TO: Nashville Arts Organizations,
26 July 2004
Metro Arts Commission Awards Over $2 Million
NASHVILLE, Tenn - Thirty-four local arts organizations will share $2,002,000 in creation and operation grants from Metro in the upcoming fiscal year, based on recommendations made by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission's Grant Committee Thursday afternoon, July 21.
Based on that Committee's recommendations, the Metro Nashville Arts Commission awarded 38 basic operating and special project grants totaling $2,002,000 for fiscal year 2004-2005.
The total amount granted is down by approximately $361,700 over last fiscal year, when Metro granted a record $2,363,700 to 72 arts organizations across Metro Davidson County.
A bright note in the grant announcements was a 28 percent increase in total grants made to organizations to underwrite the creation of new art. A total of $96,550 was granted to five organizations for the express purpose of creating new works.
"The arts community and this commission knew, like everyone else in Metro Nashville, that we are facing a very tight budget year," said Norree Boyd, executive director of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission. "Like every other entity in Metro Nashville, the grants committee had to make some very thoughtful, but difficult, decisions on funding for the upcoming year.
"In most cases, those organizations who didn't receive grants this year presented great ideas that simply needed more time and more planning to make sure the funds the Metro Nashville Arts Commission distributes are spent as effectively as possible."
Boyd said that organizations that didn't receive grant funding this year were encouraged to develop their applications and processes further and submit next year. In addition to personal assistance available at the Commission, the grants process is explained and available to the public and organizations on the Commission's web site (www.artsnashville.org/grantapp/index.php).
"Our decisions weren't a comment on an organization's artistic worth or merit," Boyd added. "Our decisions were based on making the wisest possible investments of Metro's money to help deliver the arts to as many people throughout Metro Nashville Davidson County as possible."
Details on the Grants
Award amounts and recipients are outlined below.
Basic Operating Support I - $1,416,419 to 12 organizations with annual revenues over $500,000:
| Belcourt Yes | $15,200 |
| Cheekwood | $208,750 |
| Country Music Foundation | $42,807 |
| Frist Center for the Visual Arts | $228,478 |
| Nashville Ballet | $95,951 |
| Nashville Chamber Orchestra | $18,610 |
| Nashville Children's Theatre | $80,750 |
| Nashville Opera Association | $96,278 |
| Nashville Symphony | $406,088 |
| Tennessee Performing Arts Center | $147,500 |
| Tennessee Repertory Theatre | $33,171 |
| Watkins College of Art & Design | $42,836 |
Basic Operating Support II - $278,451 to 7 groups with annual revenues of $100,000 to $500,000:
| Actors Bridge Ensemble Theatre | $34,000 |
| Global Education Center | $38,000 |
| Nashville Film Festival | $69,233 |
| Nashville Jazz Workshop | $26,860 |
| Nashville Shakespeare Festival | $56,594 |
| Tennessee Assoc. of Craft Artists | $13,764 |
| W.O. Smith Music School | $40,000 |
Basic Operating Support III - $102,380 for 9 groups with annual revenues of less than $100,000:
| Act I-Artists' Cooperative Theatre | $7,500 |
| Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville | $7,000 |
| East Nashville Center for Creative Arts | $24,000 |
| Lakewood Theater Co., Inc. | $7,500 |
| Music City Blues Society | $14,300 |
| Nashville Cultural Arts Project | $7,500 |
| People's Branch Theatre | $21,100 |
| Ruby Green Foundation | $6,000 |
| Sudan Acholi Community of TN | $7,480 |
Creation - $96,550 to underwrite the creation of original works of art:
| Actors Bridge Ensemble Theatre | $20,000 |
| Gordon Jewish Community Center | $20,000 |
| Nashville Ballet | $20,000 |
| Nashville Chamber Orchestra | $20,000 |
| Nashville Children's Theatre | $16,550 |
Program - $108,200 supports specific arts or cultural programs by 5 organizations:
| Family and Children's Services | $13,000 |
| Native American Indian Association | $20,450 |
| Scarritt-Bennett Center | $24,750 |
| Nashville Public Television | $25,000 |
| Village Cultural Arts Center Inc. | $25,000 |
How The Grant Process Works
The Metro Nashville Arts Commission makes grants to arts organizations annually to aid them in creating new art and programs, as well as supporting the general operations of arts organizations.
The application and review process involves several steps. Each applicant organization must address the following criteria in a written narrative: excellence, community impact, learning experiences, plus administration, development and financial management.
Citizen advisory panelists, appointed for their interest in and knowledge of the arts, as well as their broad knowledge of business practices, are assigned to five grant panels: Basic Operating Support I, Basic Operating Support II, Basic Operating Support III, Program, and Creation. The Nashville citizens on this year's panels attended presentations by applicant organizations; held lengthy sessions to discuss, rate and rank the grant proposals; then made preliminary funding recommendations to the Arts Commission's Executive Committee and the full Commission.
Grants were reviewed by a group of volunteers chosen from across the community, and included Sarah Barnet, MNAC commissioner Paul Bell, Linda Bell-Smith, Kelly Brownlee, Mark Chalos, MNAC commissioner William Cheek III, Yuri Cunza, Jane Fabian, Sylvia Feldman, Leigh Green, Raye Ann Greenbaum, Cherié Hamilton, MNAC commissioner Edwina Hefner, Leesa Hinson, Earl Lamons, Tim Larson, MNAC commissioner Andrée LeQuire, Jim Lovensheimer, J.C. Mendez, Loren Mulraine, Suzy Newton, Nancy Reece, Robinson Regen, Rhonda Sides, MNAC commissioner Steve Sirls, Ronnie Steine, Hope Stringer, Trent Sullivan, Cindy Tyler, and Steve Westfield.
About the Metro Nashville Arts Commission:
The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission is a commission of the Metro Nashville Government. The MNAC exists to provide leadership that stimulates and advances the arts to enrich the human experience for the community. The MNAC administers a sizable city grants program that has grown significantly in recent years.
Over $2 million was awarded in FY'04. In addition, the MNAC seeks and oversees public arts funding, such as the Tennessee Arts Commission's Arts Build Communities grants in Middle Tennessee. Since the passage of a public art ordinance in May 2000, the MNAC manages Metro's public art program.
The Commission is chaired by Nancy Saturn; members include: Colleen E. Dowd, Vice-chair; Steve Sirls, Secretary; Don A. Shriver, Treasurer; Judy Liff Barker; Paul E. Bell; Barbara G. Chazen; Will Cheek III; Dr. Paulette Coleman; Edwina Hefner; Andrée LeQuire; Michael McBride; Jefferson H. Ockerman; Walter Schatz and Cindy Steine.
| top |
TAC Arts Build Communities Program launched locally
The Tennessee Arts Commission recently announced a $50,585 Arts Build Communities grant award to the Metro Nashville Arts Commission for distribution to Davidson County organizations supporting community arts development. MNAC will conduct a workshop on Thursday, August 12 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Joe Kraft Conference Center, Suite 420 of Cummins Station, to answer questions and provide technical assistance in application preparation for the Tennessee General Assembly funded program. The program's long-term objective is to build communities by nurturing artists, arts organizations and arts supporters in each of Tennessee's ninety five counties Funds awarded to a single organization in this category range from $500 to $3,000. All applicants must be not-for-profit organizations chartered in the state of Tennessee with 501 (c)(3) IRS tax exempt status. The organization's headquarters and substantial programming must be in Davidson County.
Guidelines and application forms for the ABC program are available on the Tennessee Arts Commission's web site at www.arts.state.tn.us or email: jonathan.saad@state.tn.us. Application deadline is Friday, September 3, 2004 at 4 p.m. in the MNAC office.
| top |
Economic impact grows for Nashville's nonprofit arts industry
Nashville's nonprofit arts organizations added $112 million to the personal income of Davidson County's metropolitan statistical area in 2003, this year's Arts & the Economy 2003 shows. This figure, representing an 8% increase over fiscal year 2002, comprises $78 million from arts organization activities plus $34 million generated by arts audiences when they made purchases related to arts events.
For the first time, this study figured additional economic impacts generated by the nonprofit arts industry. The 2003 sales associated with total personal income were $158 million; and state and local taxes raised by arts organization activities alone were approximately $5 million in 2003. The tax amounts raised by audience spending could not be determined with confidence. These results and others are being distributed in the current Arts & the Economy 2003 executive summary.
Operating expenses for 2003 increased along with revenue to a record high. The bottom line was an operating deficit of $2 million, as compared to a deficit of $5 million in 2002, the worst operating result since the study began. It's too early to tell if the recent positive trend will produce a surplus next year or if deficits will continue.
"With continued private and public support, which is vital to this industry, the nonprofit arts groups will continue to enhance Nashville's robust economic and cultural health," advised MNAC's new executive director Norree Boyd.
The MNAC thanks local nonprofit arts organizations for their efforts providing data to the study team members, which includen Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Middle Tennessee State University's Business and Economic Research Center, who joined with the Metro Nashville Arts Commission to produce this study.
| top |
Reminder to grantees: give credit for arts funding
With the Metro budget passed, it's time to thank your Council representative for their support of the Mayor's budget. Another way to make visible the support of the arts is to credit Metro Arts Commission in all promotion, publicity and advertising and in printed programs. Refer to your grant contract for details. MNAC has a Metro Arts banner available for display at appropriate events.
| top |
New to Nashville's Arts Directory:
Ideaprov Improv, LeQuire Gallery, Over the Rainbow Glass Gallery and Untitled have each recently joined MNAC's online Arts Directory, Nashville's guide to area arts organizations. The Directory contains a comprehensive list of not-for-profit arts organizations in the performing, visual, literary, and media arts, local arts service organizations, and arts education contacts, plus commercial galleries and other organizations that exhibit art or present arts programming. Arts organizations can add or update a listing online at www.artsnashville.org.
| top |
Visual artists join others online
Log on to MNAC's Artist Registry to see artworks by newly added Registry participants Nancy Gray Beck, Marc Bell, John Davis, Kate Donnelly, Beth Gilmore, Andy Harding, Laura Heatherly, Rob Lindsay, Donna Rizzo, and Maggie Tucker. Updated images are posted by Jane Braddock, Kaaren Hirschowitz Engel, Johan Hagaman, Chip Herbert, Anderson Kenny, Robyn Morshead, and Rusty Wolfe.
| top |
|
© 2009
Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission 800 2nd Avenue South, 4th Floor P.O. Box 196300 Nashville TN 37219-6300 |
arts@nashville.gov (615) 862-6720 fax (615) 862-6731 |
Americans with Disabilities Act
|
|