Notes from annual Rurals Gathering
September 23, 2009
Proctor’s Theater, Schenectady NY
After welcomes and self introductions, the question of scheduling the annual Rurals Gathering at a more convenient time came up. Suggestions included:
• first morning of the Arts Summit, during registration and prior to lunch.
• if the NEA comes through with funding for the NYS ARTS RuralsConnect request, we may be able to subsidize an extra overnight, and hold the meeting the night before the Summit begins.
There was general agreement on changing official Rural Partnership designation from an invitation and application/review process to one of self-selection with NYS ARTS membership.
There was also agreement on keeping the Rurals listserv active as a tool to engage the Rurals directly in sharing ideas and information, while continuing to use the Rurals blog to share resources.
Mini-surveys were filled out to find out how the Rurals are handling the depressed economy; 15 were completed and returned. While the mini-survey did not cover all the questions in the original survey, the responses serve as an update to the full Rurals Survey taken in February 2009, which was filled out by 27 organizations. Some of the questions are on track with the February projections.
Steps taken to deal with budget cuts and reduced 2009 income:
February survey Mini survey
• reduce staff 44% 40%
• work hour reduction 30% 27%
• revamp health care plan 7% 6%
But many showed large discrepancies between initial projected strategies and the strategies they developed to deal with necessary contingency budgets.
• reduce/freeze salaries/increase
work hours 26% 13%
• cut programs & services 52% 13%
• reduce hours of operation 22% 6%
• increase volunteer hours 59% 6%
• collaborate to share resources 52% 6%
• increase fundraising efforts 15% 53%
• trim operating expenses 4% 13%
• won’t replace vacant staff position 4% 20%
What stands out is that fewer than expected cut programs and services; or reduced hours of operation. Other interesting differences: while all Rural Partners constantly partner and collaborate, there was little mention is the mini-survey of specific efforts that have paid off. And few mentioned in the mini-survey efforts to increase their volunteer base, although I’m sure a lot of this has been done - but it takes time and training, and still isn’t a substitute for paid staff. Of further note: I know of some Rural groups who have cut staff or work hours to a degree that they were not able to attend the Arts Summit.
According to the February survey, the late 08/09 NYSCA budget cuts affected 13 separate organizations; 5 lost their general operating support, 8 lost program support, with most indicating the projected loss of under 25% of their budgets. However, 6 Rurals received 2009 ARRA (job retention) grants through NYSCA, ranging from $10,000 to $16,000.
A number of groups used the NYSCA loss of last year and projected deficits as a tool to raise new monies. In the Rurals Gathering discussion, Stewart Bigley of Unison Arts & Learning Center told of losing all their NYSCA support for 08/09 - $22,000. When the word got out to the community, terrific grassroots support almost matched their loss. Memberships, donations and audiences increased; and the board started a new, regular program of fundraisers with mini-auction at area restaurants. When Chenango County Council of the Arts lost $6,000 in program support,they sent a “soft” appeal letter to just members and raised $7,000. Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County (CAP) lost GOS NYSCA support, crucial for all they accomplish with a staff of two. They worked with their local press, which made their visibility in the area shoot through the roof! They made up their loss and developed new relationships with area foundations. CAP director Brett Bossard also stated that working so closely within their community to get through this loss was an excellent reminder of staying in touch with the needs and wants of their community. A further exciting development for CAP - a move to a new central downtown location will save them $40,000 per year in rent.
David Shine of Arts Council for Chautauqua County approached their 08/09 NYSCA loss differently. Jamestown and the Arts Council hold a lot of non-profit and foundation buildings: they collaborated with area businesses and other nonprofit and for profit groups to do a study of the town and develop new monies to collectively market Jamestown. This group, called Jamestown Attractors meets monthly; so far, they have raised $165,000 in new monies.
Further, when asked if any of the Rurals had developed new sources of income since last February, there were 9 positive responses. Besides those mentioned above: Arts Council for Wyoming County secured new monies from WalMart Foundation and is a partner in a prevention grant. St. Lawrence County Arts Council received memoriam gifts in honor of an area artist; Greene County Council on the Arts received new Main Street Facade funds to add to a member item to improve their building; Arts Council for the Northern Adirondacks received a one-time grant in support for their work on the Quadricentennial celebration. Cattaraugus County Arts Council is working on a contractual partnership with potential income, and Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ARTS) received new capital funds. All responses indicate that the Rurals have put much more energy into raising new funds than they originally projected in February, with success.
Projections on Other Resources:
February 2009 September 2009
DOWN UP HOLDING DOWN UP HOLDING
Memberships 75% 10% 15% 31% 23% 40%
Donations 78% 13% 10% 67% 27% 6%
Foundations 71% 10% 11% 57% 14% 29%
Corporations 80% 10% 10% 79% 7% 14%
County/Municipal 53% 37% 10% 29% 23% 46%
Fundraising 63% 26% 10% 47% 27% 27%
Attendance 63% 27% 14% 13% 40% 47%
Sales 57% 29% 14% 60% 20% 20%
Overall, individual and corporate donations are down in both the February projections and at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2009. But county funding (at least for this year) turned out better than expected, as did foundation support. The biggest gains are in membership, fundraising and attendance.
The question was raised: did any Rural lose constituent organizations this year? Some did, but the trend of developing and all-volunteer organizations approaching rural arts councils for guidance continues. And many that run NYSCA Decentralization programs are seeing a rise in applications; more new organizations and municipalities are interested in DEC as a resource for arts programming. There was general consensus that the NYS ARTS advocacy campaign has made more people aware of the arts, the need for arts and funding for the arts.
Martha
