HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES NEA FUNDING BOOST
Contact Congress to Support This Increase Now!
On June 11, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved legislation with a substantial FY 2009 increase for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) of $15.3 million. Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA) has once again proposed more funding for arts and culture in the face of dramatic cuts proposed in the president’s recent budget. On the heels of last year’s historic increase to the current $144.7 million level, the administration had requested $128 million for the NEA for FY 2009. The legislation now moves on to the full committee for consideration, where a vote to report the bill to the floor of the House of Representatives is expected on June 18. Please be sure to attend the Branching Out: Becoming a Grassroots Arts Advocate session during the Americans for the Arts 2008 Annual Convention on June 20 for further NEA funding developments and updates on other federal legislative cultural issues. For additional information, please contact Associate Director of Federal Affairs Gladstone Payton at gpayton@artsusa.org.

TAX EXTENDERS PACKAGE CLEARS THE HOUSE
Encouraging Charitable Gifts to Arts and Culture
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6049 on May 21, a bill that was a collection of expired tax incentives along with new provisions on renewable energy. Among them was the IRA Charitable Rollover, a provision that permits tax-free Individual Retirement Account (IRA) distributions of up to $100,000 annually for every taxpayer aged 70 and a half or older. This is an important issue for the nonprofit arts community since this tax incentive provision expired on December 31, 2007. The Senate consideration is pending and may be delayed by procedural maneuvers, as some of the bill’s revenue-raising offsets are controversial. The president has also signaled he may veto the package over the offset provisions.  For further information, please contact Associate Director of Federal Affairs Gladstone Payton at gpayton@artsusa.org.

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ORPHAN WORKS UPDATE
Background on Orphan Works and the Latest Developments
The Senate Judiciary Committee reported S. 2913 out of committee on May 15 and has been placed on the calendar for future floor consideration. The new legislation deals with so-called "orphan works" which are copyrighted works in which a copyright holder is difficult to locate or identify. The intent of the legislation is to provide greater public access to such “orphaned works” by limiting the liability of those seeking to use the works who have pursued a good faith effort to identify and compensate the copyright holder or artist who produced the work. The companion bill in the House has passed out of the subcommittee of jurisdiction with full committee consideration still pending. Please read our comprehensive orphan works background alert for the latest developments. Please contact Associate Director of Federal Affairs Gladstone Payton at gpayton@artsusa.org to find out more.

RECRUIT A MEMBER, WIN AN ITUNES GIFT CARD
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/Membership
Americans for the Arts will be offering an iTunes gift card to the first 50 members who recruit a new member now through August 31, 2008. Connect your colleagues to all the benefits and services you enjoy as a member by having them fill out this form and referencing your name. Any new organizational member who joins at the Standard level or above will receive an extended 18-month membership through December 31, 2009. E-mail membership@artsusa.org if you have any questions, or visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/Membership.

 More Americans for the Arts Programs and Services

TRACES OF THE TRADE TO PREMIERE ON PBS
www.tracesofthetrade.org
The film Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North will have its television debut on PBS on June 24, 2008 (check local listings). Supported by Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts supported by the Ford Foundation, the film follows director Katrina Browne and nine of her relatives as they retrace the voyage and industry of their ancestors—the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history—from their former mansion and wharf in Bristol, RI, to slave forts in Ghana, to former plantations in Cuba. Step by step, the family uncovers the vast extent of Northern complicity in slavery while also stumbling through the minefield of contemporary race relations. Want to do more than just watch? There are many steps you can take, on your own or with others. Get involved at www.tracesofthetrade.org/help.html.

DID YOU RECEIVE THE 2008 LOCAL ARTS AGENCY SURVEY?
Register Now to Receive the 2008 Local Arts Agency Survey
Earlier this week, we distributed our 2008 Local Arts Agency Survey via e-mail. This survey, conducted every three years, is designed to measure the health and condition of the nation's organizations that support the diverse art forms in their communities, including municipal arts agencies and departments, private arts councils, cultural alliances, arts centers, united arts funds, arts and business councils, business volunteers for the arts programs, business committees for the arts, and other local arts service organizations. If you did not receive the survey, register today to take the survey. All survey participants will receive a complimentary report, as well as a 10 percent discount off your next order from the Americans for the Arts Online Store. For more information about this survey or other research initiatives, contact Senior Director of Research Services Ben Davidson at bdavidson@artsusa.org.

THE ARTS. ASK FOR MORE. PSA LAUNCHES NEW ADS
Visit the PSA Website
As part of the latest phase of The Arts. Ask for More. PSA campaign, Americans for the Arts recently announced the release of our new television and radio ads. Created in partnership with the Ad Council and the NAMM Foundation, and produced pro bono by the advertising agency Leo Burnett, this second series of fun and poignant television and radio ads (with print and Web ads to follow) encourages parents to “feed their children the arts” with a bowl of “Raisin Brahms” or a serving of “VanGoghgurt." Just like kids need to have good nutrition on a daily basis, kids need to have their daily serving of the arts. Learn more at the Americans for the Arts 2008 Annual Convention during The Arts. Ask For More. session on Sunday, June 23. For more information on the PSA campaign and PSA partnerships, contact Public Affairs Coordinator Ben Burdick at bburdick@artsusa.org.

GIVING IN NUMBERS 2007: INAUGURAL FORTUNE 100 SNAPSHOT
www.corporatephilanthropy.org/research/pubs/GivinginNumbers2007.pdf
A new survey from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) reports that, despite turmoil in the credit markets and growing economic uncertainty, corporate philanthropy increased in 2007 and is expected to stay at those levels in 2008. Final results, which will be published in the fall, show that large multinational corporations increased their giving by 5.6 percent in 2007—from a median of $24.7 million in 2006 to $26.1 million in 2007. More than half of the companies that reported lower profits in 2007 increased their giving, as did seven of the eight companies that experienced losses. Indeed, the weakening economy did not seem to have a significant impact on most companies' giving. CECP projects that, despite what appears to be an earnings slowdown in 2008, most companies will likely maintain their 2007 levels of giving, with some expected to increase or restructure their budgets to help those community partners that have been hit hardest by the economic downturn.

FEATURED MEMBER PROJECT
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/get_involved/membership/featured_members
The state of Massachusetts has taken a bold step in recognizing the creative sector as a driving force in economic development. Governor Deval Patrick has appointed Jason Schupbach, formerly with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and a member of the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council, as the Massachusetts Office of Business Development’s new Creative Economy Industry Director. The Office of Business Development is the first state-level economic development agency in the nation to embrace this innovative position, which parallels other positions dedicated to defense, biotechnology, information technology, and manufacturing. Being placed on the same economic pedestal as these other powerful industries is an important step for the arts. Find out more on our website.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO NEA EDUCATION LEADERS INSTITUTE TEAMS
www.nea.gov/news/news08/ELI.html
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the selected participants for the second Education Leaders Institute. Through the National Endowment for the Arts Education Leaders Institute, the NEA is building "dream teams" to design powerful state arts education plans. Five multidisciplinary teams will receive NEA support to participate in the institute, taking place July 15–17, 2008, in Chicago. The institute convenes teams comprised of school leaders, legislators, policymakers, educators, professional artists, consultants, and scholars. Together, these teams will discuss a shared arts education challenge and jointly create strategies to strengthen their state's arts education policies and programs. The five teams are:

• Colorado Council on the Arts: Colorado team lead
• Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts: Louisiana team lead
• Michigan Department of Education: Michigan team lead
• Oklahoma State Department of Education: Oklahoma team lead
• Rhode Island Council on the Arts: Rhode Island team lead

CONGRATULATIONS TO GREATER ORO VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL
www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org/about/awards/index.html
The Greater Oro Valley Arts Council is the recipient of the Tucson Pima Arts Award for Established Arts Organizations. The awards, nicknamed the Lumies, were presented by the Tucson Pima Arts Council to organizations that advance and enhance the growth of the arts.

ON THE MOVE
Marty Albritton will join Eastern Shore Art Association in Fairhope, AL, as director of development. Charles Bethea, director of the Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is stepping down. Arts Consulting Group has named Gail Eaton as a new senior consultant. COMPAS in Saint Paul, MN, has announced that it has hired Bob Olsen as its new executive director. Karen Shrode will leave the Columbus Area Arts Council in Columbus, IN.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/get_involved/membership/new_members.asp
Seven organizations joined Americans for the Arts in May. To view a list of these new members and find out more about what they are doing in their communities, please visit our website.

REGISTER NOW FOR WOLF TRAP’S NATIONAL SUMMIT ON THE ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT FREE WEBINAR
Read More and Register Today
Date: July 14, 2008. Arts leaders from across the country are invited to be a part of Wolf Trap’s National Summit on the Arts and Environment by participating in a free webinar on Monday, July 14 at 4:00 p.m. (EST). Twenty national thought leaders in business, community development, the arts, and the environment will gather to: begin conversations around adopting national, environmentally friendly policies and practices within the arts; brainstorm readily achievable eco-friendly strategies for artists and arts organizations across the country; and lay the groundwork for ongoing cooperation with other sectors. Help advance the brainstorming and contribute your ideas during this free webinar. Space is limited—only the first 100 registrants will be accepted and only one registrant per organization. This webinar is presented by Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, with facilities and technical support provided by Booz Allen Hamilton, and convened in cooperation with Americans for the Arts and The Aspen Institute.

 Grants and Funding Opportunities

JOHNSON & JOHNSON HEALTHCARE THROUGH THE ARTS FUNDING
http://thesah.org/template/page.cfm?page_id=15
Letter of Inquiry Deadline: August 8, 2008. Johnson & Johnson, working in partnership with the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, seeks to promote the use of the arts to enhance the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and caregivers. Since 2001, the program has provided funding to 115 programs in the United States and Canada that represent leading models and initiatives in high-quality healthcare through the use of arts. Proposals are now being sought from healthcare and/or arts organizations that have established arts in healthcare programs with evidence of initial impact. For more information and eligibility requirements, please review the guidelines available on the website.

NEA ACCESS TO ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE GRANTS
www.nea.gov/Grants/apply/Artsed.html
Deadline: August 11, 2008. The Access to Artistic Excellence grant program is designed to encourage and support artistic excellence, preserve our cultural heritage, and provide access to the arts for all Americans. This granting category supports projects that provide short-term arts exposure or arts appreciation for children and youth as well as intergenerational education projects. Guidelines are determined by the chosen discipline of each project, and more information about each can be found on the National Endowment for the Arts website.

NEA ARTS ON RADIO AND TELEVISION GRANTS
www.arts.gov/grants/apply/RadioTV/index.html
Deadline: September 5, 2008. Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of radio and television programs on the arts. Through this category, the National Endowment for the Arts seeks to make the excellence and diversity of the arts widely available to the American public through nationally distributed television and radio programs. Grants, generally ranging from $10,000–$100,000, are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of radio and television programs on the arts. Organizations are required to submit their applications electronically through grants.gov, the federal government’s online application system.

Awards and Nominations Opportunities

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION EVALUATION FELLOWSHIP
www.rwjf.org
Deadline June 30, 2008. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellows will receive yearlong, full-time, paid placement in organizations where they will work on projects that will build skills in evaluation and research. The outcome of the evaluation work is targeted to ultimately benefit traditionally underserved communities, focusing on the important role of the nonprofit sector. Fellows will participate in assigned research projects; assist in the development and conduct of surveys, questionnaires, and interview protocols; collect, analyze, and interpret findings; and write and produce reports and other documents. For more information, contact Rodney Hopson at hopson@duq.edu.

NATIONAL ART CONTEST FOR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY
www.epilepsyfoundation.org
Deadline: July 16, 2008. The sixth annual Expressions of Courage national art contest provides people with epilepsy the opportunity to showcase their talents and perspectives of the world around them through art. Sponsored by the Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, the contest is open to all American children and adults diagnosed with epilepsy. A panel of epilepsy advocates and art representatives will serve as contest judges and will announce the winning artwork in September.

Events

PERFORMING ARTS EXCHANGE
www.southarts.org/site/c.guIYLaMRJxE/b.3633039
Dates: September 24–27, 2008. Southern Arts Federation, in partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts, is hosting the Performing Arts Exchange 2008 in the international cultural hub of Atlanta. With a special focus on the art of dance, this will prove to be an exciting year for Performing Arts Exchange. It has been five years since the performing arts community has gathered in this great city, and we are excited to show its cultural growth.

EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
www.edta.org/conference
Dates: September 25–28, 2008. New Directions in Theatre Education will take place in Chicago. The conference will look at innovative approaches to student learning and assessment, as well as teacher training and recent trends in theater education. In addition, it will feature nine pre- and post-conference Professional Development Seminars, including sessions on acting in musical theater, teaching film, theater classroom assessment, stage manager training, and sound for the stage.

COMMUNITY ARTS EDUCATION CONFERENCE
www.communityartsed.org
Dates: October 29–November 1, 2008. The 71st Annual Conference for Community Arts Education will take place in Philadelphia. Presented annually by the National Guild, The Conference for Community Arts Education provides essential professional development and networking opportunities for senior staff, faculty, trustees, and teaching artists in community arts education. Sessions are organized into progressive tracks to provide in-depth training in best practices for addressing some of today’s most critical issues in the field.

ENERGY IS BUILDING FOR HOUSTON AND THE NATIONAL ARTS MARKETING PROJECT CONFERENCE
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/NAMPC
Dates: November 9–12, 2008. Calling all marketers and fundraisers—join us in Houston for Priming the Pump: Fueling Integrated Arts Marketing, Fundraising, and Sponsorships to Optimize Revenue! Get primed to mix it up with the best in arts marketing and fundraising. Participate in one of the two preconferences, the Sponsorship Boot Camp or the new Pricing Institute. Then get energized with the keynote speaker, international word-of-mouth guru and CEO of the Keller Fay group Ed Keller. You'll also learn from plenary speakers Karen Brooks Hopkins, President of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, who will speak on the Intersection of Marketing and Fundraising, and Alan Brown, principal at WolfBrown who will speak on Emerging Practices in Segmentation. Register today! The complete program of sessions will be available online at the end June. New sessions are being confirmed every day, so be sure to check out the website.

Featured Job of the Month

Museums and Cultural Affairs Director, City of El Paso, TX
The City of El Paso, TX, seeks a highly motivated and experienced leader to serve as its next Director of Museum and Cultural Affairs Department.

Want your job to be featured next month? Post your open position at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/JobBank as a Featured Job and yours could be next!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS?
Do you know what benefits you receive as an Americans for the Arts member? Do you think you should get more? Do you like the ones you get? We want to know so we can serve you better. E-mail us your thoughts at membership@artsusa.org.

DO YOU HAVE AN E-NEWSLETTER?
Americans for the Arts would like to stay informed about the work you are doing in your community. If you have an e-newsletter, please add membership@artsusa.org to your distribution list.