NewJerseyartsblog

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.