What a year 2012 has been!

Arts organizations continued to struggle in a tough economy and, sadly, several important ones were casualties. But Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts kept at it -- working with our advocates on behalf of arts and culture in our state.

We saw successes like making sure the Arts Commission was reauthorized for the full 10 years allowed under law, and in getting some grants dollars restored to the Arizona Arts Trust. We also saw arts-friendly mayors elected in several Arizona communities. We spoke up for arts funding in local city budget hearings, and we reached out to new community partners through our involvement with Arizona Town Hall and other civic groups.

Because 2012 was an election year, we launched a brand new voter and candidate education campaign called Vote smART that connected thousands of Arizona arts supporters with the candidates and the arts issues at stake in the elections.

And even though organizations continued to struggle in a tough economy, new economic data was released that showed that arts and culture is still a powerful economic driver in Arizona. One new study showed it generates more than a half billion in economic activity every year. Read about that and more in our Summary of Program Activities 2011-12.

As 2012 comes to an end - we are certain of two things. First, there is much work for us to do. Our commitment is to be prepared to do it in 2013 and beyond.  Second, we are profoundly grateful for the support from arts and culture organizations and our advocates all over Arizona. 

We credit our successes to all of you who've stepped up by becoming members of Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts, writing or calling your elected officials, supporting the Governor's Arts Awards and using Vote smART website.  

We send a special "shout out" to our arts organization members who participated in our Organizational Assessment Survey. Admittedly, it's a pretty "dry" way to describe a vital tool we will be using to plot our future work on your behalf. We learned a lot, and were pleased that the vast majority of you feel very positively about us.

You also told us how we can improve the services that are a priority to you:

• Educating about arts public policy, the economic impact of arts and culture and the importance of arts education;
• Advocating at the Capitol, with our Congressional delegation and in local communities;
• Keeping you up to date about what other arts and culture organizations are doing;
• Online communications through our newsletter, our Facebook page and action alerts.

Based on your input, you'll see some changes immediately, but expect a major effort when we launch a comprehensive strategic planning process in 2013. We'll keep you informed and we'll be asking for your help again.

In the meantime, here's hoping you are having a wonderful holiday season and preparing for a prosperous New Year.

And speaking of prosperity - your memberships and contributions help keep us in the black. If you've not become a paying member or renewed your membership this year now is the perfect time!

Longtime arts advocate Carolyn Allen, winner of the 2011 Shelley Award and

a current vice chair of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, will chair the 2013 Governor's Arts Awards, March 6 at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 32nd annual event by visiting www.governorsartsawards.org.

Since 1981, 152 artists, individuals, arts and cultural organizations, educators and businesses have been recognized for the extraordinary contributions they make to the arts and culture community in the state of Arizona. The event is presented by Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts in partnership with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor.

Allen was a consistent supporter of the arts during a political career that began in the Arizona House of Representatives in 1994, and continued in the state Senate in 2002, where she served until 2010. Previously, she'd also served in leadership roles with the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Reserve the date now, and stay tuned for more updates about the Governor's Arts Award nominees. 

Hundreds of artists, arts-related organizations, advocates and business leaders representing tourism and economic development from across the state are expected at the Arizona State Capitol for the 27th annual Arizona Arts Congress from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4.

Sponsored by Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts, registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on the Senate Lawn at the Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St.  

Arts Congress this year will be a special opportunity for attendees to introduce the importance of arts issues to 37 new legislators, as well meeting with veteran legislators.  Morning information sessions include advocacy training, updates on the impact of redistricting and other programs about arts policy issues. 

Registration fee is $25 and includes all information sessions, training materials and assistance scheduling legislator meetings.  Registration can be completed by visiting www.azcitizensforthearts.org or by calling (602) 253-6535.

The impact of the arts on Arizona's economy and community life will be the subject of a panel discussion moderated by Arizona Capitol Times Editor Jim Small, as part of the newspaper's ongoing Morning Scoop Series.

Registration begins at 7 a.m., Tuesday January 29, at Alexi's Grill, 3550 N. Central Ave.  The panel discussion runs from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.  Panelists include:

• Arizona Commission on the Arts Chair Mark Feldman
• Mesa Mayor Scott Smith
• Arizona State Senator Steve Farley (D-District 9)
• Arizona State Senator Michelle Regan (R - District 23)
• Arizona Citizens for the Arts Executive Director Catherine "Rusty" Foley

Reservations are required.  Seating is limited to 100 people and a complimentary breakfast is provided.  To register and for more information, call Tracy Keller at (602) 889-7140.

 Bill DeWalt, who oversaw construction, assembling of the core collection and building the team and organization at the Musical Instrument Museum, will leave the job on March 1.

DeWalt, also a member of the Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts board, will continue serving on the MIM Board of Directors for a period of time and will work as a consultant to museum through the end of 2013.

Show.Up.com and Alliance for Audience became the latest nonprofit arts organizations to succumb to a difficult economy.

Executive Director Matt Lehrman, who co-founded the organization in 2003, told the Arizona Republic that despite a year-long effort to "reinvent the business model," he and the board of directors had "exhausted all available resources."

Lerhman said that The Culture Pass will most likely be maintained by the Phoenix Art Museum, which launched the idea.  Culture Pass offers free admissions to museums and performances through Valley libraries.

The ShowUp.com Ticket Marketplace has been replaced by the national website Goldstar.com.  Discussions continue to determine if and how the online calendar of arts and cultural events will be maintained.

"I am heartbroken because for me this was never a job," Lehrman told The Republic.  "This is a passion."

Among the items included in the White House/Congressional negotiations to resolve the "fiscal cliff", are possible limits on the degree to which charitable contributions are tax deductible. Numerous studies show that if tax deductions are capped and charitable contributions are lumped in with other eligible deductions, charitable contributions will drop dramatically, dealing a critical blow to health and welfare agencies and nonprofit arts organizations. Private sector contributions to the arts are already at near-historic lows, and research from Americans for the Arts shows that higher income individuals (those most likely to be impacted by a limit on charitable deductions) tend to give more to the arts.  

Negotiations between President Obama and House Majority Leader John Boehner are reading a critical point.  Call or email the White House, (202)-456-1111 as soon as possible to deliver this message:

The President's limit on charitable deductions hurts front line nonprofits serving people in need and arts organizations contributing to the stability and vitality of our local communities. Don't hurt the helpers. Don't limit charitable deductions!    

 More information about this issue is available from the following sources: www.GiveVoice.org,  www.councilofnonprofits.org, and Arts Blog USA .

Arts Congress, the Governor's Arts Awards and even our day-to-day activities running our office - Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts always has need of volunteers who'd like to help us meet our mission of serving the arts and culture community.  Visit our new Volunteer Page for more information and to sign up, or visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org  and click on Get Connected.

Coming up soon: Arts Congress 2013, February 4 at the State Capitol, and the 2013 Governor's Arts Awards, March 6 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. 

OFFICERS 

Joel Hiller  

President, Arizona Citizens 

Brenda Bernardi 

Vice President, Arizona Citizens 

  Tom Chapman

Karen Falkenstrom

Secretary

Dawn Brown 

Treasurer

Jeff Rich 

Member-At-Large

Steve Martin 

Past President, Arizona Citizens  

Barbara Fenster

Chair, Membership Committee

MEMBERS   

Allan Affeldt  

Winslow Arts Trust 

Jason Baran

Salt River Project
Representative Kate Brophy McGee

Arizona House of Representatives
Jennifer Burns

Consulting & Policy Development 

Sam Campana  

Audobon Arizona

Bill DeWalt

Musical Instrument Museum

Mary Dryden

Tucson Symphony Orchestra League  

Representative Steve Farley 

Arizona House of Representatives

Mark Feldman

Miller-Russell & Associates

Phillip C. Jones

Community Volunteer 

Cathy Knapp  

Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP 

Robert Knight 

Tucson Museum of Art
Kate Marquez

Southern Arizona Arts & Culture Alliance

Rick Pfannenstiel

 Pfocus, LLC
Jackie Thrasher

Retired Arts Educator