October is...

NEW Economic Activity Study

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

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!

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!!!