Marketing, increased bookings, and targeted cost cutting have wiped out a $55,000 2008-2009 Alex Theatre deficit, says a report submitted today by Glendale Arts to the Glendale Redevelopment Agency.
This is great news for the city of Glendale, and arts organizations in the area should take note of Glendale Arts successful strategies, including a focus on programming and marketing. A Wall Street journal feature just cited an Americans for the Arts estimate that the recession could “kill off at least 10,000 arts organizations in 2009.” The article focused on a free consulting program – Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative – for troubled arts organizations offered by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The online consulting service is staffed by 12 Kennedy Center employees and a number of “mentors.”
Avoiding self-defeating cuts in programming and marketing are critical, according to Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser:
“When there are economic challenges, the first things that staffs and boards cut are programming and marketing, and that’s the worst thing you can do,” he says. “You’re guaranteeing yourself you’ll have less revenue next year, and that’s how sick organizations get really sick. That’s why I’m so nervous right now and why I’m doing this.”
Cutting budget is obviously necessary, “but where you cut is crucial,” he continues. “I cut the free coffee for staff here. It saved us $30,000 a year. I’ve also cut back on staff travel, including my own. I’ve never met a budget I couldn’t cut, in any organization, no matter how small. But if you start by cutting the programming, rather than everything in the back of the house, you’re signing a warrant that everything will just get worse, worse, worse.”
Arts advocates are following events closely. ArtsJournal.com commented that while laudable, the Center initiative “doesn’t have the capacity to engage the tidal wave of cultural leaders who need help.”
Another resource for arts organizations is Project Grantsmanship, sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation and the California Community Foundation. So far this project has trained 100 local nonprofit leaders to plan more effective programs and write more compelling proposals. Another 200 localnonprofit leaders can apply to receive the training at a fraction of its cost through eight worshops: five in 2009 and three in 2010, with the foundations underwriting up to 90 percent of the class costs. 2009 workshops start in March, so consult the website for information ASAP.
Recent articles and posts on the crisis, and making the case for investment in the arts:
Arts funding for the 21st century – Flyover: Art in the American Outback
California is last in arts funding – as usual – LATimes blog CultureMonster
Stimulus Bill Compromise Will Help Save Thousands of Arts Workers Jobs – Artsblog – Americans for the Arts
Food for the soul? Arts funding takes a beating in ugly economic times – WalletPop
Can the Arts Survive the Economic Crisis? – Burk’s Blog (although I don’t agree that arts enrichment is what makes a life worth saving!)
Why arts funding matters – FayObserver.com (a perspective from the Fayetteville Museum of Art
Thanks for acknowledging our recent post about why arts funding matters. We hope that all arts organizations stand together in times of economic strife to present a unified front to not only secure funding but succeed in our missions and goals. Glendale and Fayetteville, NC prove similar though far apart!