January 2013 
Year in Review

CNY Arts would like to take a look back at the accomplishments of 2012, give a glimpse of what's in store for us in 2013, and gratefully acknowledge those that helped us along the way. Thank you all for another great year!

Contents
A Message from the Executive Director
A Message from the CNY Arts Board
IDEAS Collaborative
Michael Harms Theater Festival
The Adventures of Rudolph
On My Own Time
NYSCA Decentralization
Special Thanks
from Stephen Butler

CNY Arts has forged and strengthened many relationships over the past year. We truly would not be able to do what we do without:

Kathy Goldfarb-Findling
who first championed the IDEAS Collaborative

Dirk Sonneborn
who has continued its development

Allyn Foundation
Central New York Community Foundation
Cultural Resources Trust
Gifford Foundation
John Ben Snow Foundation
Reisman Foundation
who have funded IDEAS

Peter Dunn, Heidi Holtz, Nora Spillane, Jonathan Snow, John Eberle, Bob Falter, Olive Sephuma, and all of the foundation staff that have provided valuable insight to us.

David Holder and the staff of the Syracuse Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Carol Sweet and the
Arts and Culture Leadership Alliance of Central New York
(ACLA)

Dr. Ronald Wright
and Le Moyne College
whose work with the AFA's Arts & Economic Prosperity IV discovered valuable data on the economic impact of the arts in our community.

Michael Bull
for his attentive stewardship of the former SSO instruments

As we close out 2012, I personally want to thank the wonderful staff and board who work with me and have brought so much talent and energy to the agency.

Board of Directors
Catherine Gerard
President

Christine Flynn
Vice President

Scott Severance
Secretary

Lisa Sova
Treasurer

Matt Dwyer
Marissa Mims
George Nardone
Mark Nerenhausen
Clifford Tsan
Mary Vanouse
Eunice Williams
Jeff Woodward
Bill Fisher
Carol Sweet

CNY Arts Staff
Mike Intaglietta
Jon Wilson
Elizabeth Lane
Matthew De Bellas
Kara Greene
Do you know about our CNY Arts Directory? 

Links to Arts and Culture Resources in CNY, including:
Art Classes and Workshops, Comedy, Dance, Film and Video, Lecture, Music, Opera, Public Art, Reading, Theater, Visual Arts, Festivals and Annual Events, Other Resources and Initiatives, and Studio Spaces

Visit the CNYArts.org
Directory HERE.


Did we miss something?  Let us know if you have a link to add by emailing communications@cnyarts.org


CNY Arts
315.435.2155
www.cnyarts.org

NYSCA logo
CNY Arts is supported by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency,

Onondaga County seal

 
......along with support by Onondaga County and

ideas
the IDEAS Collaborative.

CNY Arts
 

www.CNYArts.org


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A Message from Executive Director Stephen Butler    

As I reflect on 2012 it occurs to me that CNY Arts had an amazing journey this past year, and one for which we are grateful (as cliché as that might sound, it's true).  We are meeting the goals in our strategic plan, but I really want to focus on those unexpected events that have enriched our story here at our agency.


In September 2011, we received an unexpected call from M&T Bank telling us that the Bank and, in particular Regional President Allen Naples, was donating all the former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra instruments, computer equipment, and furnishings to our agency in order to ensure these assets remain in our community. CNY Arts worked with a number of agencies and individuals to ensure the continued existence of symphonic music in Central New York. On December 14, Symphoria made its official debut at its Holiday Spectaular through the dedication of its musicians, including Jon Garland, the volunteerism of the Symphoria Board, especially Robert Daino, and the support of County Executive Joanne Mahoney, Deputy County Executive Bill Fisher, County Legislative Chairman Ryan McMahon, and the entire Legislature.

As the county budget cycle began, we were surprised and gratified to learn that the pool of funds available for arts funding would improve, enabling an increase for the 14 agencies that receive general operating support, a mechanism for funding new agencies, and a fund for supporting exciting projects that spur increased economic development through a competitive grant process. Thanks again to County Executive Mahoney, Chairman McMahon, and Ways and Means Chair David Knapp for their vision for the arts.

In another surprise, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) received its first increase in funding since 2008. These funds were allocated for regional economic priorities, and we at CNY Arts were exhilarated to learn that our application to support Phase II of the Initiative to Develop and Engage Audiences and Services (IDEAS) was allocated $150,000 in funds. Many thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYSCA Executive Director Lisa Robb, the NYSCA staff, and our local Regional Economic Development Council, especially its Co-Chairs Rob Simpson and Chancellor Nancy Cantor for this important funding.

By remaining flexible and open to change, CNY Arts has managed to turn these surprises and shifting landscapes into opportunities to further our mission. We have managed to achieve our goals stated in our strategic plan as well, serving our increased, six-county service area, initiating our new regrant programs, our name change that reflects our regional scope, the growth of the CNY Arts board, our financial stability, our move to the 11th floor of the Civic Center (we have windows for the first time since 1977!), and our soon to be launched comprehensive, regional arts marketing system being developed with the Syracuse Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

We are all grateful for the past year's successes, and surprises, and excited for what 2013 holds for us.

  
A Message from the Board of Directors 
by Christine Flynn, CNY Arts Board Vice-President


The achievements of the CNY Arts Board in 2012 actually started in November 2011 as the board engaged in a strategic planning process led by consultant Diane Mataraza. This process identified areas that the board should undertake to advance the vision and mission of CNY Arts: to promote, support and celebrate arts and culture in Central New York. Our primary concern was on building the capacity of the organization to be able to manage our functions, especially as CNY Arts assumed regional status in our relationship with NYSCA. The board has focused on its own structure to increase the size of the board using an intentional recruitment strategy that addresses our regional nature and targets the various talents, skills and perspectives needed to oversee an arts intermediary organization such as CNY Arts.

Among our most visible and rewarding capacity building activities was working with Executive Director Steve Butler to expand the staffing structure to 4.5 employees and a contractor. While still lean, the staff has managed its responsibilities artfully. The responsibilities of this talented group include managing and maintaining a new arts calendar, conducting NYSCA regrant processes for arts organizations, individual artists and arts education in six counties (plus the challenge of adding a local regrant process for Onondaga County), providing technical assistance and arts advocacy in those counties, and managing the Michael Harms Theater Festival, On My Own Time, and numerous other arts initiatives.

We look forward to 2013 as CNY Arts engages in regional arts planning and we continue development of the board to increase capacity to serve our regional customers.

  
IDEAS Collaborative - 2012 Year in Review
by Matthew De Bellas, IDEAS Project Manager

ideas
Several events highlighted the past year moving forward the strategies of IDEAS Collaborative that strengthen the arts and cultural ecosystem in Central New York.  

In June of 2012, Mark Nerenhausen, CNY Arts board member and director of the Janklow Arts Leadership Program at Syracuse University introduced the concept of regionalism in the arts. Nerenhausen
offered ways for organizations to successfully operationalize regionalism by redefining relationships. By working collaboratively, organizations are equipped to better define outcomes and monetize connections that reinforce the network and sustain individual organizations.

In November, Karin Franklin-King (Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center), Jim Homa (Syracuse Opera), Maria Simmons (Rosamond Gifford Zoo),  Surale Phillips, and I represented the IDEAS Collaborative at the National Arts Marketing Project Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. We attended workshops and roundtable discussions where we shared strategies on growing audiences, discovered ways to work with budgets and gained insights into new techniques and tools to improve audience engagement. The group returned to Syracuse and shared what we learned with the IDEAS Collaborative members.

In partnership with the Syracuse Conventions and Visitors Bureau, CNY Arts is developing a joint regional marketing program in support of strategies for the IDEAS Collaborative that will attract new audiences, engage existing ones, and increase outreach in the region. Part of the initiative is the roll out of a new CNY Arts website that includes a directory and comprehensive arts and cultural events calendar that was designed in response to community conversations from the IDEAS Collaborative study by Sural Phillips in 2010. The website and calendar will launch at the end of this month.

  
Arts Enrichment - Michael Harms Theater Festival
by Jon Wilson, Administration Manager and Community Projects
 
Harms Festival Logo (sm) More than 200 students and 50 adults from five schools and three community theater groups gathered at Cayuga Community College on Saturday, March 31, 2012 for the Michael Harms Theater Festival. Auburn High School, Jamesville-Dewitt High School, DeWitt High School, La Joven Guardia del Teatro Latino, Manlius Pebble Hill School, The Media Unit, Oswego Children's Theater, Sherburne-Earlville High School Drama Club, and Skaneateles High School Drama participated. Our 2012 attendance was a 150% increase over the 2011 Festival!

The day was filled with live performances from each group and 20 workshop sessions for the students, which were led by professionals making a living in the arts with extensive experience regionally, in New York City, and beyond. At the closing awards ceremony, 28 awards were handed out for notable performances and technical work. Highest honors went to Manlius Pebble Hill School (Technical Achievement Award), La Joven Guardia del Teatro Latino (Award of Excellence: Community Theater), and Skaneateles High School Drama (Award of Excellence: High School).

The Michael Harms Theater Festival seeks to foster greater interest in theater work by students and teachers in secondary schools, providing a rare opportunity for students and teachers to display their acting and technical achievement in front of their peers and professional theater practitioners. CNY Arts encourages more schools and theater groups to participate in the Festival, which in 2013 will take place on Saturday, April 13th. To join us, contact Jon Wilson at jonwilson@cnyarts.org or 315-435-2126.

  
Introduction to the Arts - The Adventures of Rudolph
by Elizabeth Lane, Administrative and Decentralization Support   
Rudolph logo
 
Hundreds of excited children entered the Crouse Hinds Theater on December 5 for the first of five performances of the CNY holiday classic, The Adventures of Rudolph. Dazzling the young crowd were the energetic and animated student ballet dancers of Dance Centre North under the highly professional direction of Deborah Boughton. Students were captivated by the enchanting story of Rudolph saving Christmas from the evil Witch Winter Grey, ending with Rudolph flying across the stage in flurries of falling snow.

This year, The Adventures of Rudolph was attended by over 4500 school children from 64 schools. Almost 1800 individuals attended the public performance, breaking our record ticket sales from 2011. CNY Arts launched its first scholarship fundraising campaign, which helped send 5 schools and 431 students in need to the performance at a reduced rate. Now we have a developed mechanism to raise funds and a template for an annual scholarship fundraiser that will be used to expose more children and schools to the arts in the future. We also launched an Adventures of Rudolph Facebook page, where we can post updates, press mentions, pictures and event times. We have over 100 fans and hope to double that by next year.

2013 marks the 35th Anniversary of the first production of Rudolph, and CNY Arts is planning a special program for the public performance, so keep an eye out for details!

  
Connecting Businesses with the Arts - On My Own Time 
by Kara Greene, On My Own Time Coordinator
  
 

Cash
Cash (Mixed Medium)
Shannon Comins,
United Radio
(This is not a photograph)
The annual CNY Arts On My Own Time program continues to grow and thrive! This business and arts partnership has celebrated the creativity of Central New York workers since 1973. Employees from a wide range of professions who are also visual artists 'on their own time', submit their original works for 
 display at their work place. A volunteer panel of professional artists juries participating companies' individual exhibits and selects several works from each for display in the finale exhibit held at the Everson Museum of Art in the fall. A preview reception is held at the museum for artists, company representatives, family members, friends, and colleagues, and the exhibit is open to the community for several weeks.

In 2012, 204 artists displayed 456 works of art at company exhibits. 67 original works of art, created by amateur artists from 18 local companies and organizations, were chosen for the final exhibit at Everson. The submitted works represented an array of mediums, such as painting, drawing, ceramics, wood work, jewelry, metal work, photography, glasswork, mixed media, textiles, and more.

For a complete list of participating organizations and sponsors, visit www.cnyarts.org/programs/omot

Central New York businesses and organizations of any size are invited to participate in On My Own Time 2013, which begins in April. If you are considering participation for the first time or returning to the event, this would be a great year to do so, as we are planning special recognition for the 40th year! A kickoff luncheon is set for Thursday, March 14 at Coleman's Irish Pub in Syracuse. Anyone interested in participating is welcome to attend. To register for the luncheon, please call 315.435.2155. For more information about On My Own Time, visit www.cnyarts.org or e-mail OMOT@cnyarts.org.

  
Art in Your Communities - NYSCA Decentralization
by Mike Intaglietta, Director of Operations and Interim Grants Manager

nysca logo white bkgd Seventy arts groups and individual artists completed projects in 2012 with assistance from the NYSCA Decentralization program, administered by CNY Arts, in Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties. Projects range from a choral performance in Herkimer, to a jazz series in Utica; from a day-long street fair in Syracuse, to a series of portraits in Oswego storefronts.
 
The purpose of our Decentralization regrants is to  support projects which promote and increase arts activity for the benefit of local communities. Funds are distributed by panels composed of artists and leaders from the communities the projects will serve.
 
After five months of applications and panel review, the 2013 Community Arts Grants, Individual Artist Commissions, and art$TART Arts Education grants have been selected. Next week we will announce the complete list of over 75 projects that will beautify, entertain, and enlighten your communities in the coming year. We'll keep you updated on the status of these projects as the year progresses.

  
Opportunity Listings
Calls for Artists / Auditions 
 
Open Call for Artists - Exhibit Opportunity
Westcott Community Art Gallery
 

Art Studios available at the Gear Factory

  

The Salt District of the Near West Side 

Inexpensive home/studio ownership opportunities for artists. Please click here to visit the website. 

  
Jobs/Volunteers/Grants
 
Musical Instrument Revolving Loan Fund (MIRLF)
MIRLF is a low-interest loan program designed to stimulate the artistic growth and productivity of professional musicians in symphonies/ensembles; students of music instruction; and other cultural organizations by making loans available for eligible nonprofit organizations to purchase musical instruments. 

 

Visit NYSCA's website for more information.
 
Syracuse First can always use volunteers. Call for more information (315.396.6418)
 

  
Resource Listings   
Workshops/Classes/Group Meetings      

  

Ongoing: 
 
The New York State Literary Tree Ongoing. Resources for writers in New York State. 

Community Darkrooms Classes and Workshops
Ongoing.  Visit their website HERE for more information. 
 

 

Clayscapes Pottery Adult classes in handbuilding and wheel throwing for all levels of experience.  Find info on current classes on www.clayscapespottery.com

Wacheva Cultural Arts World Dance & Drum Classes
  in West African dance & drum, Salsa, Samba, NIA, Belly dance, Zumba, Kazoon (afro-modern), Flamenco , Ballroom and women's drumming; Mon. - Sun. Beginners welcome. Go to www.wacheva.com for the complete schedule, or call 315-396-0748. Classes are $10 adults, $7 students.

Downtown Writers Center
offers creative writing classes  and workshops on a regular basis.  For more information click HERE. 

Y Arts
Register for classes in pottery, drawing, painting, ballroom dance, jazz and ballet. Classes are available to everyone, from preschoolers through adults. Each session lasts for 6 weeks and all art materials are supplied by the Y Arts Studio. Open to YMCA Members and
 Non-members.  Private music lessons also available in guitar, drums, violin, voice, piano and wind instruments. For a complete description of classes and fees visit www.ymcaofgreatersyracuse.org or contact Kat Kane, Arts Studio Director at 637-2025 ext 216.   

$8 drop in fee, Wednesdays at Westcott Community Center from 7-10 PM, for info call Iver Johnson 315.475.3400  

Other   

Giffordslist.org A resource sharing website, administered by the Rosamond Gifford Foundation, for Central New York nonprofits and businesses.

www.ArtsinOswego.org The Oswego Arts Collaborative, a local service and advocacy organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for the economic development and sustainability of visual and performing arts, is compiling a list of artists and arts organizations interested in strengthening the cultural life of Oswego County. All artists, groups and residents interested in receiving regular information about the Collaborative and its initiatives or in taking part in the mission of the Collaborative are asked to email artsinoswego@gmail.com.


  
How to Submit

If you have information on an opportunity or resource available to the local arts community including calls for entry, grants, job postings, workshops, classes, etc., please email
communications@cnyarts.org. Include basic information and a link to where details can be found online or, if no online presence is available, a contact phone number.  The submission deadline is the 20th of each month prior to publication.

Thank you.