• Diversity as a Catalyst for Organizational Change
• Technology 2.0: Keeping up with Changing Tech Tools
• Developing Downtown as a Key Economic Driver
• The Illinois Cultural Data Project
• Building the 21st Century Agenda for Cultural Democracy
• ADA Basics for Cultural and Arts Organizations
• Making the Case for the Arts in Rural Community Development

When: June 1st & 2nd, 2009
 
Who:  You +... Attendance is anticipated to include 300-400 of Illinois' arts leaders, practitioners, students, educators, and various others interested in the successful integration of the arts in communities.
 
Where: Hotel Père Marquette, 501 Main St, Peoria, IL
 
Why: In the midst of a sea change, will you tread water alone or join forces with fellow arts leaders to navigate toward sunnier climes? The theme of this year's One State conference is "See Change," focusing on topics of internal organizational change, environmental changes, and the impact of arts and cultural work in building vital, prosperous, livable communities. Find out more...

The Illinois Cultural Data Project is a Go! 

One of the Illinois Arts Council's main objectives is that "the arts and cultural community statewide will be stronger and better connected - to each other and to the broader community - and will use these new connections to advance a more vital and robust creative landscape for the entire state." In keeping, it is our great pleasure to announce the launch of the Illinois Cultural Data Project.

The Illinois Cultural Data Project (Illinois CDP) is an online management tool designed to strengthen arts and cultural organizations statewide. Arts and cultural organizations enter financial, programmatic and operational data into a standardized online form and can then use the CDP to produce a variety of reports designed to help increase management capacity, identify strengths and challenges and inform decision-making.

All Illinois arts and cultural organizations are encouraged to take advantage of the Illinois CDP. Participation in the Illinois CDP will be a requirement for all FY2011 Program Grant and Partners-in-Excellence applicants. However, you do not need to be an applicant to the IAC to benefit from the power of many! Through a comprehensive, statewide effort to gather consistent and reliable information on the arts and cultural sector, the Illinois CDP will: 

• Enable participating organizations to track trends and benchmark progress through powerful reporting tools,  
• Provide information with which to gauge the economic impact of arts and culture by area or statewide, and
• Equip the Illinois Arts Council and other funders with data to plan and evaluate grant-making activities more effectively.

The launch of the Illinois CDP has been made possible through the leadership of the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Alliance, the Boeing Company, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the John D. and Catharine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Woods Fund of Chicago. 

Training sessions are scheduled statewide beginning mid-May. In addition, a toll-free help desk and user support assistance and free access (by phone) will be available to participants year-round from a team of financial consultants specializing in accounting for nonprofits. Find out more...