Fall 2005 Issue

Letter From The Director

It is no surprise to readers for us to speak about funding for the arts in difficult times. This month’s column is designed to provide information on a more specific strategy that the Maine Arts Commission will be working on in the coming months.

State funding remains challenging and we will advocate for ongoing support of Maine Arts Commission programs. Even with state government reductions, the Maine Arts Commission to date has received fewer budget cuts than other agencies. In addition, we will continue to seek special funding. Significantly, on November 8, Maine voters approved $1 million in bond issue funds for arts and historical facilities, museums and libraries.

By the end of the calendar year, we will announce how much will be available for arts organizations from the bonds funds. Moreover, we continue to advocate for resources from as many state sources as possible. The creative economy initiative not only helps to create an atmosphere for greater funding for the arts and culture, but it also delivers. For example the Midcoast Magnet has received $25,000 as start up challenge funding from the Department of Economic and Community Development. The department is also directing communities to consider creative economy proposals for community development block grants.

We are also increasing our efforts to ensure that as many National Endowment for the Arts grants as possible are awarded to Maine. These grants may come to the Maine Arts Commission to be redistributed or may be awarded directly to artists and arts organizations. I am convinced that new funding may be achieved for arts in education after school programs and other educational initiatives. I know that by working with Discovery Research communities and the new creative economy organizations, a strategically placed proposal could bring support for the interconnections among Maine’s community arts endeavors. Maine’s preeminent internationally known schools in the visual arts, music and dance are also competitive on a national level for individual funding and for joint projects. We believe planning collaborative proposals among arts institutions and organizations of all kinds will yield results. Finally, although deadlines are tight, we will get word to you as soon as we learn of new National Endowment for the Arts initiatives such as “American Masterpieces.”

While the state’s major cultural institutions with grant writing staff may not need the Maine Arts Commission’s help in developing proposals sent to the National Endowment for the Arts, please remember that we are always available to help any organization or artist with letters of support or calls to endowment program staff. Moreover, we are seeking funding from other federal agencies. For example, we are currently assisting the St. John Valley with a major cultural proposal for the US Department of Agriculture. (Yes, USDA funds the arts and in a significant amount.)

The Maine Arts Commission will continue its policy vis-a-vis private funding for the arts, namely we will not submit proposals to private funders should any proposal conflict with those applications from the arts institutions and artists we are here to serve. However, we will research proposals that only stand a chance of national foundation funding if they are presented from a statewide perspective. Finally, when appropriate, we will assist local projects with statewide, regional or national significance. An example is Portland’s Oceangate project for the new ferry terminal. We have utilized a modest $35,000 Percent for Art commission for a design fee that has been a catalyst for a large installation of several hundred thousand dollars.

Some of you know that over the past two years we have restructured our staff to be of greater assistance with financial development but it bears repeating. Kathy Ann Shaw, our grants and arts development associate, has now refigured the grants system that awards over $550,000 annually. We have also created an e-GRANT system that allows you to submit applications online. Now Kathy’s attention, and the Maine Arts Commission committee’s attention, is directed to the development side of her responsibilities and we look forward to working with you to increase arts funding for Maine.

In closing, please join me in welcoming Jeffrey Hope as the Maine Arts Commission’s community relations/public information associate. Jeffrey, whom you will read about elsewhere in the MaineArtsMag, comes to us after a three year sojourn reporting television news in Alaska. We are glad Jeffrey is with us and has returned to his native state.

As always, let me hear your questions and concerns. My direct contact information is located on page two.

Alden C. Wilson
Director