing populations, cultures, and aesthetics in the United States will have on the future of art-making. This program recognizes arts organizations with exemplary art-making practices and provides support for documenting the ways in which they respond to and reflect the communities they serve.
This national, competitive grantmaking and documentation program provides grants of up to $100,000 over two years for general operating expenses to a select number of organizations. Additionally, grantees are eligible to apply for funds to support a range of activities that are of strategic value to the organization. ARTOGRAPHY aims to emphasize the various aspects of documentation that capture lessons and reveal greater appreciation for the national field of arts.
Applicants are encouraged to submit preliminary proposals online at www.artsinachangingamerica.net. Proposals are due to LINC by January 30, 2009.
The Big Read is accepting applications from non-profit organizations to conduct month-long, community-wide reads between September 2009 and June 2010. Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive a grant ranging from $2,500 to $20,000, financial support to attend the orientation meeting, educational and promotional materials for broad distribution, Organizer’s Guide for developing and managing Big Read activities, inclusion of your organization and activities on The Big Read Web site, and the prestige of participating in a highly visible national initiative. Approximately 400 organizations of varying sizes across the country will be selected for this cycle.
Application Deadline Feb 3, 2009
To download the Guidelines & Application Instructions go to www.NEABigRead.orgQuestions? Call Arts Midwest at 612.238.8010 or email TheBigRead@artsmidwest.org
The Montana Heritage Commission is seeking proposals to lease and manage a summer stock theatre in Virginia City, Montana at the Opera House. The 2009 season marks the 60th year the theatre has been in operation. Each day’s production has consisted of a 19th century melodrama (about 1 hour in length) followed by a vaudeville style variety show. We are seeking creativity and initiative, and will be looking for expressions of such in your proposal.
Please pass the word. Go to http://virginiacitymt.com/Includes/08OperaHouse.pdf for details.
INTERVIEW WITH ALAN BROWNAlan Brown sits down for an extensive interview in this week’s BARRY’S BLOG.One of the sector’s foremost experts and thinkers in the field of audience development shares his thoughts on current research, trends and developments in the area.
Board Café
The Board Builds Its Sense of Self: Body-Building for Boards
Perhaps the single most important attribute of an effective board is also its most intangible: an independent sense of itself. This sense of self is the board’s identity as a BODY rather than, for instance, as a loose collection of individuals who each finds ways to support the organization.
As individuals, board members act as supporters of the organization, and often see themselves as supporters of the executive director as well. They speak to the community on the organization’s behalf: asking for donations, volunteer time, and support. In contrast, when acting as a BODY, the board speaks to the organization on the behalf of its constituency. And while individual board members are cheerleaders, the board as a whole is the sharp-eyed team owner: looking at both the season record and the bottom line, and evaluating the head coach.
Here are five easy ways to strengthen the board’s sense of self:
To read more: http://www.blueavocado.org/node/250
Board Cafe
Nonprofit Embezzlement: More Common and More Preventable Than You Think
“I was on the board of a national social justice organization for three years. The Development Director discovered that the “external-auditor-turned-internal-accountant” had been embezzling funds by stealing checks and using the “stamp signature” of the CEO. The day after it was discovered, the accountant shot and killed himself. He had also been embezzling from a church he volunteered for. The lesson I walked away from this tragic scene with was this — as a board member did I do everything I could to prevent embezzlement? Why did I hesitate in saying anything when staff suggested it was a good idea to hire our auditor for internal work because ‘he knew us so well’?” –Blue Avocado reader who asked to remain anonymous To read more: http://www.blueavocado.org/node/253
Brought to You by GrantStation.com
Grants Promote Native Arts
National Museum of the American Indian: Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program http://www.nmai.si.edu/icap/The National Museum of the American Indian’s Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program offers support to a wide range of activities with the goal of increasing the understanding and appreciation of contemporary Native American arts. The Exhibitions and Publications grant category supports projects that interpret and present the work of contemporary Native visual artists to the public and encourage dialogue and critical commentary. The Expressive Arts category promotes the creation and presentation of new works through the collaboration of two or more Native artists. The Artist Leadership Program enables indigenous artists to research, network, and develop life skills to enhance artistic growth and strengthen career development. The Emerging Artist Program seeks to enhance the artistic growth of young artists in high school and college. The application deadline for the first two categories is January 15, 2009. Applications for the last two categories are due April 6, 2009. Visit the website listed above for details on each of the program’s grant categories.
Grants Enhance the Pacific Northwest Region
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust http://www.murdock-trust.org/The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust’s mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) by supporting nonprofit organizations that seek to strengthen the region’s educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. The priorities of the Trust’s General Grants program include educational programs offered in both formal and informal settings; performing and visual arts projects that enrich the cultural environment of the region; and preventive health and human services programs, with a focus on youth. General Scientific Research Grants and Formal Program Grants in Science are also provided. With the exception of the Formal Program Grants in Science, which has specific deadlines, letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Visit the Trust’s website for details on each of the grant programs.
Preservation Programs Supported Worldwide
Tourism Cares Tourism Cares is a nonprofit organization, funded primarily by the tourism industry, that is dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. The Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant Program provides grants to tourism-related nonprofit organizations throughout the world. Primary consideration is given to projects that focus on capital improvements that conserve, preserve, or restore sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance. An additional focus area is the education of local host communities and the traveling public about the preservation of exceptional sites. The program strives for a balanced distribution of grants to U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. The first of three letter of inquiry deadlines for 2009 is January 30. Visit the website listed above for detailed instructions for submitting a letter of inquiry packet.
Grants Address Economically Isolated Communities
Hitachi Foundation: Business and Communities Grants Program The Hitachi Foundation’s grantmaking strategy is aimed at enhancing opportunity and quality of life for economically isolated people. The Foundation’s Business and Communities Grants Program focuses on the role of both businesses and communities in addressing economic isolation and strengthening the field of corporate citizenship. Through the program, the Foundation develops partnerships with nonprofit organizations that enable economically challenged people to retain and advance in their jobs, earn living wages, and accumulate savings and assets. Interested organizations may submit an online inquiry to provide information about project ideas at any time. If the idea addresses the Foundation’s priorities, a proposal may be requested. Visit the Foundation’s website for program details.
THE ARTFUL MANAGER WEEKLY SUMMARY
EXPERTISE VS. CONTROL…
As user-generated content and other participatory practices evolve on the web, many traditional cultural centers are getting increasingly woozy about eroding standards, populism over excellence, and loss of the ”pure” experience. Nina Simon says ”get over it.”
http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/expertise-vs-control.php
Posted: Tuesday, November 4, 2008
POLICY TO COME?…
Given the regime change enacted in this week’s election results, it might be a good time to reread (or read for the first time) the Obama campaign’s arts policy document…yes, a president with an arts policy!
http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/policy-to-come.php
Posted: Wednesday, November 5, 2008
LEARNING TO SPEAK AND LISTEN……
Arts organizations are often hosts, curators, or instigators of dialogue — with audiences, artists, community members, staff, and decision-leaders. So, I thought I’d share a few little rules for fostering effective dialogue.
http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/learning-to-speak-and-listen.php
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2008
SHACKING UP…
Chicago Tribune critic Chris Jones explores an increasingly common consideration for facility-dependent arts groups in a down economy:
sharing space instead of building or owning their own.
http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/shacking-up.php
Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2008
ENABLING AND REWARDING YOUR CRITICS…
There’s more and more conversation out there (at least that I’m
hearing) about embracing and enabling audience members to connect around your content and contribute their own perspectives. But is your organization ready for what that might mean?
http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/enabling-and-rewarding-your-cr.php
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008
JOB OPENINGS
We have an opening here at Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) and would like your help identifying qualified candidates who might be interested in working with us. GIA’s Director of Development and Membership designs and implements creative funding strategies; oversees recruitment, renewal, and engagement of GIA members; and sets and monitors goals for annual fundraising, special fundraising campaigns, and membership recruitment.
We’ll begin reviewing applications on January 12 and will continue to accept resumes until the position is filled. (see attached Dir Dev and Mem announcement.doc)
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts is currently searching for a new Executive Director.
Details: http://www.sunvalleycenter.org/arts/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=60
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will serve as the chief executive officer and will
be charged with providing leadership to the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, guided by its mission and values.
An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience and a comprehensive benefits package will be
provided. Relocation assistance, if needed, is available. (No deadline listed – Beck)
