NewJerseyartsblog

Honoring Leaders in Cultural Access

2010-07-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

“If the world doesn't give you what you need, then you change the world.” - Arlene Romoff, from her soon-to-be-published book, Listening Closely.

When I asked Arlene - an access advocate and winner of this year’s Excellence in Cultural Access Award for Leadership - about that, she said, “That quote is pretty much what the arts community does in NJ, right?!!"

Right.

It does.

These changes in our world are what brought together the representatives from many of NJ’s arts organizations at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, itself a leader in accessibility. At the 2nd Annual Excellence in Cultural Access Awards colleagues gathered to honor their peers at the event presented by the Cultural Access Network of NJ (CAN), a cosponsored project of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance (NJTA), and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA).

In her welcoming remarks, Council Chair Sharon Burton Turner recalled the beginnings of the partnership between NJSCA and NJTA that led to the Cultural Access Network. Current Executive Director of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, John McEwen, was working at the Paper Mill Playhouse and serving on NJTA’s board, and he went to the council with an idea to expand programs and services for patrons with disabilities.

Together these organizations imagined, planned and created a network that provides learning opportunities, tools, resources and guidance to expand cultural access in New Jersey for artists, patrons and organizations. Over the past 16 years this vision has touched countless lives, and has created an atmosphere of "Participation, Inclusion and Connection" which are the cornerstones of the project.

Four awards were given out to arts organizations and individuals who sustain their commitment to arts access, innovate by creating new avenues to include people with disabilities, and lead the way, by proving that nothing is impossible.

This year’s Sustainer Award went to Paper Mill Playhouse for their 25+ years of accessibility programming, which includes regularly scheduled audio described, sign interpreted and captioned performances. Michael Mooney, the theater’s Outreach and Access Coordinator, was on hand to accept the Award saying, “We also hope that by sustaining we can be a role model, an example of what is possible.”

The panel of judges had a hard time selecting just one organization for the Innovation Award, and this year one was presented to both Appel Farm Arts & Music Center and Surflight Theatre.

Through its HeArt & Health Initiative, Appel Farm & Music Center developed a partnership with Salem Health and Wellness to create a program that serves populations with disabilities through the arts. Participating audiences include care-givers and residents in nursing homes and care facilities, people with physical and mental disabilities, and at risk and homeless families.

Surflight Theatre was presented with the award for ongoing efforts to ensure that individuals with disabilities who are employed by Surflight, applying for jobs, or attending the theatre, are treated fairly and given equal opportunities. A very moved Steve Steiner – Surflight’s Artistic Director - accepted the award reiterating his philosophy, "You hire the best actress for the part and sometimes you have to look a little bit outside of the way you might normally look at something to do that."

Arlene Romoff was this year’s Leadership Award recipient. Arlene, the president of the Hearing Loss Association of NJ is a tireless advocate for Open Captioning. Her efforts led the Paper Mill to their first open captioned performance in 1992 and that performance started a revolution that has spanned the globe. Her tenacity is also responsible for the growing acceptance of open captioning being made available on the nation’s movie screens as well.

Actress and singer Ali Stroker, a Paper Mill Playhouse and Surflight Theatre alum, left the audience breathless after performing a medley of inspirational tunes that represented her growth as a performer with a disability. Before she sang, Ms. Stroker said, “I just want to say that I'm a direct result of what all of you have done. I've been performing since I was 6 and I feel very, very honored to be from New Jersey, because of the amazing opportunities that I've been able to have.”

Visual artist, Bojana Coklyat, wove a tale of despair at learning that she was losing her sight, to rebirth at finding a new outlet to both create art and teach it at the St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Jersey City. During her inspirational and sometimes very funny talk, Ms. Coklyat said, “I've taken this possible weakness – some might say – and I've turned it into a strength. I see things differently than most people would see things; I have a different perspective. Through my vision loss, I've gained so much. I found a new focus in my art career, because I was so close to losing what I love.”

In his closing remarks, Steve Runk, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, thanked the award winners, speakers and performers, and said, “They remind us of why we're here and doing what we do.”

"What we do."

We change the world, right?

Right.

-Guest blogger: Robert Carr, New Jersey Theatre Alliance

How YOU Can Advocate for Arts Education

2010-06-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

“There are [schools] in this state that as of next year will no longer have a music department. That’s what they cut.”

Assemblyman Fred Scalera of Essex County expressed his dismay at last week’s Essex Legislators Breakfast along with fellow legislators who came out to show their support for arts education. Due to budget constraints, arts education is once again on the chopping block in many districts, and Assemblyman Scalera isn’t the only one worried about the impact cutting programs will have. Five current and former students from arts education programs throughout the county spoke about the impact the programs had on their lives. Some highlights:

-A law school-bound student who spent years learning and working at Newark Museum spoke about having what she called “the Newark Museum advantage.” She attributed much of her success to becoming a global citizen through an exposure to art.

-A student who had previously been kicked out of school and grew up around violence gave a moving testimonial about how his work in glass blowing with GlassRoots has changed his life. He proudly shared, “My first month there I blew a plate,” and added, “I feel as if art has changed my life.”

-An arts educator and former student of NJPAC’s Summer Youth Performance Workshop identified with the pride students feel as artists because, as she explained, they can say “I am good at this.”

The key to seeing that programs like these survive and flourish is to share these stories with legislators, mayors, school board members, and anyone who will listen. As Assemblywoman Mila Jasey told us, “It’s important for legislators to have a sound and a picture, and to understand that you are real people, and see what you do.” Share your stories, New Jersey!

Not sure how to get in touch with your legislator? Click HERE!

NJ Arts in Health & Wellness Summit - A Great Start!

2010-06-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, June 8, participants from all over New Jersey gathered for the NJ Arts in Health & Wellness Summit, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and organized by the Arts in Healthcare Steering Committee of Arts Plan NJ.

Representatives from many aspects of the arts and healthcare were in attendance including artists, physicians, arts administrators, therapists, educators, funders and healthcare administrators. Speakers included Michael Bzdak of Johnson & Johnson; Carol Herbert of Arts Plan NJ and the NJ State Council on the Arts; Sharon Burton Turner of the NJSCA; Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno; Evlyn Baker of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare; and the co-chairs of the Steering Committee, Brian Dallow of Music for All Seasons and Karen Carbonello of Creative Heartwork.

Edie Elkan (pictured above) shared harp music during registration and Lou Watson, singer/songwriter, performed during the afternoon breaks.

Attendees broke into four focus groups with facilitators and scribes. The focus groups were stimulating, challenging and absolutely stupendous. The groups were created with a good balance of attendees from all over the arts and healthcare spectrum and attendees had a chance to discuss, in groups of about 20, the five main areas the Steering Committee had chosen to focus on, as well as weigh in on other issues of potential importance. The areas are:

Communication
Research & Evaluation
Advocacy & Arts in Healthcare Day
Inventory & Database
Professional Training & Development

The energy and enthusiasm was palpable in the groups and the excitement is building for this initiative. The group gathered at the end of the day to report on the focus group discussions and to discuss our next steps and a proposed November Summit, as well as to encourage participants to get directly involved by joining a committee. It is the goal and desire of the Steering Committee to be inclusive and expand the subcommittee working groups to include anyone who has the time and interest in Arts & Wellness to work on one or more of the five committees or to help the Steering Committee's plans for the follow up Summit in November. Please fill out this form to indicate your interest so that we may be in touch with you.

We're all very excited by the initial meeting and the feedback we've been receiving on this event. Thank you!

Guest bloggers: Karen Carbonello, Creative Heartworks and Brian Dallow, Music for All Seasons, Steering Committee Co-Chairs

Worth a Few Minutes...reading this week

2010-05-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but lately I have had little time or patience for reading. Yet I spend all day reading in front of my computer screen. What's that all about? The need for time, less distractions and focus. All of which are lacking in my life right now.

However, that being said, a few things have crossed my desk this week that are worth noting. Deb Cooperman of the NJ Theatre Alliance shared this Seth Godin blog post from back in March on "driveby culture and the endless search for wow." He hit that one out of the ballpark.

Today's Huffington Post bit by Michael Kaiser talks about the burn out of arts managers and the potential results. Lots of conclusions from this. Anne Katz of Arts Wisconsin posts her response on Art Pride's FB page, and her reasoned response is worthy of a peek, too!

Finally, Rob Walker's article in the New York Times on how to value creativity is worth a read.

So there you go! Not novels, but worth the time in between budget projections, grant proposals, business plans, and committee agendas!

Arts Day

2010-04-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone involved for making Arts Day a success!

For those who missed it, check out this great article by Peggy McGlone recapping some of the day’s events:
N.J. Arts Advocates Gather at State Museum in Trenton for Annual Event

Finally, congratulations to David Grant for receiving the 2010 Distinguished Arts Advocate Award and to Elizabeth Leger for receiving the first annual David Grant Student Arts Activist Award for her amazing "Art for Haiti" mural. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication!

We look forward to seeing you all next year.

"Art for Haiti" by Elizabeth Leger

Michael Kaiser's Key to a Healthy Arts Organization

2010-03-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

It is no wonder why Michael Kaiser has 4,694 Facebook friends. After hearing the Kennedy Center president speak at the ‘Arts in Crisis: A Conversation with Michael M. Kaiser’ event at McCarter Theatre last Wednesday, I was inspired by his optimistic, yet realistic, can-do attitude. For those who missed it, key points can be found here at the Arts in Crisis video series website.

According to Mr. Kaiser the key to a healthy arts organization is exciting programming—not surprising for a man that plans productions 4-5 years in advance! To this end, he believes programming should only receive cuts as a last resort, and when big programming cannot be scheduled right away, it should be announced 2-3 years in advance. This planning time allows for fundraising, marketing, involving board members, and generating the excitement a production needs behind it. Mr. Kaiser explained that he feels exciting, high-quality programming brings in new people who attract new audiences, which all adds up to more money to fund programming.

As the topic of conversation was “Arts in Crisis,” much of the discussion focused on finances, fundraising, and closing debt—all topics you can learn more about in his writings or in the Arts in Crisis video series. While Mr. Kaiser did discuss the extremely difficult economic climate, his tone was a hopeful and encouraging one. In such challenging times, it was motivating to hear Mr. Kaiser, a man who is certainly no stranger to accepting a challenge, rally the troops with words of wisdom and his favorite thing: excitement!

We Could go for a Bowl of Raisin Brahms…

2010-02-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

"The Arts. Ask for More." PSA campaign is excited to bring to you BRAND NEW print ads. Based on the same concept as the television and radio ads released last year, the idea of equating the arts with a healthy diet, these new ads feature arts-healthy food products based on the well-known artists Johannes Brahms, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and Vincent van Gogh. Click here to view and download the ads.

Courtesy of AmericansfortheArts.org

Arts in Crisis: A Conversation with Michael M. Kaiser

2010-02-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

McCarter Theatre Center, along with New Jersey State Council on the Arts, ArtPride New Jersey, Lewis Center for the Arts/Princeton University, The Arts Council of Princeton, and New Jersey Theatre Alliance

Invites You to Attend

ARTS IN CRISIS
A Conversation with Michael M. Kaiser
President, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

March 17, 2010
9am Coffee and Networking
10am Discussion

Moderated by Timothy Shields,
Managing Director, McCarter Theatre Center

Berlind Theatre
McCarter Theatre Center
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

Free and open to the public; pre-registration is appreciated.
To pre-register, call 609.258.2787

Mr. Kaiser will address the challenges facing nonprofit performing arts organizations today. Q&A to follow.

If you would like to ask Mr. Kaiser a question, please email Edward Coles at ecoles@mccarter.org before March 16.

Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative
Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative is a program designed to provide planning assistance and consulting to struggling arts organizations throughout the United States. Open to non-profit 501(c)(3) presenting and producing performing arts organizations, the program will provide counsel from Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser, Kennedy Center executive staff, and approved mentors in the areas of fundraising, building more effective Boards of Trustees, budgeting, marketing, technology, and other areas pertinent to maintaining a vital performing arts organization during a troubled economy. This event is part of Michael Kaiser's nationwide speaking tour. For more info visit http://www.artsincrisis.org/

Help Us Help the Arts Throughout Our State!

2010-02-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Dear New Jersey arts supporter,

Help Art Pride NJ help the arts throughout our State!

ArtPride NJ is in the running to be named a GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Arts Nonprofit and we need your help! If we receive at least 10 positive reviews (4 or 5 stars) by February 28, 2010, ArtPride NJ will gain exposure to potential donors. All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes! Go to:
http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/643822

Be sure to choose "Arts Appreciation Campaign" from the drop-down list of campaigns when posting your review.

With your help, we can gain greater visibility in the community. And if your nonprofit would like to be part of this effort, be sure to visit GreatNonprofits to find out how!

Thank you,
Ann Marie Miller
Executive Director, ArtPride NJ

Why Don’t More Members of Gens X and Y Join Boards?

2010-02-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

I recently received an email about a blog post titled “Why Don’t More Members of Gens X and Y Join Boards?” through the Americans for the Arts Emerging Arts Leaders Listserv (which is great, by the way. You should join.) The topic of under-35ers on nonprofit boards is one that has risen several times in my office and amongst our Emerging Arts Leaders group. Though I think a member of Generation X/Y joining a board would be beneficial to both the organization and the individual, I am intimidated by the prospect of doing so (as are many of my Generation X/Y peers) for exactly the reasons listed in this blog post:

…Some in these demographics are hesitant to pursue board opportunities for the following reasons:
• They hold the perception that board service is not accessible
• They think they’re not qualified
• They don’t know what is involved in joining a board
• They’re unaware of the impact of board service on an organization’s mission or what board service can do to help a cause.

A good friend of mine who recently graduated from college told me that she was considering becoming a board member of a nonprofit. At first, I have to admit, I was surprised! Though she is admittedly one of the smartest, most talented people I know, she has only been out of school for about half a year. I wondered what someone just entering the field would have to offer an organization. It seems that what I initially looked at as an obstacle for her to overcome is actually an asset! My friend is in tune with what people her age need from this organization and has fresh ideas on how to meet these demands—a challenge the board had been working on and they wanted a generational liaison, if you will, to help guide the process. For this reason, she was asked to apply for a spot on the board, something she would never consider within reach had it not been presented as an option. The board will now have a new perspective at the table from a demographic they want to reach, my friend will gain experience and contacts helping a nonprofit that supports what she loves, and the organization will benefit from the ideas that develop from this new marriage. It’s win-win-win. Now the question is: how do we encourage “generational diversity” on boards?

A Look at the National Arts Index

2010-01-29T08:47:00.000-08:00

Americans for the Arts recently released their National Arts Index. Measuring data from 1998-2008, this report measures “the health and vitality of arts in the United States by using 76 equal weighted, national-level indicators of arts activity.” A report with an index score based on these factors will be released annually moving forward.

I participated in an AFTA webinar led by Randy Cohen explaining the National Arts Index Wednesday afternoon, and let me tell you, these statistics point to some interesting trends. A brief overview as well as the full report can be found here.

What I found particularly striking was that the percentage of the U.S. population that attends live arts events has decreased over the past decade while there has been an increase in personal creation and consumption of the arts. Naturally, the question of how organizations can tap into this growing market was posed. Additionally, while there has been a decrease in foundation and corporation charitable giving, there has been a steady increase in the number of artists, arts organizations and arts businesses. In fact—hold onto your hat—according to Urban Institute, from 2003-2008 on average a new non-profit arts organization was created every 3 hours! As one might expect based on the decrease in funding, unfortunately 1 in 3 fails to break even. The subject of looking into more viable structures was brought up as one possible solution. These statistics raise a lot of questions, but as Mr. Cohen explained in his webinar, “The National Arts Index is the beginning of the conversation, not the end.”

Based on the data, these conclusions were reached:
• The National Arts Index fell 4.2 percentage points in 2008, reflecting losses in charitable giving and declining attendance at larger cultural institutions—even as the number of arts organizations grew.
• The arts follow the nation’s business cycle—not surprising as the arts are composed of 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations and 600,000 more arts businesses, 2.24 million artists in the workforce, and count on billions of dollars in consumer spending. Based on past patterns, we estimate an arts rebound to begin in 2011.
• Demand for the arts lags capacity. From 1998 and 2008, there was annual growth in capacity of the arts industries—a steady increase in the number of artists, arts businesses and nonprofit arts organizations, and arts-related employment. Nonprofit arts organizations alone grew in number from 73,000 to 104,000 during this span of time. That one out of three failed to achieve a balanced budget even during the strongest economic years of this decade suggests that sustaining this capacity is a growing challenge.
• How the public participates in and consumes the arts is expanding. The arts participation measure is on the increase. Personal arts creation by the public growing steadily (making art, playing music). Attendance at mainstream nonprofit arts organizations, however, is in decline. Technology has also had an impact: 50 percent of music and CD stores have disappeared in the past 5 years, while the number of online downloads grown four-fold in just the past three years.
• The subsidy model is struggling. Arts and culture continues to lose their market share of philanthropy to other charitable areas—a decline that began well before the current economic downturn.
• Demand for arts in education is up. A growing percentage of college-bound high school seniors are getting 4 years of arts and music, even as other national studies point to a decline in arts education. College arts degrees conferred annually have increased from 75,000 to 120,000 in the past decade.
• The competitiveness of the arts is slipping. Overall, the arts are not “stacking up” well against other uses of audience members’ time, donor and funder commitment, or spending when compared to non-arts sectors.

ArtPride NJ Job Bank

2010-01-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

For those of you that do not already know, ArtPride NJ provides an online Job Bank as a service to the community and a benefit for ArtPride member organizations. If you are looking for a job in the arts, or are an arts organization looking to post a job listing, be sure to check it out! We recently added some new listings, so if you haven't visited lately go take a look:

ArtPride NJ Job Bank

New York Times Article: Grants Frozen, Theaters Improvise

2009-12-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment to read this great article from Sunday's New York Times on the effect the State funding freeze would have on New Jersey arts.

Grants Frozen, Theaters Improvise

ArtPride NJ Response to Star Ledger Editorial

2009-12-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

The Star Ledger's editorial of December 13, 2009 entitled, "Starving N.J. arts: A sad consequence of our budget crisis" is a callous and ill-considered opinion piece that shamelessly panders to an angry public faced with an economic debacle that was decades in the making. Most notably, The Ledger fails to recognize that state funding for the arts comes not from income, sales or property taxes, but from a dedicated revenue source - a legislatively mandated hotel/motel occupancy fee, derived from taxes generated largely from out-of-state visitors, and which provides $80 million in revenue to the Treasury.

For fifteen years the nonprofit arts industry has been educating our whole State to understand that the arts are not about rich people attending the opera or self absorbed artists feeling entitled. They are about good schools and rescuing children from gangs and drugs. They are about treating our parents and grandparents with the dignity and joy they deserve. They are about rebuilding our cities and towns, improving the business community, and supporting property values. They are about helping people heal including patients in the recovery room and those who suffer multiple sclerosis, autism, mental illness and disabilities of all sorts. They are about retaining jobs, sustaining tourism, giving our residents pride and instilling a unique and attractive character to a state that is over 300 years old and needs now more than ever to secure its future.

New Jersey's non-profit arts community has suffered from the repeated loss of State funds over the past several years-funds that were dedicated from a specific revenue source. This State funding represents about 8% of any arts group's budget, but allows programs to be accessible to our most vulnerable residents-senior citizens, those with reduced income, and students in our most disadvantaged areas.

Arts groups were awarded these funds in July of 2009. Nonprofit arts organizations throughout the state have presented and produced programs for more than four months in reliance upon receiving these grants.

If ever there was a group that knows "creative ways to survive" as suggested in your editorial, it is New Jersey's arts community. They have reduced programming, laid off already lean staffs, reduced their hours and ticket prices, and collaborated effectively with other sectors. Doing more with less is the trademark of an earnest, hardworking and dedicated non-profit arts sector. We have been creative for a long time, but these cuts will kill arts groups all over New Jersey.

The really sad consequences will be the loss of institutions that make us proud and the consequent loss of jobs, income, and economic stimulus that the arts bring to our towns and our State. This funding is a miniscule price to pay for sustaining every important aspect of our civic agenda.

Mark E. Packer
President
ArtPride NJ

An AFTA ArtCast on Princeton's Arts and the Economic Crisis Symposium

2009-12-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back I wrote a blog post on the Arts and the Economic Crisis Symposium held by Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts (“The Arts and Creating Social Change”.) Another wonderful panelist at the event was President and CEO of Americans for the Arts Bob Lynch who recently posted a great ArtCast on Americans for the Arts’ ArtsBlog about the symposium. Take a look!

ArtCast: Princeton Symposium on Arts and the Economic Crisis

Information on the State Funding Freeze

2009-12-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

As most of you are aware the State funding freeze is a source of major concern for arts organizations (as well as many others.) For more information on the freeze and the effects it may have, please read Peggy McGlone’s article in the Star-Ledger, N.J. Arts Groups Fret as State Freezes $10M in Grants. We will follow up with further resources and information as we receive them. Your comments on this article and ongoing support are greatly appreciated!

Current Crisis

2009-12-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

Recognizing the dire condition of State finances, contractually committed funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has been frozen to hundreds of the State’s arts organizations. This will have a catastrophic effect on New Jersey’s arts community.

Arts organizations have made long-standing commitments to artists, vendors, staffs and patrons in reliance upon the expectation that their grant contracts with the State would be honored (by the end of the 2009 calendar year). Money that was imminently to be released by the State to arts groups is now frozen, exacerbating already fragile organizational budgets. Many that operate on a calendar year are not able to meet year end obligations, most notably payroll.

Full disbursement of these contractually committed funds is essential. In some cases, the ongoing viability of venues could well hang in the balance.

The following is a suggested response for members of the field:

1. It is imperative that those groups most affected by the funding freeze communicate with their audiences and with their district legislators. The message is:

We understand that the State of New Jersey is in a financial crisis and that all State grant funds have been frozen to non-profit groups. The commitment of grant funds was made to our organization in July and we have acted in good faith expecting, as in the past, that our grant contract would be honored by the end of the calendar year. The funding freeze has created a financial emergency (here outline specifically what may happen as a result—jobs lost, operations cease, programs cut, vendors not being paid, other financial obligations).

We ask that the Governor unfreeze State funding that will allow our organization to continue operations and stimulate our local economy.

2. This same message may be shared with local press.

Let the Bidding Begin!

2009-12-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Looking for the perfect gifts for friends and family? Want to help out a cause near to your heart this holiday season? We here at ArtPride have just the thing…

Get your holiday shopping done while supporting the arts in New Jersey! With starting bids as low as $12, the ArtPride NJ Foundation Online Auction Fundraiser is your one-stop shop for gifts for the whole family:

· VIP tickets and backstage passes to your favorite New Jersey arts organizations and events.

· Weekend getaway packages to your favorite New Jersey destinations.

· Autographed items from New Jersey celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, James Gandolfini, Stephen Colbert, Janet Evanovich and more!

Check out the auction at: http://artprideonlineauction.cmarket.com

The auction runs from November 30th – December 11th, so let the bidding begin!

The Arts and Creating Social Change

2009-11-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

As an arts advocate and theatre person, I frequently find myself in conversations where I am asked to explain why the arts are important to fund, to attend, to practice, etc. Saturday at the Arts and the Economic Crisis symposium hosted by Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, I had one of those “aha” moments that will forever change the way I answer that question.

The final discussion panel of the evening was moderated by the brilliant Homi K. Bhabha and included renowned theatre, opera and festival coordinator Peter Sellars, Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, and poetry editor for The New Yorker and Princeton professor Paul Muldoon (Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison was unfortunately unable to attend, though her book Burn This Book was read from and her work discussed). What really struck me was that all four men riffed on the idea that the arts are about empathy. It is through theatre, cinema, prose, music, dance and art that we are given a window into the lives of others in any real way. It is only when people are placed in a situation in which, as Paul Muldoon explained, they see what is like to be in another person’s skin and think nothing of themselves, that great art is made—a necessity for civil society.

Philip Seymour Hoffman discredited the idea that the arts (particularly theatre) are escapist. He explained that when he watches a show he must empathize with characters in devastating situations—so much so that he is relieved when the show ends (a feeling I completely understand. I cannot count how many times I have had to sit in my seat for a good 5-10 minutes after a play ended to compose myself.) But this experience is a necessary one and a fulfilling one. These empathetic experiences are the only ways for people to begin to try to understand what is like to live someone else’s life. As all four men agreed, watching tv and reading the news is important, but does not promote understanding between cultures, ethnicities, generations, etc. It only deepens the “us’/‘them’ divide. Philip Seymour Hoffman said it best: “If we’re in a world where the media is just reminding us why to be angry, then we never get to the weeping.”

Part of me has long felt jealous of my parents’ generation—of living in a time of such strong political and social activism. My co-worker and I were discussing voter turn out among people my age and were positing theories as to why it is so low. Even with the recent groundbreaking presidential election, one that received staggering support from young people, the number of young voters was not what it could have been. I think though, that it is not because my generation is apathetic or lazy or self-involved. From what I have seen of my peers it is that many of them choose instead to get in the trenches and enact change themselves (I am not suggesting this should come in place of voting, but there is certainly something to be said for being the change you wish to see in the world.) After college many of my friends chose to do things like apply for Teach for America, work with autistic children, and create arts programs for children with exactly that intention in mind. Perhaps more of us should turn to the arts, like many of our parents did, as a voice for these changes we wish to see.

At the symposium, one panelist concluded that more members of my generation were pursuing careers they felt passionately about because of the downturn in the economy. If you aren’t going to be able to get that job in corporate finance anyway, you may as well do what you love, right? I came out of this conference with a new sense of hope and a reinvigorated passion for the arts. With all the struggle that is going on at this moment, perhaps we should all take a page from Peter Sellars: “It’s a great time to be an artist right now—there’s a lot of subject matter.”

New Governor Christie on Arts, History & Tourism

2009-11-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

Just in case you missed it from our numerous pre Election Day postings and alerts, here is candidate Christie's position paper on the arts. If you go to the Art Pride web site, you can also find the podcast from WBGO-FM's guberatorial debate and listen in!

Chris Christie Supports the Arts

Chris Christie believes in the important contribution that the arts make to the uniqueness of our state. He believes in the value of the arts to connect, engage and inspire our citizens. He understands the arts also provide our children with opportunities to create, explore and unleash their own creative abilities… skills that will serve them well in many aspects of their lives. Chris Christie also understands that the arts are one of the places where personal politics should be left behind and the beauty, joy and inspiration of the arts be shared by all of our citizens. The arts in New Jersey not only help unite us, they help define us. This benefit, alone, is reason enough to support the arts in our great state.

But there is much more to the arts. The arts and history are a vibrant economic engine generating more than $2 billion in economic activity and employing more than 80,000 people across the state - making the cultural community one of our largest employers. Cultural events draw millions of patrons not only to our museums and theaters… but to our restaurants, parking lots, and hotels. Beyond the cultural benefit, providing the proper support and infrastructure for a thriving cultural community just makes good business sense.

The arts make good educational sense as well. Arts education helps our children develop the skills needed to be successful in a rapidly changing world. The needs of the 21st century workforce require our students to process creativity and develop an innovative mind. We are educating our children today for industries and businesses that have yet to be invented. In this new environment, creativity and innovation will be as important as the ability to read, write and multiply. Arts education is one of the key ways to unleash the creative capacities in our young people.

Chris Christie believes that Jon Corzine has circumvented the laws requiring the arts to be funded at certain levels. He believes statutory mandates for the funding of the arts should be followed.

Chris Christie, speaking at the WBGO debate in Newark on October 22nd -“The legislature passed a law saying this is to be a dedicated funding stream to the arts, and I think it's a very simple matter - the law should be followed. It should not be circumvented in that regard. We need to comply with the law that the Legislature passed in 2003. And if you've dedicated a portion, as we did, of the hotel motel tax to funding the arts, the arts deserve to be funded in that way. And I will tell you this: you're right about the arts being an economic engine in this state. They absolutely are. We are in the shadow of the NJPAC right here. And we know if you come down here, as my wife and I often do, to see performances, you know what a night at the NJPAC does to this area of the city of Newark, to its economic vitality, to the restaurants, to the bars, to all of the people who vend in this area. It really brings it alive. And the fact is that is what we need to be doing more of, not less of. But all we need to do is follow the law. And the law has been pretty simple and pretty straight forward. That's why Governor Kean spoke out, the chairman of my campaign, spoke out forcefully against the diverting of those funds because it is bad for New Jersey. But also because it isn't in accordance with the law. So I think we just need to say if the state's done it this way and promised to the people of the state that it would be used that way, we should use the money that way and should not divert it. And in a Christie Administration we would not divert it.”

I Support the Arts & I Vote! Candidates on NJ Arts, History & Tourism‏

2009-11-02T12:29:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to vote tomorrow, November 3! Every vote counts and the future of New Jersey is in YOUR hands!

To find out what the NJ gubernatorial and NJ Assembly candidates think about state arts, history and tourism funding visit the ArtPride NJ web site. You will find links to responses to ArtPride's survey (scroll down) and there's even a link to WBGO-FM's podcast of the recent gubernatorial debate. (If you can only listen for a few minutes, move the bar to 35 minutes in for the arts questions).

And don't forget our Keep It Green and Historic Preservation partners and vote YES on Public Question #1 to preserve open space and historic sites. There is more information at the Preservation NJ website.

Questions? Can't access the info? Email us at artpride@artpridenj.com or call 609.479.3377, ext. 307 or ext. 305.

Masterpiece of the Day- October 30, 2009

2009-10-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, the final installment of...
Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Sunset in The Grand Canyon on the Road to Supai
By: Gary Marx
Photograph

Masterpiece of the Day- October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Statue of Bethesda

By: Eliana Meira Rantz

Photograph

Masterpiece of the Day- October 28, 2009

2009-10-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Pieta

By: Karin Jervert

Charcoal drawing

Masterpiece of the Day- October 27, 2009

2009-10-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Dot's "Do" Shop
By: Karmaya Lewis
Pastels
karmaya11@hotmail.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 26, 2009

2009-10-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Without Echo

By: David Foley

Photograph

Masterpiece of the Day- October 23, 2009

2009-10-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Pastel Patchwork:
Sunflowers in July, Cheetah in Lipstick, and Color Me True
By: Priyanka Chanchani, Samantha Obnial, Joe Randall
Pastels

Gubernatorial Candidates on the Arts - WBGO Debate

2009-10-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

AN ARTISTIC TURN - 8:40 p.m.Christie said the state was circumventing laws requiring arts funding."You're right about the arts being an economic engine in the state," Christie said. "You know what a night at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center does to this area, to the city of Newark.""That's what we need to be doing more of, not less of," he said.

Daggett said the state should triple the budget for tourism promotion."In a bad economy, people turn to the arts," he said.

Corzine said arts funding declined because of "tough choices" in the midst of a recession. "You can't do that without some tough outcomes. I care more about making certain we fund our food banks, that we have legal services for those that are in foreclosure," he said. "Not because we don't support the arts, but because we have to make tough choices."

AP Photo/Rich Schultz

Masterpiece of the Day- October 22, 2009

2009-10-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Ocean City
By: Sandra Lubrano
Photograph

Masterpiece of the Day- October 21, 2009

2009-10-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Germ #6

By: Beck Klausman

Photograph

http://beckklausman.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 20, 2009

2009-10-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Recline I

By: Daniel Sroka

Abstract macro photograph of a fallen leaf

http://danielsroka.com/

Masterpiece of the Day- October 19, 2009

2009-10-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Fly

By: Sherry Rubel

Photograph

This photograph was taken during Crossroads Theatre Company's production of Fly. For more information on their organization please visit: http://crossroadstheatrecompany.org/

Masterpiece of the Day- October 16, 2009

2009-10-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Singin' in the Rain
By: Rich Kowalski
Photograph (picturing actor Dan Higgins)

This photograph was taken during Plays in the Park's production of Singin' in the Rain. For more information on their organization please visit: www.playsinthepark.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 15, 2009

2009-10-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Korean Sunset...

By: Mike McDonald

Photograph

Masterpiece of the Day- October 14, 2009

2009-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

The Deposition

From Laura Elkins' HOMEwRAP series addressing abuse of power

By: Laura Elkins

Installation at iscp Gallery, Brooklyn, 2008
Acrylic on tyvek, polyfil and shredded documents-size varies

http://www.lauraelkinsartist.com/

Laura also let me know that there is an event this weekend in Washington, D.C. featuring her work:

On October 17, The Deposition will be featured during Head Cinema -- Sleep, Dreams and Reality, a collaboration and simulcast between Art Outlet in Washington, DC and Der Kunstladen (The Art Shop) in Mannheim, Germany. If you are in DC that weekend, Head Cinema is from 2 - 4pm at the Capitol Skyline Hotel. Come by and let the Inspector Depose Your Dreams.
http://artoutlet.org/news/events/head-cinema

Masterpiece of the Day- October 13, 2009

2009-10-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Epiphany or Collapse
By: Megan Chapman (copyright 2009)
Mixed media on canvas
www.meganchapman.com
This piece (24x30") is for sale for $725

Masterpiece of the Day- October 12, 2009

2009-10-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Schoolyard Serenade

Photograph of teachers Joseph Ramalho (trumpet) and Douglas Laustsen (trombone) at the Academy of Performing Arts at School 6 in Paterson, NJ.

Masterpiece of the Day- October 9, 2009

2009-10-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Natural Beauty
By: Amy Pospiech
Setup and rendering of a still life around a theme, in pencil.
www.amypospiech.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 8, 2009

2009-10-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Turquoise

By: Amy Johnson

Photograph

Masterpiece of the Day- October 7, 2009

2009-10-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Marshlands Triptych #1

By: Joanie San Chirico

Paint, photography and hand stitching on linen

http://www.joaniesanchirico.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 6, 2009

2009-10-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office WallCiunas
By: Beth Shadur
Mixed media on paper work
www.bethshadur.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 5, 2009

2009-10-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Zen Green Circles

By: Tracy DiTolla

Watercolor painting and collage

www.tracyditolla.com

Masterpiece of the Day- October 2, 2009

2009-10-02T08:02:00.001-07:00

Maddie's Digital Office Wall

Da Munchie
By: Paul Kaminski
Pen and ink, digital coloring
Copyright Archie Comics Publications, Inc.

For more information on the artist visit: http://pjbro.deviantart.com/

Welcome to Maddie's Digital Office Wall!

2009-10-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

Happy National Arts and Humanities Month, Everyone!

As you may have heard, the walls of my office are sadly very empty and in need of art...

In celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month I will be hanging a new masterpiece on my digital office wall every weekday in October. I have received many amazing works, but I still need more, so please keep them coming! Enjoy today's masterpiece!

Best,
Maddie

Masterpiece of the Day- October 1, 2009

Riccardi Bass
By: Jackie Stack Lagakos
Stained glass mosaic

Hang your Masterpiece on Maddie's Digital Office Wall

2009-09-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

In celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month...

Maddie’s office wall is empty! Art is for and by everyone-- send us an image of YOUR masterpiece (anything from an oil painting to a photograph of you performing art to a macaroni and paste picture) to post on Maddie’s digital office wall. We will post a new piece of art every weekday in October to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month, so crack open that new box of crayons and email an image of your creation to madelineorton@artpridenj.com!

"Arts allow Alzheimer's patients to live in the moment" --USA Today

2009-09-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

By Mary Brophy Marcus, USA TODAY

By Joe Brier, for USA TODAY
Early Alzheimer's patient Bob Blackwell photographs the flowers and wildlife at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Va., Aug. 12.

A smile crosses Bob Blackwell's face as he gently lifts his camera to his eye and zooms in on a black-and-yellow swallowtail butterfly hovering near the same flower as a yellow finch.

A little while later, Blackwell, 66, rests in the shade of a gazebo at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Va., where he enjoyed a balmy late summer morning recently, snapping images of nature.

"Doing this …" he says, gesturing to the cameras slung around his neck and then spreading his arms out toward the lake and rolling green hills surrounding him, "It makes me forget. It makes me happy."

It's not often Blackwell will tell you forgetting is a good thing. He has Alzheimer's disease, a memory-robbing illness that pushed the former CIA analyst into early retirement, and these days makes him forget the words to his favorite church hymns and the name of the bird he just photographed. But when he's behind the lens of his camera, it's his disease he forgets.

Blackwell is among many people who suffer from some form of dementia who are pursuing fine-arts activities — including photography, painting and music. Patients, their caretakers, Alzheimer's doctors and arts-program organizers say the benefits of taking up a brush, viewing a masterpiece or hearing the strains of a classical arrangement are multi-faceted.

"An art or music experience is another way to give people a vehicle to express themselves, to communicate feelings they might not be able to share verbally anymore," says Beth Kallmyer, director of Family and Information Services for the Alzheimer's Association.

These aren't arts-and-crafts sessions involving Popsicle sticks and paste, say those who lead such programs. Major museums and symphony halls are involved, as well as professional artists.

"Our program has integrity. We're using archival materials and brushes. It's not a craft program. We really believe people with dementia deserve high-quality materials, high-bond watercolor paper," says Joanne Fisher, the statewide coordinator and event manager for "Memories in the Making," an Alzheimer's Association of Colorado series that collaborates with professional artists from the state to help patients produce and sometimes sell their artwork.

Fisher says the program began 15 years ago with five sites and has blossomed to more than 85 locations in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and community centers throughout the state.

Elsewhere, museums and symphonies are opening their doors to those with dementia. In Phoenix, Banner Alzheimer's Institute began collaborating with the Phoenix Symphony, the Phoenix Art Museum, and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art two years ago, inviting people with mild to moderate dementia and their caretakers to attend regularly scheduled tours and performances. Pre-concert discussions by musicians and post-tour seminars occur during normal business hours because Banner's project coordinators say they wanted attendees to gain a feeling of belonging.

"There's a real sense of isolation about these folks, that they're separate and that they stand out. We wanted them to feel like they're like everybody else," says Jan Dougherty, director of family and community services at Banner.

Vicki McAllister, research and program coordinator at Banner, says they've been studying the effects of the programs on the well-being of more than 144 participants, half with dementia, and half who are caretakers. "Many say they've found a venue where they can stop the hectic pace of doctor appointments and fears of the future, and be more in the moment together," McAllister says.

Howard Grossman, 82, and his wife Connie, 76, who has Alzheimer's, attended the Phoenix Art Museum program and enjoyed it so much they now go back weekly on their own.

"The museum keeps us together. We hold hands, we walk," Grossman says. "She may not be able to appreciate and discuss the art, but there is a connection," he says.

Physicians say enjoying the arts in a group format is good for people with Alzheimer's, but Blackwell prefers his solitary strolls and kayaking forays down the Au Sable River near his vacation home in Michigan, when he can snap photos of his favorite bird, the blue heron. "I love sneaking up on them really close and catching them off guard," he says, pointing to photos his wife, Carol, downloaded onto their computer.

Carol says her husband's hobby opens up his creative side and gives him a passion.

Blackwell says he may just try to sell a few. "It may be a pie in the sky, but I am hoping I can turn it into a small business," he says.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-15-alzheimers-blackwell_N.htm

Revisiting Connections on 9/11

2009-09-11T05:37:00.000-07:00

Today is a brief break from "Feeling the Pinch," to feeling even more as we commemorate the anniversary of terrorist attacks in NY and DC. At left is "Monument for Living" by Richard Nebiolo of Lambertville, NJ, one of the many memorable images in ArtPride NJ's Connections online art gallery. Of his work, Richard says:

I have "rebuilt" the World Trade Center in exact detail but downsized to make it available to the public as a memorial. I have given much thought to the particular details of each part and of each section--so as to reverently commemorate those who fell victim in our nation's "Second Day of Infamy" and to also create the artistic ambience so necessary to enhance the reflective mood desired for each visitor to this hallowed site.

Connections was launched with funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation that realized the arts help people resolve the many complex emotions felt daily--in and out of crisis. The ArtPride NJ Foundation found Connections to be a great way to help people share creative expressions following Sept. 11. It has evolved way past images related to that day to include the work of students and arts groups. Artists, both professional and emerging, visual and written word, are welcome to post their work and to continue a way to share through the arts.

Feeling the Pinch?: Part 5

2009-09-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

As you may already be aware, due to the 25% cut to New Jersey State Council on the Arts appropriations, Individual Artist Fellowship grants were suspended this year. These grants are highly competitive and awarded to a small number of individual artists to support their professional development. In a letter issued to the applicants by the council chair and the executive director, this difficult decision was explained:

The Council’s Grants Committee wrestled with a number of difficult choices in an environment of reduced resources. They weighed the important impact a Fellowship grant can have on the 20 to 30 artists each year who receive them and funding to arts organizations that employ, engage, exhibit, present and serve over 27,000 artists each year and the support needed to keep those opportunities available. While support to organizations also had to be reduced, the Committee determined that limited funds could have the greatest impact for the largest number of artists by keeping those opportunities available as much as possible.

Despite their best efforts, as a result of the economic climate it is still unclear as to whether the Artist Fellowship grants will be reinstated next year. In addition to the many letters we have received from members of arts organizations, we have also gotten feedback from several individual artists sharing how these particular cuts affect them. Here is one such letter:

I applied for a 2010 Individual Artist Fellowship grant this year and met the July 15 deadline. I am extremely upset that NJ is being skipped over and left out of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation fellowship program this year. Does this mean that categories for 2009 (2011) arts grants will be "gifted" two cycles in a row? This hardly seems fair! Or, will the entire Mid Atlantic Fellowship grant Cycle be rewritten for New Jersey? I doubt that and I am sure I am not the only grant applicant that sees this injustice. The only communication I have received is that my grant application is being kept on file. I have not applied for a grant before and find it more than interesting to be in the middle of such turmoil. Please keep advised of news or changes in the political and financial situation of these grants not only in NJ but in the Mid Atlantic states, as well.

Thank you for your anticipated response.
Tracey

Feeling the Pinch?: Part 4

2009-09-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

As arts organizations, we do our best to provide patrons with the best possible experience. It is understandable for an organization to want to be viewed in the best possible light, so when funding is cut many sweep the evidence under the rug to save face. But is this the best idea?

Share with us how YOU are feeling the pinch to help people understand how less arts funding affects you! Here is the fourth installment of our Feeling the Pinch? series:

We try very hard not to let our guests and our artists feel the effects of funding cuts, however, this may be the first time. We have had to let our education director and gallery coordinator go. This was a part-time position. We also have let go our carpenter go, which was a full-time position with benefits. What this means to our patrons and guests is the gallery will be closed unless we can find a qualified person to volunteer to do this task. We have always featured 6 artists every year and will no longer be able to do this. We also will no longer be able to expose our over 50,000 admissions a year to these works of Art. Study guides for our student matinees and children’s’ shows will no longer be produced. This will leave teachers and parents on their own to help their young people see the values in the stories and the art behind them. Our sets will be designed simpler to help make up for the lack of personnel to build. Although we will try and replace these tasks with volunteers, we must simplify to maintain quality. Our Newsletter is in danger of being discontinued. This is a great advocacy piece for us and although it is currently being produced fewer times than it was, it is still being printed and viewed on our web site. With no stimulus money coming our way, we worry other positions may have to be cut. We had a good summer season so we are crossing our fingers and the few of us that are left are working harder and longer hours to seek new streams of revenue and market our products. Through all of this, our patrons have continued to support us by attendance and financial support. If I can be of any further assistance please don’t hesitate to call upon my service.
Bruce

Bruce A. Curless
Producing Artistic Director
The Ritz Theatre Company

United We Serve the Arts: Tell Your Story

2009-08-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

As many of you are aware, President and Mrs. Obama have made volunteerism a central part of their call to build community, part of the United We Serve initiative. To highlight the importance and the power of the arts in volunteerism, Americans for the Arts is excited to announce its new United We Serve website has just launched! Be sure to visit and share your stories and pictures about volunteerism in the arts. It’s a great way to showcase the fantastic work of volunteers and arts organizations.

August 21st, 2009 at 04:18pm
Ben Burdick
http://blog.artsusa.org/2009/08/21/united-we-serve-the-arts-tell-your-story/

Feeling the Pinch: Part 3

2009-08-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Today's Feeling the Pinch post is taken from an email by and individual artist. Though the arts organizations are hurting badly, we can't forget how funding cuts hurt individual artists as well!

We are still collecting stories of how less arts funding affects you, so please email artpride@artpridenj.com with yours!

Hi, Ann Marie -

I appreciate your outreach (Art Pride eNewletter and survey).

I am a recipient of an NJ Individual Fellowship Award this year. I am a full time studio artist. I attended the NJ State Council on the arts Annual Meeting yesterday in Trenton - just to see what is going on in the art world in NJ. I can't help but to feel that much of the focus goes to non-profit organizations, groups, collaborators and arts education. What opportunities are there for individual artists in the state of NJ?

I am extremely grateful for winning a NJ Individual Fellowship Award
- I believe there were 26 award winners, out of the over 450 who applied. Who in the state is working on individual artist needs? With no lobbying group for individual fine artists, we are invisible. I thought I heard at the conference yesterday, that due to the economy, the Individual Fellowship Awards were being suspended. Is this true?

Thank you for any information you can give me.

Regard,
Joan Dreyer

*Joan later emailed writing, "It is true, that the Individual Fellowship Awards have been suspended," and inquiring as to how that decision was made.

Feeling the Pinch?: Part 2

2009-08-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you again for keeping us posted on how funding cuts to the arts affect you, and please keep your feedback coming! Below is the latest installment in our Feeling the Pinch? series:

Last year, the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble lost 50% of corporate donations in amount of donation (They have been cut in half). We also lost a benefactress/sponsor who died. We are attempting to make it up by asking members to get chair sponsors. (We are a band).

Karen Poorman, President
South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble

Rocco Says Hi!

2009-08-18T06:35:00.000-07:00

Feeling the Pinch? Part 1

2009-08-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

We sure are! With declines in private and public sources of contributed support, arts groups around New Jersey (and around the nation) are feeling it in one way or another, and probably in more than one way!

We recently asked artists and arts organizations to let us know how funding cuts affect them and the response we received was astounding. It is imperative that we track and document what is being lost as a result of funding cutback, so please keep your emails, tweets, and Facebook messages coming!

Below is the first in our Feeling the Pinch series:

Hello ArtPride!
Yes I am feeling the pinch and always have the feeling that my family is one job loss away from foreclosure. That said can I complain? Though we carry heavy debt I work a part time job with decent health benefits. This gives us some security and me some time to work on the artwork, which I do when I am not repairing a house that, as it falls in value, also falls apart about us. My wife works in the field of art moving, specifically the moving and rigging of monumental sculpture. She sees cutbacks in her industry as art handlers in the galleries are laid off, galleries close, fewer galleries set up booths in the big art fairs etc etc. She sees the containers piling up in Newark.

In our township we have an annual studio tour. This year the number of participants nearly doubled and consequently the number of visitors did to though they didn't seem to be spending as much. I feel fortunate to be in a community that supports the arts but even that support is eroding. Our local gallery, the Pierro Gallery of South Orange, almost lost its director, Judy Wukitsch, as a result of village cost cutting. Only the relentless work of some local art warriors stood in the way of her job being cut completely.

On a personal level I have been confronting the financial crisis we are all dealing with by making art about it. I have created a blog called the Bouncy Banker (http://thebouncybanker.blogspot.com) in which artists take on the financial meltdown, with humor, ire and whining all in equal measure. At the blog's heart lie a series of Letters To The Bouncy Banker, fictional satirical letters from a beleagered artist to his local bank manager. In March I shared a show with Rick Parker, The Depression Show, at the 1978 Maplewood Arts Center (http://www.1978artscenter.org/exhibitions.php">The Depression Show), which featured a cardboard Self Portrait as Bad Asset, a frame letter FROM the Bank, along with Hobo Art, Shrunken Studios, an online comic, and a post financial apocalyptic narrative.

I couldn't stand financial anxiety causing creative paralysis so this was how I responded: by rolling it into my artwork.

All the best in your researches.

Russell Christian

G-20 in Pittsburgh--Warhol Museum & Arts Ed Featured

2009-08-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

The White House has chosen the main venues in which it plans to host world leader as part of the G-20 meeting it is now calling the Pittsburgh Summit, scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25.

Advance teams have been visiting Pittsburgh during the past few weeks to scope out the summit’s main venue, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

But the White House announced Monday morning that Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Creative and Performing Arts High School and Rosemont, the working farm of philanthropist Teresa Heinz Kerry, will also be featured venues during the Pittsburgh Summit.

President Obama will host a working dinner for world leaders at the Phipps, chosen in part because of the green-friendly features of the facility that include an earth-sheltered welcome center and a Tropical Forest Conservatory described as the world’s most energy efficient.

First Lady Michelle Obama will host a luncheon at the Andy Warhol Museum on the North Side, because of the worldwide popularity of Warhol’s art and due to the museum’s reputation as a hub for community dialogue, the White House said. Mrs. Obama will also bring a tour of world leaders to the Creative and Performing Arts School Downtown out of her commitment to arts education.

At Rosemont Farm, Mrs. Obama will host the Pittsburgh Summit’s spousal program with a private dinner at the working Fox Chapel farm.

The White House is working with state and local officials on the meeting, which is expected to draw political leaders representing 85 percent of the world’s economy.

The Pittsburgh Summit is expected to assess the progress made in overcoming the world economic crisis since previous summits in Washington and London, according to the White House announcement.

Arts Groups: Talk to Your PTO Leaders!

2009-08-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Applications Invited for Target Field Trip Grants Program
The Target Corporation has announced that it will award 5,000 field trip grants of up to $800 each for the coming K-12 school year.

Managed by Scholarship America, the program is open to education professionals who are at least 18 years old and employed by an accredited K-12 public, private, or charter school in the United States that maintains 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) tax-exempt status. Educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff of these institutions must be willing to plan and execute a field trip that will provide a demonstrable learning experience for students.
Grant funds may be used for visits to art, science, and cultural museums; community service or civics projects; career enrichment opportunities; and other events or activities away from the school facility. Funds may also be used to cover field trip-related costs such as transportation, ticket fees, resource materials, and supplies.

Grants will be awarded in February 2010. Applications can be completed online anytime between August 5 and November 3, 2009.

Complete program information is available at the Target Web site.

Paper Mill Playhouse Receives John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2009 Excellence in Accessibility Leadership Award

2009-08-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 3, 2009; Posted: 05:08 PM - by BWW News Desk

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is the 2009 Excellence in Accessibility Leadership Award Winner. The award will be presented in Washington, D.C. at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference, on August 15, 2009. The Excellence in Accessibility Leadership Award is in recognition of Paper Mill Playhouse's long-standing commitment to accessibility in the cultural arts for people with disabilities and older adults.

"We're delighted that Paper Mill Playhouse's visionary work will be honored on August 15," said Mark W. Jones, Executive Director. "Michael Mooney, Manager of Outreach and Access, will represent Paper Mill Playhouse and receive the recognition due for his diligent and inspired work that placed Paper Mill Playhouse at the forefront of cultural arts access."

Paper Mill Playhouse was chosen from a diverse group of nominees for sustaining accessibility over a significant period of time and demonstrating an institutional commitment to the inclusion of all people with disabilities. Paper Mill Playhouse annually provides infra-red assistive listening devices to more than 5,000 patrons; 20 audio-described performances; 9 sign-interpreted and open-captioned performances; utilizing the services of 60 interpreters, American Sign Language (ASL) directors, captioners, and audio-describers; 125 Braille and 600 large print programs; and sign-interpreting and audio-description upon request for On-School Time and Weekend Family Series Performances, among other services.

Paper Mill's production of The Miracle Worker in the 2007-2008 season was the first time the entire scope of access programming was featured on press opening night. The classic drama that explores the themes of accessibility and communication showcased a pre-show sensory seminar, sign-language interpretation, open-captioning, audio-description, Braille programs and large print programs along with Paper Mill's ongoing access services. James and the Giant Peach, a Paper Mill On-School Time show, integrated hearing impaired and deaf actors, and featured both sign-language and spoken dialogue.

Paper Mill Playhouse is also the 2009 MetLife National Award Winner for Innovation and Excellence in Access. In 2003, Paper Mill received the MetLife/VSA Award for Innovation in Access presented at the Kennedy Center during the Leadership and Education in Arts and Disability conference. "As one of the first theaters in the nation to offer a full array of access services, Paper Mill Playhouse's mission ensures the theater's programs and productions are inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of disability or economic constraint," said Mark S. Hoebee, Artistic Director.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

http://alturl.com/4oz8

The Biggest Losers Takes on a Whole New Meaning

2009-08-02T11:07:00.001-07:00

In the 2009 - 2010 Fiscal year, the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission lost total NJSCA funding for its
23 year old community outreach project, "Musical Interludes."

This is an award winning project that provides the sick, elderly, disabled, shut in, and/or otherwise needy individuals throughout Southern New Jersey (medically, financially mentally and physically restricted from attending a live musical performance), with "Free" live musical performances in nursing homes or rehabilitation sites, hospital rooms, senior citizen buildings or their individual homes.

The annual NJSCA GPS (General Programming Support) grant averaging as little as $6, 000 to $7,000 enabled the Commission to pay $55 per performance for an average of 100 - 127 Musical Interludes Musicians to present concerts to needy individuals in Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, Camden, and Cumberland Counties. Because of the lost of this grant, Musical Interludes will be employing less musicians, and presenting fewer concerts during this period, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

It should be noted that Musical Interludes won the NJSCA Citation of Excellence Award for 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, which were years of significant growth for this critical project.

"Michelle Obama says exposure to arts is as essential for kids as a good education"

2009-07-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

July 24th, 2009
First lady: Exposure to arts essential for kids
WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama says kids need more than just a good education: They need exposure to the arts, and early.
“An educational foundation is only part of the equation,” the first lady said at an East Room luncheon honoring the nation’s top designers, winners of the 10th annual National Design awards. “In order for creativity to flourish and imagination to take hold, we also need to expose our children to the arts from a very young age.”
She said Albert Einstein had it right when he said imagination is more important than knowledge. “We need to ensure that our children have both — knowledge and imagination. I know I want that for my girls. They deserve to have access to a good education and access to ideas and images that will spark their creativity.”
Speaking of her children, the first lady also made a rueful reference to their dependence on laptops. One of the award winners, Bill Moggridge, designed the first one.
“What would we do without our laptops? My kids would die,” Mrs. Obama said to laughter. “They’d be — they wouldn’t make it through the summer. I don’t know whether to thank you, Bill, for that.”
Hosting the National Design awards, presented by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, is a recent tradition for first ladies since Hillary Rodham Clinton. But Mrs. Obama added a twist this year: On Friday morning, she sent both award winners and members of the White House staff out into different museums in the capital to assist in presenting seminars to the public.

http://blog.taragana.com/n/michelle-obama-says-exposure-to-arts-is-as-essential-for-kids-as-a-good-education-119997/

Do right by PA Arts!

2009-07-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

As the Pennsylvania House of Representatives moves HB 1416 to Conference Committee with the State Senate, it is clear that more consideration is due to assure that arts funding is not zeroed out of the PA budget for the new fiscal year.

Over 1,000 arts groups, programs and projects employ more than 36,000 people in Pennsylvania and generate more than $1 billion each year, boosting Pennsylvania's state and local economies.

New Jersey's arts similarly stimulate our state's economy and patrons who attend events throughout the Garden State return over a half billion dollars each year in economic impact by spending on food, retail, transportation and lodging costs associated with their cultural experiences. Add that to over a half billion more of economic impact from direct spending by non profit arts groups--most spent within the State! The exact same case is true in PA.

These points should not be missed by PA legislators as they resolve the budget for Governor Rendell's signature. Besides bringing communities together and promoting civic and social well being--besides making streets and cities safer and more attractive-the arts are a smart and inexpensive investment in the economy. The return is clear, and the ripple effect of a zeroed out PA arts budget will be felt for hundreds of miles from Harrisburg, clear across the Delaware into NJ.

Hard choices need to be made by wise leaders-do right by PA arts!

Ann Marie Miller
Executive Director
ArtPride NJ
432 High St.
Burlington, NJ 08016
http://www.artpridenj.com/
609-443-3582

Threats of funding cuts in PA...

2009-07-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Arts fans rally at Harrisburg Capitol
by DAVID N. DUNKLE, Of The Patriot-News
Tuesday July 14, 2009, 5:26 PM

DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News
A rally to save arts funding in Pennsylvania is held in the state Capitol Rotunda.

More than 300 people representing arts and cultural groups from across the state came to Harrisburg's Capitol Tuesday morning to protest the possible elimination of state aid for the arts.
Rally attenders, many sporting "Arts=Jobs" T-shirts, gathered in the Rotunda to hear speakers talk about both the economic and aesthetic impact of the arts. Rally organizers said arts and culture generate about 62,000 jobs and contribute nearly $2 billion to the state economy.
"We need the legislators to be aware that arts jobs are real jobs," said Jenny Hershour, executive director of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, the non-profit group that organized the rally.

DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News
Butch Imhoff of Reading, a promoter of local and regional acts, holds a guitar while taking part in the arts rally.

Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed budget calls for $14 million in state aid for the arts, but with the state budget impasse now in its third week, Republicans in the State Senate recently approved a bill that would eliminate all aid for the arts and close down the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts. That would make Pennsylvania the only state with no aid for the arts and no arts council, according to Hershour.

DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News
Monica Rodrigo of Philadelphia, president of the board of Raices Culturales Latino Americanas, takes part in the arts rally.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/07/arts_fans_rally_at_harrisburg.html

This is Important! You can help orchestras feed America!

2009-03-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
is taking part in Orchestras Feeding America, a national food
drive organized by the League of American Orchestras, Feeding
America and Participant Media. The effort is inspired by the
upcoming film The Soloist, (watch trailer here--awesome...) a story that reminds us that classical music has the power to sustain spirits and change lives, even under the most difficult circumstances. The NJSO is using that power to make an even greater difference in our communities—to feed both body and soul.

The NJSO will be collecting non-perishable food items at all of its concerts from March 20–April 5, 2009. All items will be donated to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Located in
Hillside, the Community FoodBank assists three-quarters of a million low-income people in 18 counties throughout Northern and Central New Jersey.

Audiences and community members may drop off food donations at the following NJSO concert sites:
Newark: NJ Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St.
Saturday, March 21 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Friday, April 3 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 4 from 7 to 10 p.m.
New Brunswick: State Theatre, 19 LivingstonAve.
Sunday, March 22, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Princeton: Richardson Auditorium, Princeton Univ.
Friday, March 20, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Morristown: Community Theatre, 100 South St.
Sunday, April 5 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Questions?Call Renee Pachucki at the NJSO at
973.624.3713, ext. 261, or e-mail rpachucki@njsymphony.org.

You can help them.

Most Needed Food
 Dry Soup
 Rice
 Powdered / Canned Milk
 Macaroni & Cheese
 Cereal
 Peanut Butter (no glass jars)
 Beans
 Canned Fruit & Veggies
 Tuna
 Canned Meats
 Stew
 Soup (no glass jars)
 Pasta
 Cereal
 Fruit Juices/Sip-sized Juices
Items We Can’t Accept
 Items in glass jars or bottles
 Unlabeled or dented cans
 Any open or resealed packages
 Perishable foods
 Homemade foods
 Expired products
 Monetary donations
 Clothing, diapers or other

Arts Get Whacked by Rich as Companies Face Losses in Endowments

2009-03-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

By Patrick Cole of Bloomberg - March 4 (Bloomberg) -- Corporations and wealthy individuals are donating less to nonprofits, with arts groups taking the biggest hit, according to two new studies.

Of 158 companies polled by the economic-research group the Conference Board in February, 45 percent said they have reduced their 2009 philanthropy budget and 16 percent are considering it. The survey said 35 percent of the companies will make fewer grants in 2009 and 22 percent are thinking about it.

When asked what they anticipate as their biggest challenge this year, companies cited an increase in the number of grant requests, inadequate financial resources and declines in the value of corporate foundation endowments.

Smaller endowments are “a problem that’s very real,” Carolyn Cavicchio, senior research associate at the Conference Board, said in a telephone interview. “Everyone’s stock is going down. If the stock continues to go down and you’re making grants from that, you’ll have less money to give away.”

Arts and culture will see the biggest drop, with 41 percent reporting a decrease in resources. Environmental causes will see the biggest increase, with 28 percent.

A Bank of America study said rich individuals -- 700 people polled had household incomes of more than $200,000 or a net worth of at least $1 million -- gave an average of $4,792 to the arts, down 71 percent from $16,465, between 2005 and 2007, the latest data available.

Digging Deeper
By comparison, giving to health-related causes rose 51.2 percent to $12,013 during that same period, the study said.

“This is a tougher time for arts organizations,” Patrick Rooney, interim executive director of Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy, said in a recent phone interview. “When you’re providing human services or feeding the hungry, people understand that maybe this is a time to dig a little deeper. Helping an arts organization? That’s a tougher sell.”

The Bank of America report was compiled by the Center on Philanthropy.

Giving to charity by the wealthy overall decreased 9.7 percent to about $80,200 from $88,800, the study said.

According to a Center on Philanthropy study, during the past four decades donations fell an average of 1 percent in recessionary years and increased an average of 4.3 percent in non-recession years. In 1974, the worst recessionary year, charitable giving fell about 5.4 percent from the previous year.

“There’s a chance that 2008 or 2009 will be worse than that,” Rooney said. “We don’t want to say the sky is falling, but we think there will be some pain and suffering.”

To contact the writer on this story: Patrick Cole in New York at pcole3@Bloomberg.net.

NJ Arts at a Crossroad - Creative Solutions for Tough Economic Times

2008-10-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

Arts groups throughout the state are bracing themselves for a rocky economic road ahead. The ArtPride NJ Foundation, along with the NJ Theatre Alliance, Dance NJ, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the South Jersey Cultural Alliance , the NJ Arts Education Partnership, and the NJ Association of County Cultural & Heritage Agencies (whew, that's a mouthful!), are working together to host a day's worth of knowledge to help arts trustees and arts managers get through the forseeable future with smarts and creativity.

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is sponsoring the day at Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick on Thursday, November 13 from 9:30 am - 4pm.

This mini-conference is designed to "start the conversation" and kick start ongoing technical assistance to small emerging cultural groups and larger established organizations. A panel discussion moderated by David Grant, President of the Dodge Foundation, will kick off smaller roundtable talks. Steve Runk of the NJSCA, Nina Stack of the Council of NJ Grantmakers and Nancy Burd of The Burd Group, have already confirmed their participation.

Smaller group sessions will meet around the topics of contingency planning and budgeting, board of trustee roles/responsibilities and liabilities, and maximizing earned income potential, among others.

The conference is FREE and you may pre-register at the ArtPride NJ web site. Stay tuned for more details!

October is...

2008-09-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

NEW Economic Activity Study

2008-09-22T06:52:00.001-07:00

We learned in 2000 that New Jersey's non profit arts community generates over $1.5 billion each year. That comes from direct spending by arts institutions on salary, products and services AND the indirect spending of patrons who attend arts events throughout the State. The average spending of patrons outside of the price of admission to an event is $25.94 per person. And we learned that the arts generate about $27 million in tax revenue each year!

These numbers were really handy when state arts funding was proposed to be eliminated in 2003. Legislators listened to the economic value of the arts and passed the NJ Hotel/Motel Occupancy Fee to provide a stable source of funding for arts and history programs and tourism promotion. Since that time, funding has been "somewhat" stable, though not as stable as is necessary to successfully run a business and have the ability to accurately predict government revenue each year.

For the first 2 years, arts support was at the level intended by legislation--$22.68 million. After that it went down to $19.2 million (FY07), then up to $21.9 million (FY08), then for FY09 it was proposed at the MINIMUM allowed by legislation ($16 million). Grassroots cultural advocates became active and told state legislators this was not acceptable and that the arts had significant economic impact on local communities. Stories were told by students, teachers, parents, restauranteurs, hotel owners, police chiefs, mayors and more about how the arts make a difference and art part of the economic solution--not the problem! The result was restoration of state arts funding to $19.25 million. You can see the issue--$22.68 - $19.2 - $21.9 - $16 to $19.25. OMG!!!

The ArtPride NJ Foundation will be conducting a NEW economic activity study to update numbers from 2000. Certainly a lot has changed since then--cultural institutions do business differently than they did pre 9/11. We are looking to collect about 4,000 audience surveys on site at about 25 cultural institutions. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this important project, please contact ArtPride New Jersey at 609-443-3582 or by emailing us at artpride@artpridenj.com.

Stay tuned...we hope to have some preliminary data available by spring 2009!

Remembering September 11

2008-09-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that tragedy occurred 7 years ago today. I can still remember the bright and clear blue skies that morning and returning to my home office after seeing my son off to one of his first days as a first grader. My husband called me from work to tell me to get to the tv immediately. The scene was so incredible it was difficult to comprehend even though you watched it happen before your very eyes.
Recognizing that New Jersey non profits had a role to play in helping people recover from the aftermath, the Dodge Foundation sought proposals from within the arts community for projects that helped heal as well as deal with the emotional aftershocks. ArtPride proposed a new online art gallery that would focus on creative expressions resulting from the attacks. Called Connections, it was a new way to introduce art into ArtPride's web site that offered other ways to network and share information. ArtPride was fortunate to receive a grant from the Dodge Foundation to help launch the Connections gallery.
Some of the early art exhibited in Connections was clearly a result of the complex emotions felt during that historic time in American history. Some of the work was visceral, others patriotic in theme. Over the years Connections has moved past Sept. 11 as our country has moved past that day in time. The work, however, remains diverse and a wonderful portal into ArtPride as well as yet one more example of how the arts bring us all together--to remember, to honor, to memorialize, to express.

Back to the Shore!

2008-09-10T05:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's September. But the sound of the ocean is still vibrant in my mind's ear. While this "land art" is in the UK, it could easily be on the beach of Belmar or Cape May! Enjoy...summer's not over yet!!!

A New Home for ArtPride and More!

2008-08-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Lyceum Hall in Burlington City will be ArtPride NJ's new home by the end of this calendar year. In more than one way, it's an appropriate and fated move. Officially known as Herman T. Costello Lyceum Hall, it's a truly historic building constructed in 1839. It was given to the City of Burlington in 1851 and functioned as City Hall for 140 years. Lyceum Hall was renovated in 1910 and a rear addition was constructed in 1935 that doubled its size. City Hall was vacated in 1991 due to structural problems and City Hall moved to various locations.

In 1995, the NJ Historic Trust awarded the City of Burlington grant funds to assist with restoring the building, focusing on structural repairs, restoration of historic interior features, and ADA compliance. The project is not yet complete, but considerable work has been done. The second floor houses a large, brightly lit and historically correct meeting hall now reached by a beautifully restored oak staircase.

ArtPride's offices will be located in about 1200 square feet of space on the first floor near the main entrance. Discover Jersey Arts and Arts Plan NJ will be new roommates to utilize the space that is currently being built to suit.

Some great features--an elevator to complete ADA requirements, a kitchen on the second floor will facilitate events held in the large meeting room, classroom and studio spaces abound on both floors, and a large open space on the second floor is being built as a black box theatre that can accommodate at least 100 if not more.

We are really excited to be part of the City of Burlington's effort to bring the arts to a city that is rich in history but lacking in arts facilities. City officials have been more than gracious in courting us to help spur economic activity in the neighborhood. This county has a considerable artist population that is starving for studio and classroom space, so it shouldn't be hard to find other tenants to liven' up the place! Up top is a photo of the exterior, and the other photo shows just a small part of the large meeting space. More "before" photos to follow!

Art. It's What's Inside Video

2008-07-14T21:06:00.001-07:00

How can we make this uniquely NJ??? Ideas???

Wordle

2008-07-01T14:26:00.001-07:00

Can't make this up--wordle.net Click on it to see the larger version. It's easy--have fun!

P-whatchka?

2008-06-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

Pecha-kucha, pronounced pchotchka, Japanese for "chatter." Now defined as "Get to the Power Point in 20 slides and then sit the hell down..." For more info on the rules of pecha-kucha, visit www.pecha-kucha.org This you-tube video pp by Daniel Pink illustrates the concept really well!

2008-06-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

NJ Budget passed--YOU helped Cultural Funding get Partial Restoration.

The NJ State Budget is nearing completion. After much debate it was passed yesterday and is awaiting Governor Corzine's signature.

Due to your extraordinary advocacy efforts, (like those of arts advocate extraordinaire, Maris Smith, of the NJ Theatre Alliance, pictured in the photo. Maris carried the message to countless theatre audience members of ALL ages), the FY09 budget contains the following recommendations:

Restoration of $3.254 million to the NJSCA for Cultural Projects bringing the total appropriation to $19.254 million (a 12% reduction).

Restoration of $606,000 to the NJ Historical Commission bringing the total appropriation to $3.306 million. (This budget still cuts $164,000 (32%) from the NJHC administrative budget and totally wipes out a $189,000 Project Grants line item).

Restoration of $121,000 to the NJ Cultural Trust bringing the total appropriation to $621,000.

Restoration of $1.019 million to the NJ Division of Travel & Tourism bringing the total appropriation to $10.019 million.

You should also know that your district visits to legislators paid off big time! No less than 5 budget resolution requests were submitted to restore various amounts of state funding to the cultural projects budget and all cited the dedicated revenue source of state dollars through the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Fee. One budget resolution request sponsored by Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle was co-sponsored by 26 other members of the Assembly. A special thank you to the district captains and teams who helped make this happen along with over 16,000 letters and emails sent by YOU since late February when the budget was proposed by the administration.

ArtPride will provide you with a list of all of our legislative champions after the budget is signed. We believe that Governor Corzine will sign the budget with these recommendations, but remember that the process is not complete until the budget is signed. Your letters and emails of support are still encouraged and welcomed, and we will post a thank you letter at Action Alert on the ArtPride NJ web site once the process has ended for this fiscal year.

Thank you so much for your hard work and for sticking to the message. There is very little in the way of restoration to other departments or agencies, so we have much to be grateful for and we are VERY grateful for your support! We will keep you posted of the advocacy plan for the fall. And finally--and this is important--if you are not an ArtPride member, please consider joining NOW. Advocacy is not cheap and we need your financial support to sustain our efforts. Membership starts at $15 for students. Please join ArtPride today by clicking here (Paypal can take your online membership!).

Mark Packer
President, ArtPride NJ
Ann Marie Miller
Executive Director, ArtPride NJ

Over 12,000 emails--WHO supports the arts?

2008-05-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? Over 12,000 emails and letters sent since Feb. 28 to NJ district legislators in support of restoring arts, history and tourism State dollars! Every time I open my mailbox, 100, 200, 300 emails come flooding in. I get copies of them all and scan them for the great stories told by people who really love what art and history do for this great State!

Straight from the heart! Keep at it--we have a little over a month to go before this budget gets passed and we need to keep the heat on!

Sir Ken Robinson Showreel

2008-04-26T20:44:00.001-07:00

Sir Ken spoke at the Charting the Course conference held last week in New Brunswick, sponsored by the NJ Theatre Alliance, NJ State Council on the Arts and the NJ Arts Education Collective. He is a fascinating speaker on creativity. For more (a longer 20 minute talk), visit TED Talks.

Not on the Test

2008-04-15T14:00:00.001-07:00

Tom Chapin has a web site www.notonthetest.com that advocates for arts education that is "left behind" in many schools due to the testing required by No Child Left Behind...check it out!

Arts & History widget

2008-04-13T15:36:00.001-07:00

NJ in DC on April 1

2008-04-06T17:09:00.001-07:00

Many many thanks to the New Jersey arts activists who joined over 500 others on Capitol Hill to advocate for increased federal funding for the arts on April 1. So many of us benefit from NEA funding and do not even realize it!

Thanks go to David Gray of the New Brunswick Cultural Center, John Devol of Arts Horizons, Shayne Miller of Paper Mill Playhouse, Kristen Gongora of Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Rodney Gilbert of Yendor Productions, Diana Scotland of Montclair who volunteers for Kenkeleba Gallery in NY, Jana LaSorte and Ondine Landa Abramson of South Jersey Performing Arts Center, and Julianne Zervopoulos of Westminster Choir College/Rider University.

Kerry Washington spoke eloquently at the Congressional Arts Breakfast. This youtube video doesn't even capture her best moments when she talks about how it is a privilege to live in a country where you can be part of the democratic process by telling your elected officials about what is important to you.

Join us next year!!! I'll share some other photos from out visits and a group shot in a later post!

Finding Your Way in New Jersey

2008-03-12T19:05:00.001-07:00

Ever had trouble finding your way in New Jersey? A new state wide Wayfinding initiative has begun. Find out more and get involved, Take a quick survey, sign a petition, check out www.CelebrateNJ.org

It's Time for the Annual Meeting Again!

2008-03-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

It's time for the 2008 ArtPride general membership meeting! We will meet on Thursday, March 13 at noon at the NJ State Museum Auditorium. As of today, about 150 of us will gather to network with colleagues, meet new friends, honor distinguished arts advocates and learn about ArtPride's strategy to gain back some of the lost state arts dollars!
The meeting is planned for an hour after which we will join with our other Arts Plan NJ planning partners to launch the refreshed Arts Plan NJ. Over 1,000 people worked on a plan that connects the arts in New Jersey to everything outside the arts and shows how it all works together to make a better New Jersey!
The meeting is free and open to the public. Join arts advocates from around the state and help us remind our elected officials that New Jersey's arts + history = Dollars + Sen$e!!!!

Letter to the Editor--In A Better World...

2008-03-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

At the risk of sounding like a bean counter, state support of arts institutions and individual artists has the potential to raise property values, improve schools, create jobs and reduce crime. Impossible! Not at all.The current issue of New Jersey Monthly (March, 2008) lists the 100 best places to live based on factors including proximity to local theaters and performing arts centers and how they add to an improved quality of life.

Some of New Jersey’s bleakest communities have been revitalized when visual artists move in, followed by performing artists then restaurants and other businesses (think ratables!) and finally, families with children. In a better world, visual artists would be able to earn a living by selling their work to a well educated public, actors would not have to wait tables and poets would not have to drive taxi cabs to support themselves. In that same better world sports teams would not need public subsidies to build their giant stadiums and business would not demand tax abatements to build their factories and stores.

I am not a painter, I can’t dance, and I’m no musician. I am a poet who has received several individual fellowships in creative writing. I taught English at Atlantic City High School for almost thirty years, and for many of them, I also taught writing as an adjunct professor at Stockton at night to make ends meet. The first of these awards allowed me to take a semester off to concentrate on my own writing which led to my winning fellowships from other institutions. The precious time these awards gave me allowed me to improve my craft and made me a better teacher of writing to a generation or two of young people who are now working and supporting the economy.

It’s too bad we live in a state whose past administrations made foolish decisions to balance the books. It’s too bad we live in a state which refuses to consolidate its 611 school districts and 566 municipalities. But thank God we live in a state smart enough to support its artists who quietly contribute to the quality of life making New Jersey a great place to live.

Peter Murphy

(printed in Press of Atlantic City on March 5, 2008)

Straight from the HeART--What Taxpayers Are Saying!

2008-03-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

Straight From the HeART--If you are lost for words and want to find your voice in support of state arts funding, consider what others are saying! You can email or write your district legislators at ArtPride NJ's Arts Action Center.

"...Most importantly, children are the future of the state of New Jersey. They will very soon be the teachers, businessmen and businesswomen, entrepreneurs, laborers, and artists in our state. Studies have proven that children who take music, visual arts, dance, and drama classes in school do better in math, science, social studies and other curricular areas. We cannot afford educationally, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, or financially to cut the arts. If we cut arts education now, we doom our state for generations to come! Children need access to the arts NOW to make them creative leaders for New Jersey's FUTURE."

"...Our state legislators did a very wise thing a few years ago when they tried to protect our cultural and arts organizations (and therefore our schools as well, since most of us provide significant education programs) by creating a dedicated revenue source through the NJ Hotel/Motel Occupancy Fee. Let it continue to function as it was promised it would, as a protection against this kind of cutting. Our business, while capable of functioning as a strong economic engine, is however, a fragile machine. There are no spare parts. We are a huge investment that costs little. It's worth protecting with great vigilance that small cost."

"...The Arts is a profit center, not a cost center. Funds for the Arts is an investment, not a subsidy or handout. The Arts is a proven catalyst for a vibrant, healthy economy. The return on investment is substantial. While finding areas for containment and reduction in the State budget is required, we should not reduce our investment in profit centers such as the Arts which produce revenue in all sectors of our economy.

Five Years Later and It's Dejavu all over again!

2008-02-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

Governor Corzine announced his FY09 budget proposal today and the arts lost $5.9 million. It only took 5 years to get that much--a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Now we have to prove all over again that the arts are important to New Jersey residents. We can do that--the arts ARE important, and we are part of the solution, not part of the problem. The arts are an industry that contributes to the economy and the state revenue source (from the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Fee)is not only "certifiable," and "renewing," but it's GROWING, too! We just can't seem to get our share of the growth!!!
This Governor wants to solve the problem once and for all. Man, it is TIME! We are tired of the see saw, roller coaster and bait and switch. The games are over. Let's get this debt restructured so we can enjoy a healthy arts community, and BE proud that our State finally turned that corner!

Stage is Set for Hard Times

2008-02-25T18:11:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 24, 2008 BY PEGGY McGLONE Star-Ledger

Leaders of New Jersey's theaters, museums, dance troupes and orchestras are bracing for cuts in state aid that will weaken their already unstable financial health. Gov. Jon Corzine has not released specific details of his budget plan, to be unveiled Tuesday in Trenton, but he has said it will include widespread and painful funding decreases in almost all areas.

Any cuts will harm the fragile health of the arts, according to a Star-Ledger review of 2007 financial data of 96 organizations supported by state Council on the Arts grants. The data show:
Almost 50 percent of the organizations spent more money than they brought in last year, resulting in cumulative deficits that ran into millions of dollars. 55 percent were often days away from running out of cash and had bills -- payroll, utilities, vendors -- that exceeded their ability to pay.

75 percent saw their expenses rise, while 34 percent reported drops in earned revenue and 39 percent reported declines in donations.

"Many arts organizations are struggling ... living very close to the edge," said Joyce Jonat, New Jersey site manager for the Nonprofit Finance Fund, the company hired by the arts council to draft the audit review and financial summaries of the grantees.

The challenges were daunting. The Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood reported a $705,000 deficit, in part because of a 27 percent decline in donations. The New Philharmonic of New Jersey in Cedar Knolls posted an operating surplus last year, but needed a loan to cover a cash short fall, pushing its long-term debt higher. The New Philharmonic of New Jersey in Cedar Knolls posted an operating surplus last year, but needed a loan to cover a cash short fall, pushing its long-term debt higher. Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre in Montclair had a deficit that was nearly 35 percent of its revenue and no cash on hand at year's end. Boheme Opera in Trenton ended the year with unpaid bills that were five times greater than assets.

"It's definitely a tough time," said John McEwen, executive director of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, which serves the state's professional stages. "Large organizations have large financial challenges, small organizations have large financial challenges. We're all very fragile."

There are many reasons for the precarious health of these institutions. Both fundraising and box-office revenues are susceptible to economic trends, so even a minor downturn can wreak havoc on an organization's finances, said David Rodriguez, executive director of BergenPAC.
A family that typically might purchase tickets to eight shows a year will cut back by half; a donor will skip the annual gala and reduce his contribution, Rodriguez said. "Or the small business doesn't pay for the 100 young people to see an event. That's where the belt tightening comes in," he said.

Jonat said arts organizations have chronic problems with both earned and contributed income. Changing audience behaviors -- especially the trend toward last-minute ticket purchases -- are hurting ticket sales and affecting cash flow. Without the upfront cash that comes from subscriptions, organizations often don't have money on hand to pull them through difficult cycles.
Compounding the problem, many foundation grants and other donations are restricted for specific programs (such as education) and thus can't be used for pressing needs. "They are really challenged by finding reliable revenue streams, ones that they can count on," said Jonat.

Government grants, like those from the arts council, are so critical because they pay for phone service, payroll and other costs of doing business, McEwen said. "General operating support dollars are very rare," he said.

Paul Herron, executive director of the Bay-Atlantic Symphony in Bridgeton, said he isn't surprised by the number of budget deficits occurring in the complex industry. "What surprises me is that there are some organizations that are able to hit all of their levers just right, all of the buttons they need to push to survive," he said.

Herron noted his two-person staff has to master the often conflicting needs of three different types of contributors. "You have to know what the government is looking for, what the corporations and foundations (want) and what individuals want. You have to work very hard."
"My dream is a time when I don't have to look at the reports and say, 'How am I going to pull this off?'" he said.

Even some organizations that ended 2006 with surpluses continue to struggle. George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick feels the pinch of declining ticket revenue and subscription sales, even though it ended the year $45,000 ahead. "We are always trying to do the best work we can, and we really put all of our money on the stage," said Schmidt. "If we didn't, we'd really have shrinking audiences."

Organizations with their own facilities are especially vulnerable to fiscal crises, said Jonat. "You get to the point (of asking) are we going to pay the actors to do the show, or fix a leak?" she said. "Living so close to the margins, these are really tough decisions."
Peggy McGlone may be reached at pmcglone@starledger.com or (973) 392-5982

Is it Possible? Open Call for Work

2008-02-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

You were born in New Jersey. You’ve been there. You’ve never been there. You know it from movies. TV. Songs. Newspapers. You’ve Googled it. YouTubed it. Wikipediaed it. Flickred it. You’ve never even heard of it.

So ask yourself: is it possible to make a photograph of New Jersey regardless of where you are in the world? The Pierro Gallery and iheartphotograph.com invite photographers, designers, and artists of all kinds to participate in this global open call for work.

Are ideas about place dramatically different since the internet has allowed us to participate in culture on such a global scale? Despite the endless stream of information and images available through mass media, are there limits to how we perceive, imagine, and understand the world? Exactly how do you picture New Jersey? What would you say about it in a photograph?
Your most striking responses—from the literal to the conceptual—will be included in the exhibition “Is it possible to make a photograph of New Jersey regardless of where you are in the world?” curated by I Heart Photograph for the Pierro Gallery in New Jersey, on view from April 6—May 25, 2008.

Exploring the ways that digital technologies impact how we see, circulate, and understand art, works for the exhibition will be submitted, curated, and produced exclusively through the internet.

February 22, 2008 is the deadline for submissions. No fees are required to enter.
This exhibition is made possible by funds from New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

The Arts & Democracy--Think About It!

2008-01-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since the last post! Here is something definitely worth checking out--The Center for Civic Participation and the Arts & Democracy Group Page at www.ccp.org

Here you'll find examples of arts groups that link to democracy through artist residencies and other creative partnerships.

One of the posts made me think in light of the coming holiday on Monday. In memory of Dr. King:

"Who could have marched from Alabama to DC without a song?"

While a song alone cannot create social change, political struggle alone is not sustainable. Art and culture are vital ingredients for sustaining us through struggle and for creating the world we want to live in.

Marching thousands of miles is a powerful political act, in part, because it is an act that requires tremendous sacrifice and commitment. But we would cave in under the weight of such sacrifice alone. Song, dance, story, image can all function like buoys in the water, lifting us up, giving us the energy we need to go on.

ArtPride at the League!

2007-11-14T19:31:00.001-08:00

The ArtPride NJ Foundation is proud to co-sponsor a booth and seminar at the 2007 NJ League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City from Nov. 13-15.

Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells will moderate a distinguished panel of municipal leaders including Jeff Buehler, State Coordinator, Main Street New Jersey; Director, Office of Smart Growth; Jean Holtz, Vice President, New Brunswick Development Corporation; Trustee, ArtPride NJ Foundation; James Quinn, Mayor, City of Millville; and Michael Wildes, Mayor, City of Englewood. The panel will discuss how New Jersey leaders have built more vibrant communities by investing in the arts including success stories driven by community arts partnerships.

Tile artist Susan Casper is at work at our booth and pulling in passersby as active participants! Many thanks to volunteers Susan Coen and South Jersey Cultural Alliance staff for manning the booth and to Karen Pinzolo and DJA staff Jim Atkinson and Kelly Huschke for making it all happen!!

If you'd like to see the document distributed at the conference and shared with panel attendees, go to the ArtPride web site and mouse over the word Publications on the home page. You'll see a link for NJ Arts & Economic Prosperity! Enjoy! It's chock full of resources, examples and data!

NJ Hall of Fame Inducts Inaugural Class of 2007

2007-10-26T06:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday the inaugural class was inducted into the NJ Hall of Fame. They are: (Historical) Albert Einstein, Clara Barton, Thomas Edison, (General) Harriet Tubman, Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf, Toni Morrison, (Sports) Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Vince Lombardi, (Enterprise) Buzz Aldrin, Malcolm Forbes, Robert Wood Johnson, (Arts & Entertainment) Frank Sinatra, Meryl Streep, and Bruce Springsteen.

Governor Corzine introduced the Class of 2007 at the NJ State House while the Hall of Fame continues to seek permanent quarters. The inductees were selected from a list of more than 125 potential Hall of Famers. That list was organized into five categories and presented to the Voting Academy, a select group made up of 150 of the state's most prominent organizations as well as former Governors and chaired by Governor Corzine. ArtPride NJ is honored to be a member of the Voting Academy!

The NJ Hall of Fame will hold a gala red carpet induction ceremony with many NJ celebrities in attendance on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the NJ Performing Arts Center.

Women In Art

2007-08-04T19:49:00.001-07:00

Amazing! Thought you'd all enjoy this. It moves very quickly--see how many artists you can name!

Find a Way to Fully Fund NJ Arts

2007-08-02T07:51:00.001-07:00

From The Herald News on August 2, 2007--Editorial

For 41 years, arts appropriations have been tied to the Garden State's up and down fiscal affairs.
Next year, funding will increase by $2.8 million to $21.5 million. The funds will be distributed among 800 New Jersey arts groups. Last week, the New Jersey State Council of the Arts announced grants.
The new funding plan includes increases for the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council, Paterson; William Paterson University Galleries; Wayne; New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark; and the Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood. Passaic County will get a total of $204,899 and Bergen County will be allocated $743,098
Although that's good news for next year, a basic problem remains.
For decades, New Jersey has been setting aside money for the arts in an erratic fashion. For example, in 2003 there was a $5 billion shortfall in the general budget, and former Gov. James E. McGreevey nearly eliminated all funding for the arts. The protests were loud and effective. They demonstrated how much residents value local theater, art exhibits and concerts.
In reaction to the public outcry, $16 million was scraped together and a 7 percent state hotel and motel occupancy tax was adopted. It was supposed to provide a permanent source of money for the arts with funding leveling off at about $20 million.
In 2005, arts funding reached its highest level ever: $22.3 million.
The following year arts funding was imperiled when newly elected Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine had a dispute with members of his own party, which controls both houses of the Legislature.
Readers will recall that political fighting grew so intense in the summer of 2006 that state government was shut down for a week.
When a deal was finally reached, the sales tax was increased from 6 percent to 7 percent, effective July 15 a year ago. This meant a painful increase on expensive items, such as automobiles. The 6 percent tax on a $30,000 car amounted to $1,800. It jumped to $2,100 after the 7 percent tax was adopted.
To balance the budget, a portion of the lodging tax was used. Arts funding fell to $16 million.
Today, New Jersey suffers from the highest property taxes in the nation. The only relief comes to homeowners and tenants through the rebate program.
Finding a permanent source of revenue for the arts amid such fiscal problems and burdens might seem insignificant or undoable. Yet, as the 2003 outcry showed, many people want our state to fund a diverse group of high-quality arts organizations. That's why the funding should be stabilized and not reduced to a game of chance each year.
The hotel and motel sales tax was supposed to provide permanent funding for the arts. But like every other pot of money in the state, it now gets tapped to close budget gaps.
This should not happen. Music, dance and theater are important enough to New Jersey that they should have a regular revenue stream.

Athol Fugard on Life & Stories

2007-07-30T06:39:00.001-07:00

“Storytelling has a profound moral value,” he says. “It pulls stories out of the silence that threatens all life. And fixes them in a moment, in a place where if the storyteller is a good one, they will never age and never die.”

For a great article on life and telling stories at the age of 75, treat yourself to:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article2133250.ece

New Jersey Must Rekindle Its Love of the Arts

2007-05-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

By THOMAS H. KEAN
Item: The Paper Mill Playhouse, one of the leading regional theaters in the country, $3 million in debt, threatens to close its doors unless it receives an 11th-hour transfusion of funds. Crisis temporarily averted.

Item: The New Jersey Symphony, one of the best orchestras in the nation, also experiencing financial difficulties, considers selling rare and valuable musical instruments to stabilize an anemic endowment.

Item: Waterloo Village, once hailed as the Northeast's answer to Colonial Williamsburg, because of its historic character, and to Tanglewood, for the quality of its (long-abandoned) summer musical offerings, remains boarded up by the state with long-planned visits by schoolchildren canceled.

While stemming from different causes, these developments reveal a disturbing pattern. New Jerseyans are simply not supporting the arts at the level that they should.
As Ronald Reagan, who was certainly in a position to know, reminded us, "The arts show us who we are and what we can be." They provide us with joy as well as with entertainment. They make us think. They furnish us with the necessary respite from the pressures of daily life. They preserve and pass on the best that has come down to us from our forebears and add new creations from our times that will give future generations glimpses into the society in which we lived.

The arts give us all, and especially children, a chance to dream. They are far from frills. It is no exaggeration to say that they are what makes us human.

We hear it said, usually by people who live elsewhere, that with New York City so close, New Jersey does not need a vibrant cultural community. Try telling that to people who have been priced out of Broadway and Lincoln Center by astronomical costs. With New York theater tickets averaging $100 or more, a family of four can expect to pay the better part of $1,000 when one adds to the ticket prices the costs of dinner, parking, gas, tolls and the like. How many New Jerseyans can afford such nights out on a regular basis?

Ask parents whether they would prefer that their children partake in the transformational experiences of live stage performances or waste hours in front of a computer playing mindless — and often violence-ridden — video games. Yet opportunities for them to witness such performances on this side of the Hudson River may be disappearing.

When I was governor, New Jersey arts advocates had a slogan they used to describe their collective goals: "Second to None." By the time I left office, many organizations and individuals who made New Jersey their home were winning national acclaim.

The Paper Mill's revival of Jerome Kern's "Showboat" was featured on PBS's "Great Performances" series. No less a light in the musical world than the late Leonard Bernstein, after hearing the New Jersey Symphony perform some of his compositions at Carnegie Hall, could hardly restrain his enthusiasm. After an absence of several years, the Metropolitan Opera resumed presenting free public concerts in New Jersey parks.

McCarter Theater won a Tony Award. New Brunswick's Crossroads Theater did too — just before financial difficulties forced its temporary closing. Architectural critics were writing about two additions to the Boston-Washington cultural corridor: the expanded Newark Museum and the magnificent New Jersey Performing Arts Center. I could go on.

All of this did not happen by itself. It required investments of talent, energy by the state, by corporations and by individuals and, yes, money.

In my years as governor, the state's investment in the arts reached an all-time high of $23 million. When I recall that the entire state budget then was approximately one third of what it is now (a bit more than $12 billion compared with $33 billion today), I grow dismayed that the state invests as little as it does. This year, the governor has requested an appropriation of $21 million to the state Council of the Arts. His request, if granted, would come up more than $2 million short of the amount 20 years ago.

When one factors in an inflation rate of 3 to 4 percent each ensuing year, the governor's request constitutes a cut in real dollars of more than 30 percent since the '80s. That $23 million in 1988 would be $37 million today. In the same period, the state budget almost tripled.
With tourism being New Jersey's second-largest industry and with cultural and historical attractions ranking high on lists of what visitors expect to see, such cuts are more than shortsighted. They are harmful to the economic health of our state.

Back in the 1980s, the Port of New York and New Jersey released a study that showed that for every dollar that cultural enterprises spent, they attracted an additional $4 into local economies. One need only visit New Brunswick to see how a thriving arts community, backed by a supportive business community and government, can help revitalize a city. The same is true of New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. As sure as dusk follows dawn, cutbacks by the state signal to the private sector that New Jersey does not value what the arts do for us and our children.

Sadly, there are signs that state corporations have gotten this message. After 20 years of meager state investment in one of the few parts of the budget that attract private giving (prisons do not; highways do not; many social services do not), private-sector investment in cultural pursuits is not what it should be. While some of our oldest and most established companies, such as Prudential, Johnson & Johnson, PSE&G and a handful of others, remain generous to arts organizations located near their headquarters, too few of the others, in comparison with what their counterparts are doing elsewhere, are contributing.

The same can be said of well-to-do people. In other locales, ticket holders and subscribers often make annual contributions to cultural enterprises. Too little of that happens here. I cannot count the times that I have walked into a museum or a concert hall in New York and seen high on the list of donors, public-spirited people who live here in New Jersey.
People choose to live here and corporations stay here in part because of our rich cultural climate.
In this, the 60th year since Jackie Robinson permanently transformed American baseball and even longer since New Jersey's Paul Robeson did the same for the world of theater and opera, it is time that the state, our corporations, and, yes, you and I stepped up to the plate, onto the stage and into the seats.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Thomas H. Kean served as governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. This opinion editorial appeared in the May 28 edition of The Star-Ledger.

SNL - Zach Braff - Monologue

2007-05-22T16:18:00.001-07:00

Our very own Jersey boy with the Prudential building by his side!

Get Scanned!! Nationwide Arts Scan!

2007-05-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Americans for the Arts is conducting a nationwide scan of the arts environment to help determine the best ways to advance the arts in America. Your voice and input are vital. Please take some time to complete the online survey no later than Friday, May 11 at http://www.AmericansForTheArts.org/go/artsurvey.

Just as important, if possible, please send this email to your mailing lists. The more people we hear from, the better educated Americans for the Arts will be in working to build an environment in which the arts can thrive now and in the future.

NJ in DC

2007-03-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

There were 19 of us in Washington DC for National Arts Advocacy Day on March 12-13. We spent Monday learning about the issues--from funding for the National Endowment on the Arts to tax law affecting artists and charitable contributions, to the reauthorization of NCLB or ESEA (No Child Left Behind aka the Elementary & Secondary Education Act). Monday night we heard Robert MacNeil deliver an extraordinary lecture at the Kennedy Center speaking of the role of art in our society and how if we stand back and look at the the "big picture," artistic expression and freedom of such relates to fundamentalism abroad and in our own country. Heady stuff!

Tuesday we walked the halls of the US Congress, many for the first time! We saw 4 congressmen in person--Rep. Rush Holt, Rep. Donald Payne, Rep. Frank LoBiondo, and Rep. Albio Sires, and a host of legislative aides. We used the briefing from Monday to inform our discussions and also found time to talk about how the arts affect many different aspects of life--from healthcare to truancy rates to the revitalization of cities and towns throughout New Jersey.

It's a rush--lots of information packed into 2 days, an inspiring lecture, the chance to network with other New Jerseyans you don't often see. In our group was the President of the NJ PTA and his wife who were glad to talk up the arts because their children are all musically inclined. Speaking of musically inclined, we also had a shining young vocalist with us from Westminster Choir College/Rider University who represented the arts advocates of tomorrow!

Here's the group from left to right standing--Bob Morrison of Music for All, Inc., Greg Perry of the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Carol Herbert--Chair of the NJ State Council on the Arts, Berda Rittenhouse of ArtPride, Shayne Miller of Paper Mill Playhouse, Catharine Vaucher of the Arts Council of the Morris Area, David Gray of New Brunswick Cultural Center, Paula Long of the Union County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Kristen Gongora of Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, and Kristin Wenger of the NJ Arts Education Partnership. Kneeling from left to right are Patterson Sims of the Montclair Art Museum, Alan Willoughby of Perkins Center for the Arts, Larry Schmidt of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance, and Natalie Megules of Westminster Choir Collge. Not pictured are Vicki Snoy of Newark Boys Chorus School, Harry and Donna Capers of the NJ PTA and me--the photographer--Ann Marie Miller. The photo was taken outside of Senator Lautenberg's office in the Hart Senate Office Building.

Gov Proposes Increase for Culture--Getting Close to "Dedicated" Level of 2006

2007-03-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Governor Corzine's budget contains a 10% increase in funding for arts and history for FY08. Arts funding for cultural projects through the NJ State Council on the Arts is proposed at $21 million, which is $1.7 million shy of the 2006 level prescribed by legislation that established the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax.

History funding is proposed to increase $346,000 bringing it to the 2006 level. The NJ Cultural Trust is slated to receive $720,000, the same level as last year and there is no indication that staffing for the Trust is restored.

Arts advocates should take pride in being heard by the Governor and this administration, and should take a minute to thank the Governor for increasing cultural support during continued hard times for the NJ state budget (click on Action Alert at www.artpridenj.com). But the job is not yet done!! Now that the budget is in the hands of the NJ State legislature, we must remind our district elected officials that cultural funding is important--that they should support the Governor's budget---and that arts funding STILL needs to be fully restored to the level of the 2006 legislation. And don't forget the NJ Cultural Trust!!!

New Jersey Arts Action Day

2007-03-02T06:32:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from the recent New Jersey Arts Action Day at the Marriott Lafayette Yard Conference Center in Trenton. ArtPride held its 2007 Annual Membership Meeting, outlined some advocacy strategies for the spring, witnessed outstanding student performances, and honored two very distinguished New Jersey legislators!

Cool Slideshows

Now for Something Totally Different!

2007-01-30T19:39:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to sign up for NJ Arts Action Day on February 15 (at the ArtPride web site www.artpridenj.com) and for National Arts Advocacy Day on March 12 & 13 in Washington, DC!

Cool Slideshows

Looking for quotes--I'm ALL Ears!

2007-01-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

How did the arts change my life? How do the arts REALLY make a difference? Let's hear it from New Jersey!!!

Maybe you remember the John Amos story--how he would have ended up in prison except for the arts. Stepping over the crack vial and onto the stage instead. Those are the kind of stories I want to hear!

We all know the arts make a difference money wise--an over $1.5 billion industry in New Jersey--now I want to hear those truly personal stories. Email them to artpride@artpridenj.com PLEASE!!

No Smoking in the Theater, Especially On Stage!

2007-01-28T12:45:00.000-08:00

Smoking bans are having an impact on non-(and for) profit theaters from Wales to New Jersey. In Denver non-profit theaters are suing the state claiming that smoking on stage is a "freedom of expression" issue. The bans are forcing theaters to seek alternatives like herbal cigarettes, but the very action of "lighting up" makes the use of even alternatives against the law.

Some theaters are just hoping that smoking on stage will go unnoticed and oftentimes ordinances are enforced only upon complaints by audience members. Actors who smoke and are fined may also be prohibited from seeking reimbursement by the producing theater depending upon the specifics of each law. Legislators appear unwilling to make exceptions for any act of smoking regardless of whether the "offending" substance is nicotine or herbal for fear of setting precedents that weaken the ban.

We've come a long way, baby, to see smoking on stage as "culturally unacceptable??!!!" And what will happen to a whole body of work by writers like Edward Albee, Neil Simon, Noel Coward, who incorporate the act of smoking into stage direction and the written word?? Will bans have a chilling effect on producing certain staples of mid-twentieth century American plays?

For more information see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/theater/28pinc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Photo is by Henry Grossman for The New York Times.