ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 x COver: “THE BEE BANNER” In Fall 2013, the Arts Council of Princeton was approached academic help to children from low- and moderate-income by AvalonBay, the developer of the former Princeton Hospital families) and the art classes held at the Princeton Nursery site, to provide artwork for the temporary construction fence School (a neighborhood educational preschool and childcare surrounding the site. The banner artwork was conceived and facility serving families in need). The “Bee Banner,” which is directed by ACP Artistic Director Maria Evans and created over 1000 feet long, depicts whimsical blue honey bees at work by students from two of the ACP’s “ArtReach” (community constructing and deconstructing hives and gathering nectar outreach) programs: Creative Fridays with Princeton Young from flowers. The banner will be on display throughout the Achievers (a YMCA after-school program that provides construction process. x ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS The Arts Council of Princeton’s (ACP) mission statement, Building Community Through the Arts, was developed with the belief that the arts and arts education: are fundamental to a healthy society; directly impact academic achievement and improve literacy for school students; positively contribute to the quality of life for all area residents; contribute significantly to economic development; and promote cross cultural understanding and appreciation. ACP Artistic Director Maria Evans leading a “Kids at Work” workshop during the exhibition “Thread Bare” ANNUAL REPORT 2014 x TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Greetings from the Board President & Executive Director 5 Exhibitions 6 Performing Arts 7 Arts Education and Artist-in-Residence 8 Community Cultural Events 10 Outreach 11 The Numbers Tell the Story 12 Finances 14 Gala Benefits 15 Membership & Volunteers 16 Our Supporters 22 Community Partners 24 Board of Trustees and Advisory Board 25 Staff and Consultants, Photo Credits GREETINGS FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Members and Friends, During the past several years, the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has gone through a period of incredible growth and change. In prior years, our Annual Report has focused on themes of community, collaboration, and accessibility. These are themes that continue to drive our programming today. From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 and beyond, we have strived to increase our outreach to youth and seniors, and to strengthen our impact. In terms of marketing and communication, a major accomplishment during the year was the launching of our new website. We have received wonderful feedback on our new and improved site, which now includes the “ACP Insider” blog and lots more pictures and information than our old site, in a design that is more attractive and easier to navigate. The most important aspect of our new site is not how visually attractive or well-organized it is; it’s the content, which exhibits the wide range of diverse offerings in our programming. We continue to provide a dynamic schedule of classes and workshops, award-winning exhibitions, concerts and performing arts programs, and community events. Additionally, during the past year we have also increased the level of outreach programming to better serve our broad community; in particular, after-school programs for teens and Arts in Healthcare offerings for caregivers and seniors. We launched our new CAPs (Community Arts and Performances) after-school program for at-risk teens; we began a new series of weekly arts engagement activities with Carrier Clinic (a behavioral healthcare facility in Montgomery); we continued and expanded our Art Techniques for Caregivers program; and we increased our Creative Aging offerings, including a weekly artist visit for University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro patients in the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit. As this Annual Report is in production, we are also in the process of updating our Strategic Plan. Although it is not yet complete, the strategic priorities identified during a retreat and in subsequent committee meetings include expansion of outreach programs and accessibility for the diverse regional community we serve. In the coming year, we look forward to continuing to improve and expand our many programs, most of which are included in this Annual Report. We could not accomplish all that we provide for the Princeton community without the generous contributions of our members, donors, volunteers, board, and staff. Within these pages you will find numerous acknowledgements as well as statistics on the effectiveness of our work and the financial success we have achieved. Thank you to all of our supporters for your generosity and your belief in the important work we do. We look forward to the coming year and seeing many of you at the Paul Robeson Center and out in the community for our many programs and events. With best regards, Cindi Venizelos, President, Board of Trustees Jeff Nathanson, Executive Director ANNUAL report 2014 3 4 arts COUNCIL OF PRINCETON EXHIBITIONS “The Arts Council of Princeton is itself a center of influence, as it has encouraged ever-widening circles of art-making in the Princeton area for almost fifty years.” – Ilene Dube and Kate Somers In 2013/14, the Arts Council of Princeton presented nine exhibitions in the Peg and Frank Taplin Gallery, including “Thread Bare” and “Concentric Circles of Influence: Queenston Press,” the latter of which was in collaboration with the Princeton Public Library and the Historical Society of Princeton. Throughout the year, the ACP also featured three exhibitions on the outdoor Michael Graves Sculpture Terrace, three exhibitions in the second floor “Reference Gallery” of the Princeton Public Library, Faculty Spotlight shows, and several other exhibits in various other spaces in the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts. The Robeson Center’s Taplin Gallery is the largest non-commercial contemporary arts space in central New Jersey, which is a vibrant corridor for working artists located midway between New York and Philadelphia. In 2014, for the third consecutive year, we were the proud recipients of the Discover Jersey Arts’ People’s Choice Award for Favorite Art Gallery. A list of all ACP exhibitions can be found on the exhibition page of the ACP website: www.artscouncilofprinceton.org/exhibits. Left: Opening reception of “Concentric Circles of Influence: Queenston Press” in January. Right: Donna Payton’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” on exhibit during “MASS assembly” in May. Bottom: Jim Perry (center) with one of his pieces, “Leaving Khayelitsha,” on the Michael Graves Terrace. ANNUAL report 2014 5 Top: “Outer Bridge Ensemble” jams during a “Sound Bites” performance. Bottom: Hundreds of music lovers gather for a summer concert at the Princeton Shopping Center. ticket holders after concerts presenting local and regional PERFORMING ARTS artists. In February, the ACP presented the second annual “Cabernet Cabaret” featuring Sarah Donner, Rebecca Mullaney, Joanna Burns and Jason Beckett. “My family loves the performances put on by the Arts Council of Princeton.”– ACP concert attendee in The ACP also continued to partner with the Princeton response to an audience survey University Jazz Program in presenting Anthony Branker & Word Play and The Yosvany Terry Quintet (with the Center The 2013/14 performance calendar began with the free for African American Studies), as well as presenting “Behind outdoor Summer Courtyard Series at the Princeton Shopping the Music” with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and Center, presented in partnership with Princeton Shopping providing a venue for the Princeton Sound Kitchen and Center/EDENS. A wide variety of concerts, films and various other performance groups. productions continued in the Robeson Center’s Robert L. Theatrical offerings included co-producing the Princeton Solley Theater throughout the year. We were thrilled to once community play, “Jack and the Beanstalk” in the British again partner with Terra Momo Restaurant Group to Panto style, in February at the Stuart Country Day School’s offer “Sound Bites.” As a generous sponsor of “Sound Little Theater, and Chimera Production’s “Love Song” Bites,” Terra Momo Restaurant Group offered a $2 Tapas to in July. 6 arts COUNCIL OF PRINCETON THE ANNE REEVES ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE “The Arts Council of Princeton is a cornerstone of our town. It’s special and unique, and it makes me proud to live in Princeton.” – Community member in response to an audience survey The Arts Council of Princeton established the Anne Reeves Artist-in-Residence Program in order to annually provide select artists with opportunities to conceptualize and create new works while providing the community opportunities for creative interaction with working artists in all disciplines. The program allows artists in all media to create or complete new works, and encourages them to engage the community in their projects. This past year, the ACP sponsored artist-in-residence James Christy, who developed his play, “Egyptian Song,” during his residency. On December 18, 2013, James Christy presented a reading of the play, which featured Maulik Pancholy and Tala Ashe, and was directed by Juilliard fellow Michael Barakiva. ARTS EDUCATION “We have attended quite a few art programs in the area, and nothing has compared to the programs and affordability offered at the Arts Council. My daughter cannot wait to take further classes, she so enjoyed the