National News   

Did you know that NEFA offers a calendar of professional development opportunities on MatchBook.org? From workshops on strategic planning and nonprofit incorporation to advice on using social media to build audiences, the listings include an array of events around the region. Although Matchbook.org is a resource targeted toward the performing arts field, these professional development listings are relevant for many creative economy practitioners. Anyone can view the listings and it's free and easy for registered users to add events to the calendar. 

As always, the region is abuzz with creative economy activity. A few recent headlines: 

• Maine Arts Commission awarded Belfast and Waterville each a Creative Communities = Economic Development (CCED) grant of $50,000.
• Massachusetts Assets for Artists program submitted a report with interim findings on the economic impact of the program, which offers financial and professional development tools for low to moderate income artist-entrepreneurs.  
• Vermont announced the creation of an  Office of the Creative Economy, headed by Joe Bookchin, former Director of the Vermont Film Commission. Listen to Joe's interview with Vermont Public Radio.   
• Connecticut's Office of the Arts is shifting arts funding to focus on economic stimulation, after recently joining the Department of Economic & Community Development.     

Final Reminder to submit your 2010 financial data 

The survey is especially designed to gather financial data from
nonprofits that do not file an IRS Form 990 and have not submitted a profile to the Cultural Data Project (available in MA, RI & VT).