Telling Your Story is Advocacy

Last week, we saw a huge victory for the arts with President Obama's signing of the economic stimulus bill -- a package that included $50 million in additional funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, and inclusion of the arts as a legitimate recipient of other stimulus funds. Bob Lynch, the CEO of Americans for the Arts, the national advocacy organization, told me just yesterday that our advocacy efforts here in the Bay Area made a real difference. Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Miller from the East Bay were heavy-weight supporters of the including the arts in this legislation.

Now, we must make our case in city halls and in Sacramento. We know theatre and the arts play important roles in fueling local economies, in enhancing a community's quality of life, and in preparing students to prosper in the global creative economy.

On Wednesday evening, March 4, California Arts Advocates and Arts Forum SF will be hosting an advocacy training for artists and arts supporters. Learn to tell YOUR story to lawmakers, and turn story-telling into powerful advocacy.

Here's more on the free training...

Arts Forum and The California Arts Advocates present:
ART IS ESSENTIAL: ADVOCACY TRAINING
March 4th, 2009, 5 to 8 PM
The San Francisco Foundation
225 Bush Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104
FREE

Arts Forum and The California Arts Advocates join forces to provide a free, results-oriented, hands-on arts advocacy training workshop. Led by Brad Erickson, President of California Arts Advocates, Co-Founder of Arts Forum; Deborah Cullinan, Co-Founder of Arts Forum, CAA Board Member; and Karen Ames, Consultant and Advocate.

The inclusion of $50 million dollars for the arts in the recent federal economic recovery bill is profound indication that the American arts community can rally around a call to action and score big victories in Washington. Why was this advocacy campaign successful? What tools, messages and strategies were most effective? How was the case for the arts made and how can we make sure the momentum around arts advocacy continues in California and the Bay Area?

This workshop will answer those questions and launch the beginning of an ongoing Advocacy Training program that aims to activate all of us to effectively and constantly make the case for the powerful and essential role that art plays in our communities, and in our democracy.Space is limited.

Please RSVP here: Kendra@theatrebayarea.org

Get Directions Here: http://www.sff.org/about/contact-directions

Deborah Cullinan, Intersection for the Arts
Brad Erickson, Theatre Bay Area

Audio of the Jeremy Nowak speech

An MP3 audio file of the Jeremy Nowak speech from the SFAC convening at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts earlier this year is now available here. It's a large file, so it might take a bit to download.

Arts Are In!

I’m happy to report that the compromise stimulus package not only removed the terrible prohibitions on any monies being sent to cultural venues, it actually contains the $50 million extra for the National Endowment for the Arts included in the House version. A HUGE victory for the arts, and a great opportunity for localities to leverage the arts to spur local economies and grow jobs.

More information on the compromise bill still being voted on in Congress can be found in a message from the American Association of Museums which is pasted below.

Brad Erickson
Executive Director, Theatre Bay Area
California State Captain, Americans for the Arts
President, California Arts Advocates


The American Association of Museums (AAM) announced this morning that the U.S. Congress unveiled the Conference Report for H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, setting the stage for final passage by the House and Senate, expected to occur in the next few days.

Museums, zoos, and aquariums had initially been barred from competing for any funds in the Senate-passed bill. Zoos and aquariums were barred from funds in both versions. In reconciling the two pieces of legislation, Congress is set to adopt the following language:

"SEC. 1604. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used by any State or local government, or any private entity for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, or swimming pool."

"Museum supporters should be very pleased that we were able to mobilize a massive field-wide effort to prevent a funding ban on museums in this bill," said AAM President Ford W. Bell.

"However, the fact that Congress - and specifically the U.S. Senate in its February 6 vote - initially saw fit to exclude museums from funding shows that we have a lot of work to do in making the case for museums." He added: "It is also disheartening that zoos and aquariums will be prohibited from competing for most economic stimulus funds made available through this bill. Zoos and aquariums have tremendous public benefit for environmental education and wildlife conservation, and contribute greatly to our nation's economy by spurring tourism."

Museums employ more than a half-million Americans, spend an estimated $14.5 billion annually, and rank among the top three family vacation destinations. Visitors to cultural and heritage destinations stay 53% longer and spend 36% more money than other kinds of tourists.
Museums have been very hard hit by this recession, laying off workers and cutting back on services. Members of Congress must be made aware of the economic impact that museums make on their communities, and we must TELL CONGRESS the impact we have every day - employing workers, buying goods and services, and educating communities.

The bill also includes the following funding:

National Endowment for the Arts - $50 million to preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector.
Smithsonian Institution - $25 million for repair and revitalization of existing facilities.
National Park Service - $146 million for critical repair and rehabilitation projects, $589 million for energy efficient retrofits, the preservation and repair of historical resources within the National Park System, and other critical infrastructure projects, and $15 million for historic preservation projects at historically black colleges and universities.
National Science Foundation - $100 million for improving instruction in math, science, and engineering.
Community Development Fund - $1 billion to bolster critical community services and infrastructure needs, to be administered by local governments.

You can read the entire 496-page conference report HERE.

Visit www.speakupformuseums.org for more information about your legislators and AAM's advocacy for museums!

Stimulus Package Nears Deal -- Contact Pelosi Now!

At noon today, Wednesday, I received this update on the Stimulus Package from Americans for the Arts:

“Just now the Senate conferees held a press conference to announce they have struck a deal at $789 billion. Of course, we have not yet learned if the little details relating to the arts have been decided yet. The House is tentatively planning to consider the final economic recovery bill tomorrow and the Senate on Friday. Please continue your advocacy efforts, because they may still be working out some of these provisions. We will provide any further update as soon as possible.”

On Monday, I reported that last Friday the Senate approved the Coburn Amendment, which bars any stimulus monies being directed to museums, theaters, arts centers, community parks, and highway beautification projects, effectively excluding the entire arts and culture sector from the stimulus package.

It is critical that the Bay Area arts community communicate with Speaker Pelosi, urging her to use her influence to remove these exclusions from the final bill. Below is a letter I just sent to the Speaker. Please feel free to utilize any of this language as you contact the Speaker’s office (fax number is included in the letter below). If you prefer to email, here is a link:
http://speaker.house.gov/contact

Also, think about using your Facebook pages and other social networking venues to inform and activate your friends and colleagues around issues impacting the arts here in San Francisco and around the state and nation.

Brad Erickson
Executive Director
Theatre Bay Area




February 11, 2009

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Via fax: 202-225-4188

Re: Removal of Coburn Amendment Exclusion Language for Arts and Culture

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

I am writing you as a constituent, and as the California State Captain for Americans for the Arts, the President of California Arts Advocates, and as Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area, a nonprofit member service organization with 420 theatre and dance company members and nearly 3,000 individual artist members throughout the Bay Area.

San Francisco has one of the largest and most diverse arts and culture communities in California. Recently the National Endowment for the Arts ranked San Francisco as the number one city in the nation in terms of the percentage of arts-related jobs in the city’s workforce. The arts have long been seen as central to San Francisco’s attraction as a premier destination for conventions and tourism. As a state, California has more arts-related jobs than any other. The arts are critical to San Francisco’s and California’s economy.

We all recognize the tremendous pressure that Congress is feeling to act swiftly to pass a stimulus bill. Unfortunately, in an overabundance of prudence, last Friday the Senate approved the Coburn amendment (S.Amdt. 309) which effectively bars any stimulus funds for cultural institutions, severely hampering the ability of San Francisco and other localities around the country to leverage arts and culture to create jobs and boost local economies.

I urge you, as Speaker and as a San Franciscan, to exercise your influence to remove the Senate’s prohibitions on stimulus monies being directed to museums, theaters, art centers, and other cultural venues.

The arts create 5.7 million jobs in the nation each year, generating $166 billion in economic activity and returning more than $29 billion to the public coffers. The arts are a vital part of San Francisco’s, California’s and our nation’s economy. We will all benefit by including the arts in the stimulus package, leveraging a powerful tool to generate jobs and spur the nation’s economic development.

Sincerely,


Brad Erickson
State Captain, Americans for the Arts
President, California Arts Advocates
Executive Director, Theatre Bay Area

Senate Votes to Ban the Arts in Stimulus Package

Dear Arts Supporters,

Friday afternoon, a terrible amendment, authored by Senator Coburn (R-OK), was included in the Senate’s version of the economic stimulus passage. The Coburn Amendment prohibits stimulus funds going to “any aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project."

The amendment passed by a vote of 73 to 24. California’s Senator Boxer opposed the amendment, but Senator Feinstein voted in favor, even though she is a member of the Senate Cultural Caucus. Feinstein is the senior Senator from the state with the most arts-related jobs in the nation, and hails from San Francisco, the city, according to a recent report by the NEA, with highest ratio of artists in the workforce than any metro area in the country. Given the importance of arts and culture to the economies of San Francisco, the state and the nation, Senator Feinstein's vote is incomprehensible.

The next step for the stimulus package will require the bill from the House to be reconciled with the Senate's version of the bill in a conference committee later this week. As you express your displeasure with Feinstein's vote on the Coburn amendment, urge her to support inclusion of arts and culture in the revised bill.

Please contact Senator Feinstein now to express your disappointment. Then, thank Senator Boxer for her support of the arts and culture. You can also fax your message directly to the Senators, or call their offices, either in Washington or here in California.

Click here to write to Senators Feinstein and Boxer today.

Click here for Senator Feinstein's phone numbers.
Click here for Senator Boxer's phone numbers.

Sincerely,

Brad Erickson
Executive Director
Theatre Bay Area
President
California Arts Advocates

California Arts Advocates is the official Americans for the Arts State Arts Advocacy Captain for California.There are 39 million reasons to fund the arts in California. Arts for Everyone, Everywhere!

Arts Forum: the Four Questions

Question 1: How does the economic recession impact you and/or your organization?, generated a variety of responses.

Participants noted that the climate has promoted innovation and creativity in order to complete projects. On the other hand, companies are holding back on the scale of their productions or level of new equipment purchases. Corporate support has also decreased, as companies seek to tighten their reins on budgetary developments.

From the artists’ perspective, there is difficulty. Many artists are either losing leases or being forced into risky live-work situations in order to stay afloat. Teaching artists, usually used to a stronger and livable wage, face significantly decreased job opportunities.

Audience attendance has dived lower than previous years, and total ticket purchases have also declined. It is difficult for the organizations to pinpoint if it was due to their programming or economic conditions. There has been an increased trend towards single ticket sales, as opposed to whole season purchases.

Contributed income has been redistributed under current conditions. Grants have been suddenly re prioritized, with special arts projects they were earmarked for now left in the cold. Due to the ongoing Sacramento budget stalling, cities and counties are losing state of California funding and support, with no guarantee for future assistance. Endowments have dropped in many organizations, some by as much as 50%.

Question 2, What are you doing in response?, generated proactive comments. Several organizations would like to have their senior staff become involved in more policy making decisions and join boards. Many companies would like to reach out more strategically, adding a personal touch to their communications rather than relying on impersonal email or postal mail.

Question 3, What do you need?, focused on objectives required for moving forward. Opinions voiced included a request for one source of information for tourists and the community, further market research on the local community, and again, a need for deeper relationships. Artists would love to have access to affordable live/work space and quality skills development. With those tools in place, the community can be better served to move forward.

Question 4, Possible Solutions, looked at how organizations can use their current resources and the present cultural climate to their advantage. Leaders must stay positive in order to achieve the maximum results. Solutions will come from utilization of pre-existing networks, including artists. A suggestion was made to use more of public spaces, including libraries and open lands. Many organizations desire for President Obama’s stimulus package to include funding for arts assistance, and a guarantee of an arts-focused cabinet secretary. Here in San Francisco, the tourist industry is a valuable connection that may be under-used. Organizations would like to give two free tickets to any tour guides who will refer audience members.

View the complete 26 page report by clicking here. (PDF)

Arts Forum: Group Report #1

Group A, facilitated by Nancy Gonchar of the San Francisco Arts Commission, looked at all four questions. Among their findings related to the impact of the recession were the following:

• Funding is down for grants and ticket sales. This recession restricts entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
• Tough times make good art. Artists must use a new and determined creative spirit in order to continue to be innovative and proactive.
• Statewide budget cuts are forcing uncertainty in arts education. There is no guarantee that projects or visiting educators will be funded.
• Some theatres have made compromises, such as having smaller productions or fewer technical staff.

The arts workforce employs many individuals who may visit social services if funding and pay is severely reduced. In several instances throughout this conference, artists mentioned that they’d like to have a better understanding of what goes on at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. There are links that are not being cultivated between the artists and their government representatives. However, it is undoubtedly true that this crisis is encouraging artists to be responsible and active for their selves and their communities. Some would like to have links developed between the arts sector and other similar organizations.

A solution to these problems will come from more effective networking within artists groups and communities. Participants were aware of the new potential offered by the changes of the Obama administration, and are eager to further cultivate the possibilities offered by the new leadership. Mention was made of a campaign to hire artists in schools and community centers, which would be an excellent, active first step.

• How do you see these ideas potentially coming to reality?
• How can they/we get started on building further networking alliances?

Arts Forum: Group Report #2

Group B, facilitated by Brad Erickson of Theatre Bay Area, discussed the four questions and came up with equal solutions and commentary. This group had more of a focus on larger organizations and the theatre community as a whole.

The city of Oakland recently canceled a plan to cut funding for their local arts programs and organizations. City leadership was surprised by the large amount of visible support from the community. Members of this group re-iterated the importance of the city having a role in sustaining arts organizations.

The group also recognized that pre-existing networks and structures, such as public library space, volunteer groups, and organizational members, can lead to further support. Individual artists are valued, but the artists themselves can feel isolated from the process. One group member reminded the gathering of the basic principles of human management: The organization and people need to be aligned in order to power your mission.

• How can organizations move forward in development and outreach work in the current economic climate?
  
• Can the internet or other social mediums be used for more effective advocacy, as was the case in Oakland?

View the complete 26 page report by clicking here. (PDF)

Arts Forum: Group Report #3

Group C, facilitated by Rachelle Axel of the San Francisco Arts Commission, included representatives of several mid to large sized Bay Area performing arts groups. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) reported weaker attendance and lower ticket purchasing rates. Berkeley Rep stated that their ticket sales have been steady, but commitments to the School of Theatre and in subscription sales have dropped. Hillbarn Theatre, a smaller organization, reports that their donor conversations have dropped significantly. Hillbarn’s single ticket sales have decreased by 35% since September, 2008, but their subscription rates have been at a six year high in renewals.

A suggestion was made to promote the free days at YBCA. A two-for-one ticket offer could possibly lead to selling more full-priced tickets on an opening or subsequent performance evening. All of the organizational representatives voiced support for cutting things before people, and recognized that keeping a talented and well prepared staffing team is imperative for their success. Berkeley Rep suggested cultivating more links between their productions and current events and trends. If an article has appeared relating to one of their current shows, the theatre will then add it into the playbill.

This group also recognized that younger audiences have great potential for the theatre community. Many have steady jobs and did not see their portfolio decline in the recent turmoil. Others may be willing to contribute in multiple philanthropic levels, such as volunteering work, time donations, and financial assistance.

• How can young audiences be further reached?
  
• Do theatres need to follow the approach of having a youth discount for shows, or is a more active presence in social media a key to finding more audience members?
• Where does word of mouth come in?

View the complete 26 page report by clicking here. (PDF)

Arts Forum: Group Report #4

Group D, led by Ken Foster of YBCA and Judy Nemzoff of the San Francisco Arts Commission, addressed the questions with more in-depth answers. At the time of the meeting, the Magic Theatre’s future was not secure, and several guests voiced concern about any repercussions that might have. While the Magic’s future has since been secured, other theatres have begun to come forward with financial crises that may not be as successfully resolved.

Organizations connected to central San Francisco finances reported that the Mayor has requested a 12 ½ % across the board budget cut. It is unclear how this reduction will affect arts services. One representative of a local arts gallery spoke of a “tanking” arts market and plans to restructure future fairs and sales based on lowered demand. Local representatives and advocates were encouraged to know their supervisors, where they live and how they relate to their local districts.

A representative from The Marsh reported their company to be on solid financial footing. It was suspected that their solid footing was due to their low tickets and lack of salaried staff. Speculation rose about the state of current foundational support. Organizational supporters are aware of the uncertainty plaguing numerous theatre companies, but uncertain as to how to secure their funding for the future.

Lamplighters Music Theatre stated that they had recently completed a successful fundraising campaign. The representative noted that “We focused on what we were able to accomplish in the past year. And we met our goal by staying positive.” Community Music Center in San Francisco had noticed a distinction in their current grant planning efforts. In past years, they’d been able to plan their full year of performances based on a standard grant schedule. But this year, some grants have been delayed, forcing the center to create two schedules based on available or non-available funding. One guest commented that “the San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist program is essential to the well-being of the arts ecology. It’s one of the only cities that funds individual artists. I received one (a grant) ten years ago and it’s changed my life.”

This group offered many possibilities in response to the question of What are you doing in response? – Some key points included:

• What organization can advocate for San Francisco as a region?
• Who has connections to deliver that message?
• How is “(economic) stability” determined? What does that mean?
• (We) need deeper relationships. Those with advocates, officers, etc need to go beyond the broad, basic professional contacts into fuller personal connections.
• Local Artists: Where do they live now?, How do they support themselves?, How do we give them jobs?

View the complete 26 page report by clicking here. (PDF)

Arts Forum: Group Report #5

Group E, led by Deborah Cullinan of Intersection for the Arts, consisted of 30+ people. This group specifically focused on impacts of the negative economy on local arts organizations and community members. Many responses echoed the comments of their peers in other groups.

Group members anticipated a 25% cut (minimum) in public funding for the next year. City cuts are expected beginning July 1st. Several organizations are enforcing hiring freezes, making job hunting difficult and limited opportunities for professional growth. Guests wondered what services or offerings could be provided without cash. In multiple instances, audiences are increasing at “free” events.

When considering needs or possible solutions, a possibility arose to create an IDEA MAP connecting organizations. Links could develop between similar programs and resources. Leaders re-iterated that staying positive is important in these tough times. Volunteers are beneficial to organizations’ programs, but may be distracting and time consuming to work with for the professional staff.

Creative approaches to funding and involvement were encouraged. The State of California arts license plate generates $2 million dollars per year in revenue. Programs utilizing performance spaces for multiple purposes are also of benefit to the larger community.

What can make these creative approaches more widespread?

View the complete 26 page report by clicking here. (PDF)