TCG Bulletin

April 2009, Volume 32, Issue 4

Also online this month:

FIELD LETTER

In this month's Field Letter, Emilya Cachapero, TCG's director of artistic programs/ITI-U.S. writes about her views on cultural exchange. TCG is the U.S. Center for the International Theatre Institute, an organization that was established by UNESCO after World War II to promote diplomacy through the arts. One of ITI's high visibility programs is World Theatre Day, and this year's celebration on March 27 was enthusiastically celebrated across the U.S. and the globe.

• Click here to view the April 2009 Field Letter.

TCG NEWS

2009 TCG National Conference, Roots, Renaissance, Revolution: Defining the New Landscape, Early Bird Deadline is April 7!

Register now for the 2009 TCG National Conference, Roots. Renaissance. Revolution., June 4–6 in Baltimore, MD. Join us as we examine the ROOTS of our field, strategize for a much-needed RENAISSANCE and look for the REVOLUTION of tomorrow. Interact with a provocative mix of “big thinkers” and master artists including keynote speaker, John Waters; futurist Andrew Zolli; Gen Y journalist Nadira Hira; choreographer/director Bill T. Jones; and director Anne Bogart as we convene in Baltimore to commune with friends, share our struggles and brainstorm new solutions. This is the time when the best and brightest minds come together to address pressing issues and prepare for what’s ahead.

Given the current turbulent national landscape, it is more important than ever that we gather together to share our knowledge, fortify our connections and strengthen our resolve as we face an uncertain future. Don’t miss out on this momentous event!

Action: The Early Bird registration deadline is April 7! Take advantage of our Early Bird registration and save $70 per person off of the standard registration rates. Register five or more representatives and save another 10 percent off of each registration. Visit the National Conference section of the website for more information and to register.

Jeanette Winterson Confirmed As Keynote Speaker at Pre-Conferences

British author and arts advocate Jeanette Winterson has been confirmed to keynote our pre-conferences on Cultural Exchange and Arts Advocacy on June 3 in Washington, DC. The author of Art Objects and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Winterson is the recipient of numerous literary awards, as well as the BAFTA Award for Best Drama. You are invited to register for one of two pre-conferences: ACTivate Change: Bridging Cultural Exchange and Creativity or ACTivate Change: Advocating for Theatre Now. Be among the first to participate in field-wide conversations with international experts, funders and congressional policy-makers as we chart a course for arts advocacy and global artistic exchange. Save $50 per person when you register for both the National Conference and either Pre-Conference.

Action: The Early Bird registration deadline is April 7! Visit the Pre-Conference section of the website for more information and to register.

TCG Is On Facebook

TCG has launched its first official page on Facebook. Make sure to visit for exclusive National Conference content and the latest TCG news, updates and special offers. We have begun posting entries from some of the field’s most interesting and articulate minds and hope that you will be inspired by what they have to say. With new entries posted all the time, the discussion board is an ideal way to shape the conversation at this year’s conference. To help get things started, TCG will reward the author of every comment by entering them in a drawing for the reimbursement of one night’s hotel stay during the conference! Each comment is another opportunity to win, so be sure to let us know what you think!

Action: Visit Facebook to become a fan and be part of the conversation by participating in the TCG conference blog on the Facebook discussion board.

Celebrate and Support the Only Magazine that Celebrates and Promotes Theatre in America

Reserve your tickets today for American Theatre magazine's 25th Anniversary Benefit on April 20! Come toast the legacy of American Theatre with drinks, hors d'oeuvres and entertainment. Gather around the Celebrity Piano Bar with Michael John LaChiusa, Laura Osnes Johnson, Marc Kudisch, Mary Testa and other surprise guests. Enjoy the Rhyme, Reason & Rhythm of our MCs, Steven Sapp and Mildred Ruiz of UNIVERSES. In conjunction with the event, TCG Books is publishing a reader of the most significant articles from the magazine's first quarter century. Already focused on the future, American Theatre's anniversary issue in April will feature 25 theatre artists who are shaping the next 25 years. As the newspaper and magazine industries experience a decline in coverage for the arts, American Theatre becomes ever more critical as a leading voice for theatre in the U.S. and beyond, in addition to forming and informing the imaginations of theatre artists.

Action: Visit the Events section of the website for more information and to reserve your tickets. Consider underwriting the attendance of American Theatre's incredible writers, artists and editors by donating a ticket.

Audio Transcript of Leadership Teleconference, Taking Your Fiscal Pulse: What are the Implications for Your Theatre, Now Available

The audio transcript from our most recent Leadership Teleconference, Taking Your Fiscal Pulse: What are the Implications for Your Theatre, is now available online. The panel discussion was moderated by David Hawkanson and featured panelists J. Scott Atherton, Elisbeth Challener, Paula Tomei and Chris Widdess. The discussion focused on our recent snapshot survey, Taking Your Fiscal Pulse, as well as our board “phone tree” report, The New Normal.

Action: Visit the Teleconferences section of the website to learn more about the teleconference and download the audio transcript; you can also download and read Taking Your Fiscal Pulse: January 2009 and The New Normal (PDFs).

Deadline for 2008 Education Survey Extended

TCG has launched its annual online survey of the theatre education field. For the past eight years, TCG has conducted surveys of education programs across our membership. The surveys have resulted in Education Centerpiece publications, which include tabulations of the survey results and observations from some of your colleagues. A reporting tool is available on our website, allowing TCG member theatres to research education programs at other theatres, to run special reports on these education programs and to search the online database of study guides.

Action: The extended deadline is April 17. Visit the Education section of the website at to complete the survey. Contact Laurie Baskin or Alissa Moore with any questions.

Deadline for Participating in Free Night 2009 Extended

If someone told you there was a program that could attract brand new audiences to your theatre, and that 40 percent of that audience would come back and purchase tickets, wouldn't you be interested? That program is Free Night of Theater.

Action: The deadline to contact TCG about participating in the Free Night 2009 program has been extended to April 30. Visit the Free Night section of the website to learn more about the 2009 program, including details on how to participate.

2009-2010 TCG Theatre Membership Renewals

TCG theatre membership renewal materials will be mailed out to all member theatres in early April. We hope that you will once again choose to join us as we tackle the issues affecting the theatre field this year. As a TCG member, you belong to a vibrant community of nearly 500 theatres across the country and we look forward to counting you as part of the TCG family in the coming year.

Action: The early bird renewal deadline is May 15. Contact Jen Cleary for more information or to obtain duplicate copies of renewal materials.

MetLife/TCG A-ha! Program: Think It, Do It 2009 Guidelines and Applications Now Available

The MetLife/TCG A-ha! Program is a program for TCG member theatres that supports creative thinking and action in two ways: Think It grants (up to $25,000) give theatre professionals the time and space for research and development; Do It grants (up to $50,000) support the implementation and testing of new ideas.

Action: The application deadline is May 15. Visit the Grants section of the website for more information.

Think It, Do It, Blog It.

The first round of A-ha! recipients’ projects are building up steam, and TCG is proud to share their process with the field on the newly launched MetLife/TCG A-ha! Blog. Over the coming months, this blog will fill up with images, text, video, quotes–anything we can think of that might help the field learn from these projects. We want to share what’s working and what isn’t working.

Action: Visit the A-ha! Blog to read about the experiences of grant recipients as they move their projects from lightbulb-above-the-head to reality. Feel free to comment, email or interact with us in any way you can think of!

Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships

2009 guidelines and applications for Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships are now available! Fox Fellowships are awarded in two categories: Extraordinary Potential and Distinguished Achievement. The Fellowships are intended to further an actor's artistic and professional development; to deepen and enrich his/her relationship with a not-for-profit theatre; to ensure his/her continued professional commitment to live theatre and to encourage actors to work outside their comfort zone.

Action: The application deadline is June 15. Visit the Grants section of the website for more information.

ADVOCACY NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE AND TCG

Congress Approves FY09 Increase for NEA and Arts Education

President Obama signed an omnibus spending bill passed by Congress which allocates $155 million for the NEA, an increase of $10.3 million from last year's funding level. Also included in the omnibus bill was a $633,000 increase in funding for the competitive Arts in Education grant programs of the U.S. Department of Education. Congress acted once again to support arts education by approving over $38 million for Arts in Education spending. The Educational and Cultural Exchange programs of the U.S. State Department received $538 million for FY09. While it is unclear how much of the funding will be dedicated to the grant program that supports international cultural exchanges, this represents an overall increase for the program. As a final reminder, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $50 million in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities to preserve jobs in the not-for-profit arts sector. The NEA released grant guidelines to apply for the economic recovery funds provided in the economic stimulus package for arts organizations. The Economic Stimulus Bill also includes other federal funding streams that are available to arts organizations.

Action: Download the Performing Arts Alliance's Economic Stimulus Resource Guide for NEA grant guidelines and additional funding opportunities to consider pursuing (PDF). Visit the League of American Orchestras website to read the summary and analysis of the GAO report on arts education for minority and low-income students (PDF).

Not-For-Profits Fear Cap on Deduction

President Obama's FY10 budget blueprint includes a proposal to cap at 28 percent the deductibility of contributions by families earning more than $250,000, to offset the costs of health care reform. The Obama proposal has come under public scrutiny in the press, key leaders on the Hill have indicated that they would oppose the limit and members of the not-for-profit community have objected to the policy, as it could potentially inhibit incentives to charitable giving. The Administration has recently indicated that it may be willing to seek other options to fund health care reform.

Action: Visit the Advocacy section of the website for a Charitable Giving Issue Brief. Visit the Independent Sector website to read their statement on President Obama’s budget blueprint.

New Office in the White House to Oversee Arts and Culture

President Barack Obama has established a staff position in the White House to oversee arts and culture in the Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs under Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser. Kareem Dale, a lawyer, who last month was named special assistant to the president for disability policy, will hold the new position. Mr. Dale, who is partially blind, previously served as national disability director for the Obama campaign. He also served on the arts policy committee and the disability policy committee for Mr. Obama when he was a senator from Illinois. Kareem is a former board chair of the Black Theatre Ensemble in Chicago.

Action: None

White Space–Update!

TCG continues to be very active on this issue, along with other members of the Performing Arts Alliance. We recently met with Paul Murray, legal advisor to FCC Acting Chairman Michael Copps, and future FCC meetings have been scheduled. In addition, TCG has joined a coalition assembled by The Broadway League to address the White Space issue. The coalition includes, among a host of others, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, the Educational Theatre Association, ESPN, the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers, LORT and the National Football League. This coalition is represented by Skadden, Arps.

TCG recognizes the benefits of greater access to the internet and encourages innovations that expand connectivity for underserved populations. However, there is concern that shared use of the broadcast spectrum may open the door to increased radio interference to professional wireless microphone and audio systems, adversely affecting the ability of these systems to provide the high-quality performances that audiences have come to expect. We are doing everything we can to urge the FCC to make sure that incumbent users' wireless microphone technology does not suffer interference.

Performing arts organizations are to have vacated the portion of the "white space"–channels 52-69, between 700 and 800 MHz frequencies. Even though Congress has approved a delay in the final transition to digital TV until June 12, transition can begin sooner. You are urged to contact your wireless microphone equipment manufacturer. Depending on make and model, your equipment could be re-banded with a new frequency range. Otherwise, it will need to be replaced. Please do this as soon as possible, especially if you are in a metropolitan market.

Action: Visit the Shure Microphones website to obtain a trade-in rebate for customers who purchased equipment that operates in the 700 MHZ range in the past year. Contact Laurie Baskin if you have questions or concerns on the White Space issue.

ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

DirectorsLabChicago 2009 Applications Now Available!

DirectorsLabChicago offers environments in which emerging and established directors from all over the world are able to consider, challenge and engage in both the traditional and contemporary aspects of their craft. This year's DirectorsLabChicago will take place from July 27 through August 2 and will focus on the theme, The Kinetics of Directing: From Story to Stage. This theme will be explored through workshops, activities and panels led by guest speakers and Lab participants.

Action: The application deadline is April 1. Visit the DirectorsLabChicago website for full guidelines and application materials.

The Joyce Foundation Releases Call to Entry for the 2010 Joyce Awards

The Joyce Awards support Midwest cultural institutions to commission works by artists of color. A grant of $50,000 will be awarded to one cultural institution each in the categories of dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts for the commissioning of works by minority artists for public presentation. This opportunity is open to arts organizations in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Action: The application deadline is April 6. Visit the Joyce Foundation website for full guidelines and application materials.

Request for Proposals: Round 3 of The Innovation Lab for the Performing Arts

EmcArts is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals for Round 3 of The Innovation Lab for the Performing Arts, a new program supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The Lab is a twelve-month program geared to producing and presenting organizations in theatre, dance and jazz to help design and prototype innovative strategies through a real project that addresses major challenges and opportunities. The Innovation Lab was created to enable arts and culture organizations to take advantage of the opportunities the ever-changing environment creates by pursuing effective, new pathways to mission fulfillment and successfully managing the risks these experiments afford through research, planning, prototyping, and evaluation prior to a full roll-out.

Action: The application deadline is May 7. Visit the EMCArts website for full guidelines and application materials.

ARTS EDUCATION

President Obama Calls for Creativity and Innovation in Education Plan

In his March remarks announcing his education policy plan, President Obama said, "It's time to give all Americans a complete and competitive education from the cradle up through a career." The plan emphasizes early childhood education, performance pay for teachers, local school innovation and lifelong learning opportunities. The arts community has been calling for national, state and local policies that ensure that every student has access to a complete education—one that includes comprehensive education in the arts. President Obama acknowledged the role that creativity will play in preparing students for a 21st century workforce, saying, "I'm calling on our nation's governors and state education chiefs to develop standards and assessments that don't simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test, but whether they possess 21st century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking and entrepreneurship and creativity." The plan also calls for doubling funding for after-school programs, which have often provided opportunities for arts organizations to partner with schools. Throughout this year, Congress and the White House will continue to work on the multi-year process of re-writing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (known as No Child Left Behind).

Action: Visit the Arts Education section of the website for more background on arts education funding and reauthorization. Visit the White House website to read Barack Obama’s education policy plan.

NEA Announces Upcoming Education Leaders Institutes

How does arts education fuel the nation's economic prosperity and innovation? Or capitalize on new media trends? These and other questions will be addressed at two upcoming Education Leaders Institutes, an NEA initiative that convenes "dream teams" to develop coordinated state arts education plans. This spring, the NEA will assemble policymakers, educators, advocates, and artists to design arts education plans for their respective states. With these upcoming Institutes, the NEA will have gathered 19 policy teams since the program was launched in 2007.

Action: Visit the NEA website to read the full press release.