NYS ARTS BLOG!

Do you have questions for Pat?

NYS ARTS has a Blog to help you answer your burning questions 24/7.
Pat Berman, former Associate Director of NYS ARTS will help you out!

About Pat

PAT BERMAN was the Associate Director of the Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations from 1999 until 2005.  Prior to that, she was the Director of Member Services.  Ms. Berman assumed this position after serving at East End Arts Council as Executive Director since 1994, Program Director 1986 to 1994, and Visual Arts Coordinator 1983-1986. As Executive Director at East End Arts Council, Ms. Berman began an Education Center dedicated to the instruction of music, visual arts, and theatre to students of all ages.  Since 1994 she has been the Administrator of Long Island Baroque Ensemble and since 1985, she has been a Consultant to the Special Arts Services Department of the New York State Council on the Arts.  From 1976 to 1982, Ms. Berman was the Director of the Vorpal Gallery in New York City.   Ms. Berman received a M.S. degree in anthropology at New York University and a B.S. degree in zoology, with distinction from Duke University.

Course 1 | Leadership Strategies and Tools

Course 1 | 3 Sessions | Webinar Course
LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES and TOOLS

Organizations and communities count on leaders, now in uncertain times more than ever. This webinar will help you, as an early or mid-career leader, assess your leadership, consider principles of effective leadership in organizations and communities, and plan to become a more effective leader.

Instructor: Craig Dreeszen

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Session 1 | Wednesday., May 13
Click Here to review Session 1 with audio "Leadership Reflections"

Authentic Leadership Part I

Course 2 | Surviving and Thriving during Times of Change

Course 2 | 3 Sessions | Webinar Course
Surviving and Thriving during Times of Change

Succession planning is about preparing for the inevitable, a matter of "when" not "if."  Nearly 75% of nonprofit leaders, the majority from the baby boomer generation, are expected to retire or move on in the next few years.  Add to those expected departures are others that are unplanned.  The issue of "who comes next" quickly becomes a concern.
The strong survive, but not by accident.  Strong organizations succeed because they plan.  Strong organizations put the right stuff in place well in advance of the executive director's retirement.

How prepared is your organization to replace its current executive in an emergency or to plan for a transition anticipated down the road?

These three sessions present for discussion the issues and actions that board and staff can take to ensure smooth transition and nurture leaders in all parts of the organization.

Instructor: Alene Valkanas

Dates
Tuesday, June 16,  10:00 - 11:30 am
Tuesday, June 30, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Tuesday, July 7,  10:00 - 11:30 am

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Tuesday, June 16
What current and future leaders need to succeed
Ways organizations can nurture leaders at all levels.

Tuesday, June 30
Anticipating the future to stay strong
What every organization should be doing now whether their
executive director's leaving is imminent or not.


Tuesday, July 7
Essential steps to assure a smooth transition
Understanding the role of the board and staff in transition
and the elements of an effective search.

Cost: $25 for NYS ARTS Members | $35 for Non-Members
Don't miss this great opportunity - Register & Pay Today

Course 3 | Online Marketing & Social Networking

Course 3 | 3 Sessions | Webinar Course
Online Marketing & Social Networking

These 3 sessions will give the novice a good introduction to approaching social media, and will help the more experienced arts leader to use social media more strategically and effectively.

Instructor: Rebecca Krause-Hardie

Dates
Thursday, July 16,  10:00 - 11:30 am
Thursday, July 30, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Thursday, August 13,  10:00 - 11:30 am

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Thursday, July 16
Discovering Your Online Audience
Conversations have been happening on the web. People are talking about your organization and the things important to you - even if you're not a part of it. In this session you'll learn how to track down those conversations, listen and begin to participate. We'll look at specific tools and tactics to help get you started, and build social media capacity in your organization, in both rural and urban settings.

Thursday, July 30
Thinking Strategically about the Shiny New Toys
Facebook and Twitter are all the rage and every day new tools and choices launch on the web.  While many tools are 'free', developing competence and capacity using them takes time - perhaps your most valuable resource. Here are some best practice tips to help your team think strategically, and maximize your organization's social media efforts in both rural and urban settings.

Thursday, August 13
Inside Facebook
Facebook has blossomed from the hang-out of choice for college students, to the fastest growing social network for older generations. Facebook has also embraced organizational presences with new features and functionality. We'll look at specifics, how to navigate facebook, and some case studies of effective use. We'll also look at a balanced social media tool investment strategy that doesn't put all of your assets into a single and often fickle "social media du jour basket".

Cost: $25 for NYS ARTS Members | $35 for Non-Members
Don't miss this great opportunity - Register & Pay Today

Meet the Instructor

Rebecca Krause-Hardie is a consultant, project manager and partner in AudienceWorks, helping
organizations use new media effectively. She has over 30 years of experience in new media,
business, accounting, finance, and management, with a proven ability to get the job done.
She has had a varied and diverse career beginning as 2nd horn in the Phoenix Symphony upon
graduation from the Juilliard School. She has been the Orchestra Manager of the Detroit
Symphony and Dir. of New Media for the League of American Orchestras in which capacity she
developed national technology initiatives for the orchestra field.
She was the Chief Financial Officer of the Voyager Company and Criterion Collection, pioneers
and leaders in the field of interactive media exploration. Previously she produced and developed
30 classical music (enhanced CD’s) CD-ROMs for Music Pen Inc. that featured audio records
with synced (and printable) full orchestral scores.
She writes about performing arts and new media at her blog arts.typepad.com as well as for
ArtsReach and Polyphonic.

Arts Summit 2009

Innovation and Technology: Building Social Capital
September 22 & 23 2009

NYS ARTS knows that arts leaders can spare limited time and resources during this current economic crisis. We are streamlining the conference to give attendees valuable information that they can take back to the office and take action on right away. This streamlined two-day agenda for the Arts Summit increases the value you get for your time and money—and we even have an early registration special and member discounts to save you extra money on conference fees and hotel costs.

NYS ARTS Summit 2009: More intellectually stimulating and more user-friendly than ever before – and at a lower price than last year.

Check out all the details and register!

2009 Rural Survey Results

2009 Rurals Survey

Narrative Summary

The Rurals Survey was posted in early February of 2009, and solicited information to determine how rural organizations are dealing with depressed income resources and budget cuts, and how NYS ARTS Rurals Program can assist these organizations in this climate. The survey was completed by 27 members of the Rural Partnership and interested rural organizations: 20 local arts councils, 4 art centers and 3 rural presenting organizations. 

This summary report focuses on the data gathered from four areas of inquiry:  a) actual or projected loss of revenue from funding resources; b) how they are responding to decreased revenue; c) services received from NYS ARTS Rurals Program and priorities for those services by respondents; d) existing or additional services that will assist rural organizations move forward in this stressed economy.

A.  Actual or projected loss of revenue from funding resources . The majority reported declining income from all resources listed - membership, individual donations, foundations and corporations, county municipal support, fundraising events, event attendence and retail sales.  However, 7 indicated county/municipal funding and 6 indicated attendence at events had increased.

50% of respondents were affected by the 2008/09 NYSCA cuts.  5 lost general operating support and 9 lost program support.  Most reported the budget cuts will mean a loss of 1-24% of their budgets, but one reported a loss of 25 - 49%.

The survey asked for total revenue loss projections from all funding resources.  62% project losses from $2,000 to $100,000; of these, the average loss is $28,000.  3 stated their budgets are on target and holding, and 4 stated it was too early in their fiscal years for accurate projections, but of these, 3 are anticipating losses.

B.  Responding to decreased revenue: All were addressing the reality of decreased revenue; of the choices listed, the actions most frequently taken are: 

• increase volunteer hours (63%)

• collaborate or partner with another organization to share resources (56%)

• cut programs or services (52%)

• reduce use of outside professional services (48%)

• reduce staff (41%); reduce work hours (30%); reduce salaries (26%)

C.  Value and priority of NYS ARTS Rural Program Services:  Responses indicated that all of the services provided have value. Services that rated VERY IMPORTANT to the majority of respondents include: 

• Rurals Gathering (59%)

• Rural Workshops (56%)

• Response to phone/email questions (48%)

• Research and writing on topical issues (44%)

And those that received highest support under services of MODERATE IMPORTANCE include:

• Rurals blog (67%)

• Consultant Directory (63%)

• Courtesy visits, webinars, list serv, Rurals column, Rurals Conversations (59% each)

D.  Existing or additional services that will help rural organizations move forward.  Respondents were asked to list their choice of topics for webinars and rural workshops. 74% of responses indicate they want webinars that address all issues of fundraising/income generation for rural areas.  Within this webinar focus, 25% want help with new technology for effective websites, online fundraising and marketing, and data management.  Responses for Rural workshops topics also centered on survival and growth during hard economic times but these were divided evenly between two approaches, both with a regional and collaborative focus: 1) bring together area arts groups and existing and potential funding resources to explore supporting area cultural resources and 2) bring together arts organizations to explore resource sharing collaborations. These preferences are driving the planning for our 2009 and 2010 workshops and webinars.  

Additional services requested:   Certain regions have a number of new directors and staff, and others want help to collaborate with their peers on sharing resources.  There is a clear and stated preference to assist Rural Partners with regional meetings to explore and share ideas and best practices.  A number want more hands-on training to address learning curves with new/upgraded computer programs and developing technology; we are already addressing this through Arts Summit 2009 planning.  Other suggestions include: collaborations with NYMACC; opening up the Rural Partnership through self-selection, and a Directory of all NYS rural organizations.

 

Rolling or Annual Memberships?

Kathryn Hollinger of Genesee Valley Arts Council on the Arts posted this query to the Rurals list serve.  It's generated lots of ideas from the list serve, but posting it here on our blog should solicit more ideas from a wider field..  Martha

We are thinking about changing from rolling membership to annual membership. I am on the fence, because, of course, it’s nice to get money year round.  But it’s a lot of work sending those letters every month and the real problem is that folks get 6 or more months behind, renew and then we have our hands out again when they think that they just renewed.

What do you all do and what do you do about meeting your taillights coming around the corner?

Thanks and Yahoo about restored funding.

Kathryn

 

Kathryn Hollinger