ruah arts group

I received this via the SAF’s email newsletter:

Greetings!

The Foundation has reached a critical financial moment. We still need an additional $20,000 to cover operational costs through the balance of this year. Without it, the Foundation will be forced to cease activity and close its doors by mid-September. Yet, if each person on this mailing list offers a contribution of just $50, this financial need will be more than satisfied. The Foundation depends entirely on the generosity of its friends for the support of its programs. We urge you to consider helping us continue our vital mission to evangelize the world through art.

“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” – Pope John Paul II

Contact Us!
1413 K Street NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-1288
info@thesacredarts.org

If you don’t read the ArtsJournal daily digest of arts and culture news, you should. A friend who’s a Bolz Center Arts Admin grad, recommended I check out an arts management blog, The Artful Manager, by Andrew Taylor.

Today’s blog entry is a diplomatic (d)evaluation of the Kennedy Center’s new national recession support initiative, “Arts in Crisis.” Arts in Crisis, or AIC for short (pronounce it “ache”–it fits the recession ambiance), isn’t so much a bail out as a hand up. For some.

Though the Washington Post article says the initiative is for arts organizations, it’s actually performing arts organizations which means, “Hey, VSA Arts, we love your artwork, but unless you clients can dance, sorry.”

Which is precisely Mr. Taylor’s point. The initiative, the web site, the web site video, the Washington Post piece (and very nice portrait, Mr. Michael M. Kaiser); it’s all very nice, but it’s not THE answer. Not even close. Mr. Taylor posits,

“The crisis in the arts, or any other industry, is an ecological one. Any crisis can certainly benefit from unilateral and independent action. But a more resilient and encompassing response would also include recognition and interconnection of the entire ecosystem that provides coaching, counseling, mentorship, and responsive strategy support to organizations and leaders at the edge of collapse.”

Sounds great, Taylor. Does Bolz Center have a GP? Perhaps. But that’s the point. We’re all supposed to have a hand in the GP for Arts & Cultural Survival in an era of non-profit and philanthropic downsizing. Where shall we begin?

Chances are that if you read my blog (both of you), you’re probably mourning the election results of this past week. Deeply. Me, too. I’ve been too depressed about the whole thing and trying to get over this nausea of my soul (turns out it’ll be with me for a while) to comment.

And perhaps I’m not commenting because there are plenty of people out there. Barbara Nicolosi of Church of the Masses and screenwriting fame, and no stranger to cutting words is hitting it hard against “Christians” for “change” whose idea of hope is a campaign slogan, not a theological virtue.  

You’ll probably want to take a break if you’ve just followed the Church of the Masses link. It’s a little heavy, and will make what I’m about to seem trivial. Comparatively so. However, for those of us whose livelihood depends on the generosity of others, it may be a little worldly hope in dark times. 

It turns out the upside of de facto socialism (besides awakening a sleeping giant) may be increased giving, says the Chronicle of Philanthropy. So, sit tight, buckle down, develop strategic relationships, because the Lord needs you more than ever.