Emerging Arts Leaders DC's Creative Conversation: Fundraising in the Millennial Age

Hey,

So last week I had the pleasure and privilege of joining a panel put together for this year's Emerging Arts Leaders DC's (EALDC) annual Creative Conversation. This year's topic? Fundraising in the Millennial Age.

A quick disclaimer, just in case you didn't my post from August: I was asked to join the steering committee of EALDC and accepted. I started my tenure a couple of months ago. Since then I've co-hosted one of our monthly First Friday lunches, and I ended up on this panel after volunteering adding my own two cents to the conversation, as someone who has successfully implemented two Kickstarter campaigns to produce Capital Fringe shows.

But I digress. Our hosts for the evening were two of my fellow committee members, Tim Mikulski (Communications and Content Manager at Americans for the Arts) & Emily Travis (Communications & Government Affairs Associate at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. Emily was also our moderator for the evening, and a wonderful one at that.

And so let me introduce my fellow panelists. Going from left to right, after Emily, we had Shannon Siemens, the assistant director of membership at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts as well as one of the foundations' liaisons with their Club 66 (young professional) membership program. Then there was me in the middle, next to whom sat James Li, entrepreneur and co-founder of a relatively new fundraising platform Encore. And last, but certainly NOT least was Ryan Holladay, a trustee of the Awesome Foundation's DC Chapter, manager of new media of Artisphere, as well as half the electronic music due known as Bluebrain.

Emily kicked off the convo with a question to Shannon, getting a sense of the state of fundraising, and she shared her experience and insights, particularly with demographics and retention rate. This was a perfect segue to discussing Wolf Trap's club 66 program, and was a great way to set the context for the evening, Fundraising in a Millennial Age.

James added to the conversation, and how Encore is helping to fill a need and bridge a gap. He provided some great information from the recent Millennial Impact Report, which you can check out at their blog. One phrase he used, which I love and relates to similar conversations about brandraising (thank you Big Duck!), was "top of mind". My takeaway was how important it is to stay present and relevant between the arts & cultural events which are the heart of any arts organizations' programs.

Social media inevitably came up and some of the major points included making sure that one had goals and that you focused on good, quality content, and not necessarily some of the easier to grasp, quantifiable stats.

Honestly, with the diversity of panelists and experiences, it's really hard to share everything that was discussed and covered. I say this as I attempt to even think about how I can share a nugget of what Ryan contributed, and I can't. His and everyone else's experience was a healthy serving of humble pie, for me.

Even what notes I managed to take probably only covered 10% of the conversation. So I'll skip to the end of the panel section, and try to paraphrase what I thought was important to leave the evening with.

I reiterated how important it is with social media to be transparent, to integrate those tools with an overall communication plan, and to really cultivate those one-to-one relationships and interactions. Social media is ultimately just a tool, not a strategy.

So after the panel, we broke off into small groups each given a different scenario of an arts organization in crisis, and they had to develop a solution based on the evening's conversation.

And this was just as important, if not more so, than the panel, otherwise it's not much of a conversation.

Overall a great evening with over 20 attendees. Looking forward to future ones, like the one I'm working on now.

After the First Friday Lunch I co-hosted, where there were a number of development people present, they expressed interest in a workshop/training/whatever much like many that the Foundation Center in Washington offer, but specifically for those at arts organizations. I went on to contact them, and talked with Kim and, although their training calendar is full through the rest of the calendar year, we're looking into a spring offering.

I've even touched based with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and have word from their Executive Director that they are certainly on board for whatever we work out. I thought it'd be great to hear from them, not just about granting opportunities, but leveraging those grants to go after other sources of funding.

Anyway, really excited to be part of this team at the Emerging Arts Leaders DC and this community of artists and arts organizations in the DC Metropolitan Area. Glad to have had the opportunity to participate as a panelist in our Creative Conversation, and stoked to bring other similar events to local arts professionals, to help us all move forward,

- J Street JR

1st meeting sitting on Emerging Arts Leaders DC's steering committee

Hey there,

So i was asked to join the Steering Committee of the Emerging Arts Leaders DC (EALDC)...and I said yes.

Last night was my first night acting in an official capacity, during the first steering committee meeting of the 2012-13 year.

I had attended EALDC events before, the main ones being several First Friday Lunches. It's an opportunity to grab a bite, chat, and network with other arts professionals in the area. EALDC also partnered with AU's Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium, an annual event that happens the day before Americans for the Arts' (AFTA) Arts Advocacy Day.

If you're not familiar with EALDC, we are:

a volunteer-led initiative that provides professional development, networking, and information relevant to emerging arts professionals in the metropolitan Washington, DC area

And I was personally loving my fellow committee members, both veterans, as well as the other noobs like me. Anyway, I won't go on too much about what we discussed in the meeting. What was exciting was how quick "orientation" was and before I knew it, we were beginning to plan for the year, from First Friday Lunches, to Creative Conversation ideas. And, with the latter, the one we tentatively settled on was Philanthropy specifically regarding younger donors. This will be happening sometime late October, early November.

Creative Conversations are a special event dedicated to getting a discussion going. Last year's was held at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and titled Cultural Participation in a 2.0 World.

So I'm stoked!! This is the kind of work that I've been wanting to jump into more, particularly with regards to this side of the arts conversation. And the whole time I couldn't help but look around at the table and be glad that I have the opportunity and privilege to work with this tremendous and dynamic group.

And although this particular organization started out as a DC thing, the group was actually titled The DC Forum when it first started several years ago, it is now part of AFTA's Emerging Leaders Network:

The Americans for the Arts Emerging Leader Program works to identify and cultivate the next generation of arts leaders in America. It is an ideal way for new leaders to share their interests with others as they continue to develop their skills and their commitment to the arts. The Emerging Leader Program targets professionals who are either new to the field, with up to five years of experience, or are 35 years of age or younger.

So if you're in the area, and interested in attending our events, definitely be in touch, and you can start by following or liking us on Facebook or Twitter:

• Follow @emergingartsdc

And here are my fellow committee members, as well as any orgs we're associated with (as applicable):

• Tim Mikulski, EALDC Co-chair, Communications & Content Manager at AFTA
• Follow @tim_mik
• Follow @Americans4Arts
• Sunny Widman, EALDC Co-chair, Program Manager at National Arts Strategies
• Follow @ArtStrategies
• Corinne Baker, Audience Engagement Manager at Washington Performing Arts Society
• Follow @WPASinDC
• Ellen Chenoweth, Managing Director at Dance Exchange
• Follow @Dance_Exchange
• Chelsey Christensen, Development Manager for Individual Giving/Marketing & PR Coordinator at Imagination Stage & Forum Theatre
• Follow @chelseydc
• Follow @I_Stage
• Follow @forumtheatre
• Ethan Clark, Independent Arts & Arts Education Consultant
• Follow @clarkethan
• Helen Gineris, Events Manager at Cultural Tourism DC
• Follow @HelenJG7
• Follow @dcculture
• Angela Goerner, Development Director at Hamiltonian Artists
• Follow @hamiltoniandc
• Megan Pagado, Digital Communications & Outreach Manager at the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
• Follow @andmegansaid
• Follow @creativemoco
• Christi Esterly Schwarten, Executive Director at the Fairfax Choral Society
• Follow @fairfaxchoral
• Emily Travis, Communications & Government Affairs Associate - Association of Performing Arts Presenters
• Follow @apap365

As you can see it's quite the spectrum of arts organizations. And it's reflected in the people I'm excited to sit on the steering committee with, in our broad range of experience and perspective.

So that being said, hope to see you at event soon. And I'll definitely post about the upcoming Creative Conversation in October,

- J Street Jr

Intersections reception last week

It's a small world, after all!!

Last Thursday, the Atlas Performing Arts Center had a reception for those participating in this year's Intersections: A New America Arts Festival (Feb 23 to Mar 11).

In fact, I had already been at the Atlas just a couple of days prior with Dance/Metro DC's Awards Committee, to meet with Festival Artistic Director, Mary Hall Surface, and her team on-site, but more on that in a later blog.

At the reception, I was there as a SpeakeasyDC Board Member, and also just as a member of the amazingly diverse performing arts community, here in the DC area.

Even before I entered the Atlas, I run into Colin Hovde, who recently returned to Theatre Alliance on staff as Artistic Director.  We were joined by Jenny Frederick, Artistic Director of Rorschach Theatre and Director of Performing Arts at Cultural Development Corporation, as we entered the lobby.

So we enter the lobby, and while I feel like I'm just name-dropping at this point...I think I've made peace with the fact that I kinda am. I'm thrilled to know the people I do in DC, and every time our paths cross, it just reaffirms that somehow I managed to end up where I need to be, doing what I love in life, here in the Washington metropolitan area.

Before the official reception program begins, I run into Jeffrey Blender, the board member who was responsible for recruiting me to SpeakeayDC's board before terming out, met me in the lobby, after which I proceeded to run into a number of other creatives.

One is Bobby T, a wonderful guy and singer, who I know through the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington. One of GMCW's small ensembles, Potomac Fever, will actually be performing in the festival along with local musician, Tom Goss.

I see Samia, an artist I know through my work at Class Acts Arts, as one of our MD Traditions in the Schools artists, and say hi. She's presenting her Spirit of Unity concert.Turning around at one point, I bump into Ouida, a classmate of mine from AU's Arts Management program and give her a hug. She's there on behalf of Dance Exchange's Teen Exchange program, which will be performing at the festival. A disclaimer: I recently became a member Society DX, Dance Exchange's twitter ambassador group.

Another dancer present was Angella, founder and Artistic Director of Alight Dance Theater.  Our paths actually crossed the last presidential election year, participating in a David Dorfman piece where I did my undergrad, in UMD's Dance program.

And I should not have been surprised when I run into Paige Hernandez, performing a piece with B-fly Entertainment. Our paths crossed when she presented a selection from her show, Paige in Full, at Sulu DC's monthly event.

Can't forget running into Solomon, who was present on behalf of the Library of Congress and their concert series. "What?" you might be asking, "the Library of  Congress has a concert series?!" Yes, yes it does. At least that seemed to be the majority of the reactions he received. One of DC's best kept secrets, I might argue. Our paths intersected in the last professional show I did before starting grad school in '08, Jerry Springer: the Opera with Studio Theatre 2nd Stage.

That's about it, as far as I can remember.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the variety and quality of performing artists that are presenting work at this year's Intersections Festival.

And if I saw you that evening, or mentioned you but didn't list your organization above or below, please let me know.

The amazing thing was looking at the festival calendar and seeing how many other artists I knew in some capacity.  The humbling thing is realizing this has less to do with me and more to do with the wonderful community that we have in the DC area, one in which we strive to better ourselves and each other, with our art.

More than anything, this evening really reminded me how exciting this year is going to be, as well as how much each year continues to top the last, for me as an artist, as an audience member, and just as a person who is part of this huge, extended family.

You can check out the festival schedule here. Anything you're looking forward to, or are you participating? Feel free to leave and comment!!

And if you're attending the festival, particularly the Speakeasy DC shows or the Dance/MetroDC awards, I look forward to seeing you there,

- J Street Jr

On social media? So is pretty much every organization I mentioned, those participating in the festival directly and others who were present by association.

• Intersections - Facebook | Twitter
• Atlas Performing Arts Center - Facebook | Twitter
• Alight Dance Theater - Facebook | Twitter
• B-fly Entertainment - Facebook
• Class Acts Arts - Facebook | Twitter
• Cultural Development Corporation - Twitter
• Dance Exchange - Facebook | Twitter
• GMCW - Facebook | Twitter
• MD Traditions - Facebook
• Rorschach Theatre - Facebook | Twitter
• SpeakeasyDC - Facebook | Twitter
• Studio Theatre 2nd Stage - Facebook | Twitter
• Sulu DC - Facebook | Twitter
• Theatre Alliance - Facebook | Twitter

Sulu DC One Year Anniversary Show

An amazing night!! Okay, first off, Sulu DC is a grassroots oriented network, aimed at providing Asian-American and Pacific Islander artists a home and a venue to present their work.

It was fashioned after the Sulu series in New York, which (after 5 years) had its final show this past September, which one of Sulu DC's founders, Simone Jacobson, blogged about for the Lantern Review.

Simone, incidentally, is a classmate, not just from my time in UMD's Dance program, but AU's Arts Management program as well.

I actually got to speak and present some of my own work (via DVD), at a Sulu DC event sometime this past spring, at U St Music Hall. Tonight, I was invited but had to turn down the spot. Instead, I offered to volunteer and ended up being Simone's Assistant Stage Manager.

For the One Year Anniversary show, Sulu DC returned to the Artisphere, where it had its October show, but which had also recently opened. While there's no official website, you can "like" the venue's Facebook Page.

Before the actual event even started, audience members were treated during the pre-show reception in the lobby, to beats dropped by The Pinstriped Rebel, and a performance by members of the Dhoonya Dance Performance Company.

As the audience made their ways to the seats, the Nen Daiko drummers welcomed them.

After this, our fabulous MC, Regie Cabico, spoken word poet and co-founder of Sulu DC & Sulu Series (NYC), entered, singing in true Filipino/karaoke form to Don't Rain on My Parade.

He welcomed the audience and introduced the next performance, Paige Hernandez, who presented excerpts from her one woman show, Paige in Full. You can actually catch the full piece as part of Intersections at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, in March (2011).

Awards were then presented, the Audience and Community Partner, followed by a high-energy performance by PaperDoll recently returned from a tour in China, which featured a performance at this year's World Expo, which closed out the first half of the evening.

After intermission, Phil Good Band kicked of the second act (you can check out their FB Page). The Artist of the Year award was then handed to Yellow Rage, who, as part of their acceptance, were then prompted to honor us with a performance, which was most excellent.

Gayle Isa, the guest speaker for the evening, and Founder & Executive Director of the Asian Arts Initiative took the stage to share some words and thanks, followed by an intense performance by slam poet Beau Sia.

The final pair of awards were handed out, for Arts Education of the Year, and Community Contribution.

Overall an excellent night, and an amazing one given that it's only been a year and I can remember attending the first Sulu DC event in a church basement. In addition Simone & Kuya Regie, props have to go to Jenny C. Lares, Alex Cena, & Brian Wang.

Looking forward to seeing what the next year brings!!

J Street Jr

2010 Montgomery County Executive's Awards for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities

So, it's been a while, and life's been crazy, but I thoughtpick back up with the entries, with a bit of a focus on the thriving artistic and cultural scenes in the DC area.

Over the past several months, since the summer, I produced a show for the 5th Annual Capital Fringe Festival, finalized my thesis for the Arts Management program at American University, and performed in a production of King Arthur with Synetic Theater, as well as started a full-time job with Class Acts Arts, as their Arts Outreach Assistant, and started teaching Dance again, at the National Cathedral School for Girls, for the school year.

All that being said, the event that kind of got me raring to blog again, was this year's Montgomery County Executive's Awards for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities. The Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County works with the County Executive and other individuals and groups, to put on this award ceremony, which was held at the Strathmore Center for Performing Arts, which is just a beautiful venue if you haven't been and have the opportunity.

In addition to recognizing grantees for this fiscal year, awards that are given include the Lifetime Impact Award, Education Award, & Volunteer Award, amongst others. Because of my new found Class Acts Arts Family, I was going to support a couple of the artists on this year's roster, who were receiving awards, Shizumi Shigeto Manale (Outstanding Artist or Scholar) and Michael Bobbitt (Emerging Leader).

Shizumi, a Japanese performing artist, has two companies, Shizumi Dance Theatre and Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe (a group for youth, which you can learn more about at their FB Page).

Michael Bobbitt has a been a mentor of mine, whom I met in 2002 when he choreographed one of the two musicals Montgomery College put on through their Summer Dinner Theatre program, that year. He has been the Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre, where he asked me to come on as Production Manager, which was an awesome year which lead me applying to AU's Arts Management program. He also recently became the president of the League of Washington Theatres. I haven't even touched upon what he manages to do in his free time, in addition to family life, but needless to say, I believe that the award was well-deserved.

But the Class Acts Arts connection didn't stop there. As part of the ceremony, a number of performers provided some engaging moments, two of which were on CAA's roster: the first I mentioned earlier, the Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, and the second was Lesole's Dance Project.

And there were some other familiar names and faces with whom I had crossed paths with in previous lives. One was a grantee, Adrienne Clancy, with her group, ClancyWorks Dance Company. I took her class fall and spring semester of my final year of grad school, through AU's Dance department.

The other face was Suzanne Richard, who received the Community Award and is the Artistic Director of Open Circle Theatre. Although I'd known of her and seen her on stage for a little while now, I finally met her two summers ago at the Capital Fringe festival.

Some other blasts from the past included two of Lesole's dancers, who I went to undergrad with, at UMD's Dance program, as well as one of the dancers with Urban Artistry (also on CAA's roster), whom I initially met in the underground/EDM dance scene in the area.

Anyway, that's it for now. It was a fun night, although (for a free event, and on a Monday night) I was kinda hoping more of the younger professional arts crowd would've been in attendance.

Until next time,

J Street Jr

Photos are from Creative MoCo's FB Photo Album.

Establishments: Greater Goods & Smith Farm Center

After getting a neat birthday present (thanks Ravi!!) we keep walking down U Street and walk into Greater Goods.

Pretty neat store, would like to spend more time checking out its goods. And next door to it was the Smith Farm Center for the Healing and the Arts.

Again, just one of those moments were I actually got to know more about places I've driven by more than I can count.

Establishments: Sitar Arts Center

After getting some food to fix for dinner, I was walking down Kalorama and passed the Sitar Arts Center.

It was one of those times were it was an organization I'd heard of for a while, but it's like right in the middle of a neighborhood I thought I was familiar with.

One my classmates from AU's Arts Management program actually has a full time job there.

Some kids also were a part of a joint program with the Capital Fringe Festival, and presented a bit of a cabaret last year.

Establishments: Katzen Arts Center & Greenberg Theatre

So as I'm wrapping up my time at AU, in its Arts Management program, I realize how awesome the facilities we have are, for the arts

There's the Katzen Arts Center, and the Greenberg Theatre.

Establishments: Solas Nua

This is awful...last semester, as part of a "Fundamentals of Fundraising for Arts Organizations" class assignment, we had to do what amounted to a case study on a local organization.

The one my partner and I focused on was Solas Nua, "the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to contemporary Irish arts", and based in DC.

To do part of the research regarding our case for support, Linda Murray, the organization's Artistic Director, was kind enough to lend us their by laws and minutes.

Here's where the awful part comes in...this was back in the fall, and I was just getting it back to her. I mean, there had be no pressing need or else I certainly would've expedited its return, but at the same time, there was no good reason not to do so when the Fall semester ended.

Anyway, I actually had the pleasure of meeting Linda during last summer's Capital Fringe Festival. I guess I made a good impression and seemed trustworthy.

And, again, just another great case of the diverse and thriving arts scene we have in DC. Solas Nua, while known for their theatre productions, also has an annual book drive, a film festival, monthly screenings, regular readings, and music and visual arts programs as well.