TCG Bulletin

August 2009, Volume 32, Issue 8

Also online this month:

FIELD LETTER

This month, Teresa discusses the findings of Theatre Facts 2008, TCG's annual industry report. With the fiscal year of many theatres having recently ended, Theatre Facts presents an opportunity for everyone to take a step back and examine their own situation in the larger context of the field as a whole. Teresa writes: "While TCG’s surveys may seem all about numbers and business, they can be mined for key questions that go beyond the circumstances of individual organizations and help theatre leadership and trustees better understand national issues and trends."

• Click here to view the August 2009 Field Letter.

Monthly Mental Health Moment

What is it about West Side Story that so invites parodying? In June, we shared an animated rewrite of Arthur Laurents’ heartbreaking masterpiece that lamented a different kind of tragedy: the financial crisis. This month, we bring you yet another West Side Story-inspired piece, this one keeping with the theme of star-crossed love, but adapted for the digital age. Web Site Story is a musical about the internet, on the internet—and it couldn’t be more timely. On Thursday July 30, we’re hosting a Leadership Teleconference on Twitter, the current darling of the social media landscape, and in this creative re-imagining, the medium through which Maria and Tony meet.

TCG NEWS

Theatre Facts 2008 Released

UPDATED This story was originally published in the July 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
Each year, TCG conducts a thorough fiscal survey in which many of our member theatres participate. The data gathered becomes the basis for Theatre Facts, TCG’s annual in-depth industry report. Theatre Facts is the only document analyzing the national not-for-profit theatre field and is a vital advocacy and policy tool for trustees, foundation and corporate executives, policy makers and the national press.

Action: Visit the Tools & Research section of the website to download Theatre Facts 2008.

2009 Fall Forum on Governance, Opportunity Knocks: Proactive Leadership in a "Wait and See" World

UPDATED This story was originally published in the July 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
Join us in New York at TCG’s 2009 Fall Forum on Governance, November 6-8 at the Desmond Tutu Center in New York. We’ll search for innovative thinking, re-invigorate our approaches to leadership and decision-making and investigate some of today’s success stories in theatre stewardship. We strongly recommend attendance by teams of organizational leaders and trustees. TCG is crafting this event to be useful for all member theatres, regardless of budget size, organizational structure, mission, audience demographics and geographic location. Registration is limited to 150 participants to ensure engaged discussion and quality participation. Register early to avoid disappointment! Scholarships will be available to cover travel and registration expenses; details of the application process will be posted in August.

Action: Visit the Fall Forum section of the website for more information.

Fiscal Pulse Survey

TCG’s third Snapshot Survey, Taking Your Fiscal Pulse—July 2009, is being conducted in collaboration with the Association of Performing Arts Service Organizations (APASO), following a successful trial partnership in February. This ten minute survey includes questions on arts organizations’ current fiscal situation and measures that organizations are taking in light of the recession. TCG emailed managing leaders instructions and links to the survey in mid-July.

Action: The deadline is August 7. Email Ilana Rose with questions.

Last Call to Participate in Free Night 2009

UPDATED This story was originally published in the June 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
Plans for the successful national program, Free Night of Theater 2009 are well under way and this is the last notice for any new theatre interested in participating to notify TCG or our local managing partner of your intent to join.

Action: Visit the Guidelines and Managing Partners pages in the Free Night section of the website for details on theatre participation and local managing partners in your area.

ADVOCACY NEWS FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS ALLIANCE AND TCG

ARTS Act Introduced in the Senate

Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act on July 8 to help streamline the visa process and waive fees to allow foreign artists and musicians to legally come to the United States and share their talents. Currently, the visa process for visiting artists is slow and costly, oftentimes prohibiting artists from coming to our country.

Action: Please stay tuned; if grassroots action is needed, the Performing Arts Alliance will contact you.

ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

ASCAP Foundation Announces Grant Guidelines for New 2010 Funding

Proposals are considered from other not-for-profit organizations engaging in music education and talent development programs that are consistent with the mission and objectives of the ASCAP Foundation and which support music education programs for aspiring songwriters and composers. Applicants must first submit a letter of intent and then be invited by the ASCAP Foundation to submit a full grant application.

Action: The letter of intent deadline is August 1. Visit the ASCAP Foundation website for application guidelines and materials.

NEA and Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Announce Guidelines for 2009/2010 Cycle of USArtists International

This program is designed to support American performing artists at international festivals. Applicants must be designated as a 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal agent that is designated as such.

Action: The deadline is September 8. Visit the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation website for application guidelines and materials.

Caffeine Theatre Seeks Performance Pieces for the Dylan Thomas Coffeehouse Cabaret

The Coffeehouse Cabaret celebrates the work of Welsh poet and playwright Dylan Thomas; any and all pieces inspired by Thomas’ life, work or themes are welcome. Artists outside of Chicago are encouraged to send a script, music or poetry to be performed or directed by local artists.

Action: The deadline is August 5. Visit the Caffeine Theatre website for application guidelines and materials.

Kennedy Center New Visions/New Voices Festival Accepting Project Submissions

This week-long festival in May for playwrights and theatres is meant to stimulate and support the creation of new plays and musicals for young audiences and families. Projects may be submitted at any stage of the development process. An International Observership Program has been introduced for mid-career playwrights committed to work for young audiences.

Action: The deadline is August 7. Visit the Kennedy Center website for project submission guidelines and materials.

American Theatre Wing Accepting Submissions for Jonathan Larson Grants

The Jonathan Larson Grants recognize and support emerging composers, lyricists and book writers working in musical theatre.

Action: The deadline is August 29. Visit the American Theatre Wing website for application guidelines and materials.

ARTS EDUCATION

Wallace Foundation Publishes New Research on Arts Learning

Increasing Arts Demand Through Better Arts Learning suggests that the key to lifting demand for the arts may lie in reversing the 30 year-long decline in arts learning, both in and out of schools.

Action: Visit the Wallace Foundation website to download the full report.

Dana Foundation Presents Webposium on Teaching Artists

On June 19, the Dana Foundation hosted a webposium at the Seattle Art Museum. Artists in Classrooms: What is the role of the Teaching Artist? focuses on the Teaching Artist profession.

Action: Visit the Dana Foundation website to view the one hour webposium.

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Call for Projects: Summit on Arts Journalism

The National Arts Journalism Program will hold a summit on October 2 in Los Angeles, CA at the USC Annenberg School for Communication, where outstanding projects aimed at reinventing arts coverage will be showcased.

Action: The deadline is August 17. Visit the National Arts Journalism Project website for application guidelines and materials.

Call for Papers: Mid-America Theatre Conference

The theme of the 2010 Mid-America Theatre Conference is “Going Public;” it will take place March 4-7 in Cleveland, OH. CFPs are available for the following symposia: Acting & Directing, Pedagogy, Playwriting, Theatre History, Emerging Scholars Panels and an Articles In Progress Workshop.

Action: The deadline is October 15. Visit the Mid America Theatre Conference website for application guidelines and materials.

Association for Theatre in Higher Education Annual Conference August 8-11 in New York

The theme of the conference is “Risking Innovation.” Programming will explore creative approaches to generating new ideas, producing theatre and engaging others.

Action: Visit the AATE/ATHE 2009 Conference website for more information.

DEVELOPMENT

NEA Announces American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Direct Grant Recipients

NEA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants support the preservation of jobs that are threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn. A total of 631 grants are being issued, totaling $29,775,000 in funding. This includes grants to 29 local arts agencies.

TCG Member Recipients of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Direct Grants listed by discipline:

ARTS EDUATION:
• Epic Theatre Center: $25,000
• Working Classroom: $50,000
Total: $75,000

DANCE:
• CounterPULSE: $25,000
Total: $25,000

MUSICAL THEATRE:
• Kansas City Repertory Theatre: $50,000
• Paper Mill Playhouse: $50,000
• TheatreWorks: $25,000
Total: $125,000

PRESENTING:
• Lincoln Center Theater: $50,000
Total: $50,000

THEATRE:
• American Conservatory Theater: $50,000
• Arden Theatre Company: $50,000
• Arizona Theatre Company: $50,000
• Arkansas Repertory Theatre: $50,000
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: $25,000
• Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble: $50,000
• American Conservatory Theatre: $25,000
• Boise Contemporary Theater: $25,000
• Bond Street Theatre: $25,000
• Borderlands Theatre: $25,000
• Center for New Performance at Cal Arts: $50,000
• Center for Puppetry Arts: $50,000
• Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: $50,000
• The Children’s Theatre Company: $50,000
• The Cleveland Play House: $25,000
• Cleveland Public Theatre: $50,000
• Cornerstone Theater Company: $50,000
• Dallas Children’s Theater: $50,000
• Deaf West Theatre: $25,000
• Dell’Arte International: $25,000
• East-West Players: $50,000
• foolsFURY Theater: $25,000
• The Foundry Theatre: $50,000
• Freehold Theatre Lab: $25,000
• GALA Hispanic Theatre: $50,000
• The Globe Theatre: $25,000
• Greenbrier Valley Theatre: $50,000
• Guthrie Theater: $50,000
• Idaho Shakespeare Festival: $50,000
• InterAct Theatre Company: $25,000
• International City Theatre: $50,000
• Intiman Theatre: $50,000
• Laguna Playhouse: $50,000
• Lark Play Development Center: $50,000
• Lexington Children’s Theatre: $50,000
• Lincoln Center Theater: $50,000
• Ma-Yi Theater Company: $50,000
• Mabou Mines: $25,000
• Magic Theatre: $25,000
• Marin Theatre Company: $50,000
• The Marsh: $25,000
• Metro Theater Company: $50,000
• Miracle Theatre Group: $25,000
• Mixed Blood Theatre Company: $25,000
• New Federal Theatre, Inc.: $25,000
• Next Theatre Company: $25,000
• NACL Theatre: $25,000
• The Old Globe: $50,000
• Pasadena Playhouse: $50,000
• Passage Theatre Company: $25,000
• The Pearl Theatre Company $25,000
• Penumbra Theatre Company: $25,000
• The People’s Light and Theatre Company: $50,000
• Philadelphia Theatre Company: $50,000
• Philadelphia Young Playwrights: $50,000
• Pig Iron Theatre Company: $25,000
• PlayGround: $25,000
• Playwrights Foundation: $25,000
• Portland Center Stage: $50,000
• Repertorio Espanol: $50,000
• Rude Mechanicals: $50,000
• Second Stage Theatre: $25,000
• The Shakespeare Theatre Company: $50,000
• South Coast Repertory: $25,000
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: $50,000
• Touchstone Theatre: $50,000
Total: $2,600,000

American Conservatory Theater Receives $1 Million Grant

American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA received a grant of $1 million payable over 48 months from the Irvine Foundation to develop a new program of study that will provide actors with the skills to create, produce and market their own theatrical work that targets younger audiences in nontraditional venues.

East West Players Receive $300,000 Grant

East West players in Los Angeles, CA received a grant of $300,000 payable over 36 months from the Irvine Foundation for the New Works Development Program, supporting California Asian and Pacific Islander playwrights.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

11th Iran International Student Puppet Theatre Festival November 28-December 5 in Tehran

This festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Islamic Republic of Iran and will be split into international and domestic sections. The international section will include performances by professionals and amateurs, as well as representatives from educational institutions and experts and professors of theater.

Action: The deadline is September 6. Visit the Iran International Student Puppet Theatre Festivalwebsite for application guidelines and materials.

MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH

Harvard Business Review Publishes Research on Social Network Marketing

Do Friends Influence Purchases in a Social Network? presents research which explores whether friends within a social network influence online buying behaviors of others in the group.

Action: Visit the Harvard Business Review website to download the paper.

TCC Group Publishes Report on Not-for-Profit Sustainability

The Sustainability Formula: How Nonprofit Organizations Can Thrive in the Emerging Economy is the result of ten years of evaluating national, regional and local capacity-building initiatives and efforts.

Action: Visit the TCC Group website to download the full report.

The Nonprofit Quarterly Publishes Report on Not-for-Profit Infrastructure

The major finding of this study is that the current financing system for not-for-profit infrastructure favors organizations that support and represent the larger not-for-profits of the sector while networks and infrastructure organizations that serve small to midsize not-for-profits have been consistently under-funded

Action: Visit the Nonprofit Quarterly website to download the full report.

RESOURCES

Do Good Web Offering Free Resource for Planning a Not-for-profit Website

Do Good Web is offering a free PDF workbook, Lights, Camera, Action! Nonprofit Website Blockbuster Brainstormer, which includes exercises meant to aide in streamlining the planning and execution of web projects. Upon completion of the exercises in the workbook and a short survey, Do Good Web is offering a free hour of consulting.

Action: Visit Do Good Web to download the free guide.

Free Arts Marketing E-Course from smArts & Culture

Mary Ann Devine, author of culture blog smarts & Culture, is offering a free 5-lesson ecourse, delivered via email, called Shake Up your Arts Marketing.

Action: Visit smArts & Culture to sign up.

NEW TCG MEMBERS

A.D. Players

2710 W Alabama
Houston, TX 77098
tel (713) 439-0181
fax (713) 521-1475
Jeannette Clift George, Artistic Director
Ric Hodgin, Managing Director
Howard Lee, Board President
boxoffice@adplayers.org
www.adplayers.org

Regis College

Theatre Dept
Box 1054
235 Wellesley St
Weston, MA 02493
Tel (781) 768-7042
Wendy Lement, Theatre Dept Chair
wendy.lement@regiscollege.edu
www.regiscollege.edu

SpotCo

512 7th Ave, 2nd Fl
New York, NY 10025
Tel (212) 262-3355
Ilene Rosen, Director of Business Development
irosen@spotnyc.com
www.spotnyc.com

TCG DEADLINES

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Information appearing in the TCG Bulletin may not be reprinted without permission.