AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS | 2011 ANNUAL REPORT AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS 2011 ANNUAL REPORT table of contents LETTER PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTS EVENTS & SPEAKERS RECOGNITION EXPENDITURES Letter from the 2011 Snapshot 2011 Notable Events, Board of 2011 1.0 President & CEO 2.0 3.0 Speakers & Awardees 4.0 Directors 5.0 Financials Strengthening an – 24th Annual Nancy 2.1 Informed Leadership Hanks Lecture on the 2011 BCA Arts & Public Policy 4.1 Executive Board – Arts Advocacy Day 2.2 Increasing Resources for the Arts – Americans for the Arts 2011 Americans 2011 Annual Convention 4.2 for the Arts Staff 2.3 Advancing the – The BCA 10 Awards Value Proposition – 16th Annual National 4.3 2011 Honor Arts Awards Roll of Donors – National Arts Marketing Conference 4.4 2011 Top-Level – National Awards & Members Public Leadership in the Arts Awards 1.0 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Throughout 2011, Americans for the Arts continued to place at the table and thereby infusing the arts into more and more aspects of use its strength as a national convener, a key resource community development, advocacy, and for arts leaders, and a partner for organizations across social change. all sectors to reinforce the message that the arts are an This growth is exactly what our essential tool for building stronger communities and field founders had in mind, and it strengthening our country. is the mission I have the honor of continuing. In February 2011, we We reinforced these strengths against Through our research, we illustrate lost field founder Phil Hanes. He the backdrop of some very harsh fiscal how investment in the arts is a fiscally embodied the tenacity and spirit realities. As the economy continued responsible one with a tremendous of the arts, and none of us would reeling, 2011 was a year that threat- ROI. Through our webinars, we provide be where we are today without his ened state budgets. Kansas Gov. Sam training and professional development tireless work. I am reminded of an Brownback made history and com- to those who were fighting back to save Irish saying: You’ve got to do your pletely defunded the arts commission funding. Through our Creative Conversa- own growing, no matter how tall your in Kansas—making it the only state tions program, we inspire communities grandfather was. I am inspired year without a state arts agency (only to be to come together and learn from each after year, both in looking back at reinstated a year later due to enormous other. Through our professional develop- what we’ve accomplished in just 12 advocacy efforts). South Carolina’s arts ment, we strengthen the individuals who months, but also in seeing what we commission faced a line-item veto from make our field one of the most vibrant can do in another 12, another 24, its governor, but advocates rallied and and dynamic industries in America. another generation. the state legislature overrode the veto. I am so proud of the work Americans It is in cases like this from all across We continue to bring critical decision- for the Arts has done in collaboration the country in which Americans for the makers in all aspects of community with our members and partners and Arts provided key support. development together to educate them about the importance of the arts and the look forward to what we can continue possible impact that they can have on all to accomplish together—united, communities. By starting conversations stronger, and if we’re lucky, a little and partnerships, we are ensuring our bit taller than our grandfathers. Robert L. Lynch President & CEO 1. LETTER 2. Programmatic HIGHLIGHTS 3. EVENTS & SPEAKERS 4. RECOGNITION 5. EXPENDITURES 2.0 2011 SNAPSHOT Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Serving Communities. Enriching Lives. Here’s how we do it: 3,028 $146.255 179,542 Organizational and Individual Members million was secured for the 2012 messages were sent through our accessed member benefits like National Endowment for the Arts budget, free Capwiz system by citizens to publications and direct staff assistance $11 million more than proposed by the local, state, and federal leaders House of Representatives to advocate for healthier arts and arts education policies 28 public and private leaders were 572 recognized for their support of the arts people attended our 2011 Arts 275,000 through our annual award programs Advocacy Day training to learn how people connected to our advocacy to make the best case for the arts to work through Capwiz legislative action decision-makers alerts; 3,000 Facebook users became + fans; 15,000 Twitter users followed 2,000 us; and ARTSblog garnered 200,000 members accessed our 28 blog views field-focusedwebinars 1,726 individuals from 24 states participated in 49 Creative + Conversations, local arts-centric 140,000 Americans for the Arts 1,586 gatherings held across the country subscribers received the most celebrated its 50th practitioners from 45 states received during National Arts & Humanities up-to-date information in the field anniversary in 2010. training at our two 2011 national Month, celebrated every October through our print and e-publications Hear about our journey. conferences 1. LETTER 2. Programmatic HIGHLIGHTS 3. EVENTS & SPEAKERS 4. RECOGNITION 5. EXPENDITURES 2.1 STRENGTHENING AN INFORMED LEADERSHIP To advance communities, we Another victory occurred on April 15, Arts aired featured sessions online, in thanks to the efforts of advocates across real time, at livestream.com, including start conversations with leaders the country. Congress and the president Bobby Shriver’s opening keynote and across sectors that lead to action, approved the FY 2011 appropriations bill the closing keynote by Ben Cameron. At and we continue professional which included a $25 million restoration its peak, Americans for the Arts boasted of the federal Arts in Education program 234 viewers. For a convention of 960 development of our constituents in the U.S. Department of Education attendees, increasing “attendance” by so that they are informed and budget, specifically to support arts nearly a quarter is strong evidence of the powerful change agents. integration programs across the country. convention’s reputation for meaningful content and engaging speakers. Through these objectives, we ensure the arts are critical to communities and Coming Home with the individuals across the nation. Help of the Arts Americans for the Arts was honored Arts Education & White House with a very special request from Admiral Champions of Change Annual Convention, Matthew L. Nathan. The U.S. Military The White House honored a group of invited Americans for the Arts to join the Year-Round Learning arts education leaders from across the planning group for the National Summit country as part of its Champions of A total of 960 delegates from across the for Arts and Wounded Warriors, October Change initiative, highlighting how all country joined us in San Diego, June 14–15, 2011 in Bethesda, MD. Presi- Americans can make impacts in their 16-18, 2011 for our Annual Convention. dent and CEO Robert L. Lynch led a ple- communities. Americans for the Arts Participants included cultural and civic nary discussion for an audience of 200 assisted the White House in nominating leaders, educators, business representa- military leaders, civilian political leaders, some of the Champions that were tives, funders, and artists, and represent- national arts in healthcare industry repre- selected. This group of arts education ed a broad range of ethnic backgrounds sentatives, and administrators in military leaders, along with President and CEO and widespread localities, from large and veterans’ hospitals on the history Robert L. Lynch, attended a roundtable urban centers to rural communities. of the arts within the military and the discussion with members of the White potential for the future. With record num- For the first time, attendees and non- House Office of Public Engagement, bers of soldiers returning home—many attendees alike could access the online the President’s Committee on the Arts with wounds that run far deeper than the learning portal, Convention On-Demand. and the Humanities, and the U.S. physical—the arts play a pivotal role in Learn more about the This tool lets users revisit sessions, listen Department of Education to discuss helping our servicemen and women ac- President’s Committee to content they missed on site, and share ways to strengthen arts education. cess and express their experience in ways for the Arts and with staff and board. Americans for the the Humanities that lead to more sustainable healing. 1. LETTER 2. Programmatic HIGHLIGHTS 3. EVENTS & SPEAKERS 4. RECOGNITION 5. EXPENDITURES 2.2 INCREASING RESOURCES FOR THE ARTS To ensure the resources at-risk youth, and the impact of the culturally specific arts organizations. current recession on daily lives. The We presented a panel as part of its for change, we inform Roundtable is directly responsible Corporate Community Involvement critical decision-makers for major impacts in Cincinnati. The Conference, where representatives about the positive returns Roundtable sparked a connection from Adobe and Applied Materials between attendees—Bully filmmaker discussed why they value partnering that investment in the Lee Hirsh and World Pac Paper with the arts. We also collaborated arts can bring. CEO Edgar Smith and his wife with Independent Sector to bring Toni. Because of their connection, artists-in-residence, Sojourn Theatre, From enriching community life to approximately 10,000 youth in the to interact with its conference impacting students with arts education, Cincinnati Public Schools were the attendees and shape understanding of we have the research and the evidence first and largest school district in the diverse and rich make-up of our that the arts mean business.