Take 2 minutes to Support Art & Arts Education!

Take 2 minutes to tell Congress you support Arts and Arts Education

An important message from Americans for the Arts (AFTA)

"Today, hundreds of dedicated arts supporters from across the country have come together in Washington, DC for National Arts Advocacy Day, a united effort to tell Capitol Hill how important culture is to our communities, how much arts education means to our children, and how much the arts improve our daily lives...

... Even if you’re not able to join us in Washington, you can still participate in Arts Advocacy Day by asking your Members of Congress to support the arts. CLICK HERE to enter your zip code and send a message directly to your Representative and Senators telling them why the arts are important to you and your community. We've provided bullet points covering our ten key Arts Advocacy Day issues, which you can use in the sample letter that we’ve drafted for you. We also encourage you to write your own unique story to illustrate the importance of the arts to your community. Using the E-Advocacy Center, you can create and send your letter to Congress in less than two minutes. We urge you to send your message to Congress today to coincide with our office visits to the Hill."

Wed 4/1 - Gov. Granholm on MI Public Radio, Taking Listener's Questions

Governor Jennifer Granholm will be on Michigan Public Radio, Wednesday, April 1st from 9-10am to answer listener questions.

If you are available during this time period, please call into Michigan Public Radio to ask the Governor questions regarding her recommendation to nearly zero-out arts and cultural funding in Michigan.

Although the call-in number has not been released, please tune in to the following regional radio stations. Michigan Public Radio - 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit - 91.1 Flint - 104.1 Grand Rapids

3/31 FREE TELECONFERENCE "Fundraising When Money Is Tight"

Network for Good: Nonprofit 911
A Nonprofit Survival Kit for Hard Times
Fundraising When Money Is Tight, with Mal Warwick
Live teleconference on surviving tough times and thriving in the future
Tuesday, March 31, 1 p.m. EDT

REGISTER HERE

All Network for Good teleconferences are free; you only need a phone to participate. Can't make it to a call? Everyone who registers will receive a transcript and recording of the call emailed within 48 hours of the event.

FUNDRAISING WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT
with Mal Warwick

Nobody can predict our economic future. But in tough times, whether driven by the economy, the environment or political events, there are simple yet sometimes counter-intuitive steps you can take to ensure that your organization will suffer the least possible damage in a down economy -- and emerge healthy and poised for renewed growth when the economic crisis has passed.

Participants can expect:

• An overview of how the economy affects fundraising
• Step-by-step tips for developing an effective fundraising strategy during a downturn
• Practical steps organizations can take to survive (and thrive!) in the future
• A Q&A session with our presenter

Mal Warwick has distinguished himself through his contributions to the nonprofit sector as one of the world's leading authors, consultants, and public speakers on direct response marketing and fundraising for nonprofit organizations and as an advocate for socially and environmentally responsible policies and practices in the private sector. He is an author, entrepreneur, and founder and chairman of Mal Warwick Associates and co-founder of Donordigital (both of Berkeley, Calif., and Washington, DC), fundraising agencies specializing in direct response fundraising and marketing. Mal also founded Response Management Technologies, Inc. (data processing firm for nonprofits) and co-founded the Share Group (telephone fundraising). Collectively, Mal and his associates are responsible for raising more than half a billion dollars-largely in the form of small gifts from individuals.

Arts Council Offers $4,000 Grant for Collaborative Regional Project

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is offering $4,000 to entice area art groups to work together on a Capital region project in order to promote the area as a rich, cultural destination, says Leslie Donaldson, council director.

Called the Collaborative Arts Grant, it will go to qualified artistic professionals who show skill in a broad spectrum of artistic practices and propose a collaborative project.

“This grant will aid our artistic community, provide the public with greater arts educational opportunities, and increase support to our local economy," Donaldson says.

Interested groups may download applications, due June 15, from the Arts Council's website under the Resources section. An optional, free workshop for organizations interested in applying to the program will be held May 11, 4 p.m., at the Arts Council offices, 425 S. Grand Ave., in Lansing. To attend the workshop, participants must RSVP by calling (517) 372-4636 x 10.

The Collaborative Arts Grant Program was established by the Arts Council board of directors in February.

Three years ago the Arts Council sold the Center for the Arts in downtown Lansing to meet the needs of its constituents. Interest on the sale proceeds will fund the new grant program.

Email Donaldson for more information.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE

Senate Subcommittee Retains $4 million for MCACA!!!

BREAKING NEWS from ARTSERVE MICHIGAN
Senate Subcommittee Retains $4 million for MCACA

Mike Latvis, Director of Public Policy at ArtServe Michigan , attended today's Senate Subcommittee on the Department of History, Arts and Libraries and provided the following update:

The subcommittee voted Senate Bill 247 out of committee, appropriating $3,892,000 for arts and cultural grant funding for fiscal year 2010. This is a $2 million increase from what Governor Granholm had recommended in her FY2010 Executive Budget Recommendations back in February.

Here are the key things to know:

• The Senate HAL Subcommittee introduced Senate Bill 247 appropriating $3,892,000 for arts and cultural grant funding.
• The subcommittee retained the $300 non-refundable application fee.
  • The Gov had requested an increase to $1,000 - ArtServe opposed this.
• MCACA staff administration was retained at 5 FTE's with a budget of $545,400
• The subcommittee changed the boiler plate to ensure that the MCACA is able to use this money for operational grants.
• Senator Cameron Brown introduced an amendment that included intent language to work with the administration to place MCACA somewhere besides MEDC.

This is a small victory for arts and culture in Michigan, and is no doubt due to your efforts in writing the Governor and your legislators. The HAL Subcommittee recommendation is the first step in the process as the budget will now go before the House HAL Subcommittee in the weeks to come. Trust that ArtServe will continue to work behind the scenes and with you all to ensure that arts and cultural grant funding is retained at $8 million for fiscal year 2010.

If you have not already sent the new email to the Governor and your legislators please help us continue to put pressure on our elected officials by taking 30 seconds to click the link below and send an email.

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/mi/issues/alert/?alertid=12875361&type=ML

As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free email Mike Latvis at mike@artservemichigan.org or call him at 248-379-5897.

Artist-In-Residence Opportunity - DUE DATE 3/31!

PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK SEEKS ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE APPLICANTS
www.porkies.org/artist.html
Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2009

Applications are now being accepted for the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Artist-in-Residence Program for the 2009 spring, summer, fall and 2010 winter residencies. The Artist-in-Residence Program is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by this unique northern wilderness setting. Information about the program and an application for the 2009 spring, summer, fall and 2010 winter residencies can be obtained at www.porkies.org/artist.html

Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2009, and mailed to Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program, P.O. Box 221, Ontonagon, MI 49953.
Selection will be based on artistic integrity, ability to reside in a wilderness environment, a willingness to donate a finished piece of art inspired by their stay in the Porkies, and the artist’s ability to relate and interpret the park through their art medium. The program is open to all art forms except those that may be inconsistent with the mission of the park. Successful artists will be notified on or before April 25, 2009.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, also known as “The Porkies,” is a 65,000 acre park made up of 25 miles of shoreline, four inland lakes, entire river systems, many waterfalls, wooded peaks, and an escarpment which rises from the edge of Lake Superior and drops into the Carp River valley. The park also features a virgin forest of eastern hemlock and northern hardwoods, and the variety of flora and fauna. Because of these attributes, the park is an ideal location to inspire artistic creativity.

Nonprofits Uniting in Partnership to Combat Crisis

John Hopkins University and The Listening Post Project present

"THE FORWARD TOGETHER DECLARATION: Empowering America's Citizen Sector for the Change We Need

As concerned leaders in the nonprofit, or citizen, sector, WE HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THIS TIME OF NATIONAL CRISIS to renew our commitment to serve as partners in public service in addressing the challenges our nation faces.

This renewal process will work for all of us: Citizens, Government, Business, Organized Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leaders, Everyone"

CLICK HERE for more info or to become a signatory and sign the declaration

Cultural Post Established at White House

On 3/13/09, the New York Times reported the following:

"President Barack Obama has established a staff position in the White House to oversee arts and culture in the Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs..."

CLICK HERE to read the NY Times article

NEXT WEEK: ArtServe Michigan's Virtual Arts & Culture Advocacy Conference - Register Today!

The 2009 Virtual Arts & Cultural Advocacy Conference is a revolutionary new tool, designed to help organizations through these challenging times by connecting members of Michigan’s arts & cultural sector with the critical information they need regarding advocacy, communication, mobilization and sustainability. View the presentations live next week or with fresh “on-demand” content being generated everyday by new presenters, you have the option to view the archived presentations from national experts and dynamic speakers based upon your own availability, whenever and wherever you want, via the highly-interactive and media-rich interface provided by Expos2.

Don’t have time to view every single breakout session next week? NO PROBLEM – your registration entitles you to unlimited access for all of the archived presentations and materials all the way through April 3, 2009! REGISTRATION is only $30.00 and THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO REGISTER so REGISTER TODAY and come join your peers from all over the state at the Virtual Arts & Cultural Advocacy Conference for the tools, insights and inspiration you need to take your community’s advocacy efforts to the next level.

* Keynote Speech

PHIL POWER, Founder and President of The Center For Michigan.

* The Michigan Picture

MIKE LATVIS, Director of Public Policy, ArtServe Michigan

* The National Picture

JAY DICK, Director of State & Local Government Affairs, Americans for the Arts

* Strategic Communications: Target Audiences, Framing, and Messaging

EMARI DIMAGIBA, Program Director, The SPIN Project Communications Leadership Institute

* Arts Education Policies That Lead To Student Success - A Look Around the State and Nation

ANA CARDONA, Consultant for Arts Education, Office of School Improvement, Michigan Department of Education.

* $how U$ the Money: Using Federal Title Monies for Arts Education

DR. CHARLOTTE TABEREAUX, Mississippi State University

* Building Community Support for Arts Education

LAURIE SCHELL, Executive Director, California Alliance for Arts Education

* The Benefits of Branding, Design or Social Media in These Challenging Times

TIM SMITH, President of Skidmore Inc.

* Distributing Event Listings in a Fragmented News Environment

WARREN ARMSTRONG, Lead Developer, Publicdrum.org

Secretary of Arts cabinet post needed, UM deans say

By Christopher Kendall, dean, School of Music, Theatre & Dance,
David Munson, Robert J. Vlasic Dean, College of Engineering,
Monica Ponce de Leon, dean, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning and
Bryan Rogers, dean, School of Art & Design

http://www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Mar02_09/37.php

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: Arts & Culture in MI are under attack!

Grab your legislators and media's attention!

Using the tools below, stay connected to all the current news as it happens and get the information you need to state your case in support of state arts and culture funding:

Tell Lansing that state funding for arts & culture is VITAL to Michigan's future

• Write Governor Granholm. Send the Governor a Message. Let her know of your opposition to her recommendation to nearly zero-out funding for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs in 2010
• Join GRAAND. To sign up for the e-mail list and receive action alerts visit http://capwiz.com/artsusa/mi/mlm/signup/
• Join MiArt Attack. A support group created by the creative community to build support for arts, culture and creativity in Michigan

Refine your MESSAGE: Know the Facts

• Use the Arts and Culture Advocacy Toolkit
• Download the Campaign Messages and Talking Points
• 2005 W.E. Upjohn Institute's Arts and Cultural Activities and Michigan Economy Report
  

Monitor the Press & Hold Local Media Accountable

• Read the recent Detroit Free Press op-ed by Jennifer Goulet, ArtServe Michigan's president. Use the messages from this op-ed to write your own letter to the editor, comment on a blog posting or develop an op-ed article for your local newspaper
• Link to other newspaper op-eds and articles from around the state and nation
• Statewide media lists for daily and weekly newspapers