Reentry & Reinvent Campaign
Of course it’s possible to live without the arts, but to do so compromises the art of living. – Johnnetta Cole
ArtsGreensboro has launched the Reentry and Reinvent Campaign for the Arts to ensure that our city will have a thriving arts sector when the COVID-19 pandemic recedes from our day to day reality. The campaign is a multi-faceted approach to supporting arts organizations in facilitating new paths forward to help them survive and become more resilient and sustainable. Contributions to the Reentry and Reinvent Campaign will support future-oriented planning and investing and shared services, technical assistance, and professional development.
Assessment, Planning, and Investing in the Future
Arts Ecology Assessment
ArtsGreensboro engaged the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland to assess our arts sector’s health and vitality. The DeVos Institute is led by Michael Kaiser, past president of The Kennedy Center, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and others, known as a “turnaround” expert of the arts.
The DeVos Institute conducted a macro-level assessment of 36 Greensboro arts organizations; aggregate data and recommendations will be provided to ArtsGreensboro. The data and recommendations will address arts education provided in public schools, quality and financial capabilities of arts institutions, the strength of governing boards, funding sources, audience profiles, and accessibility of arts for all community segments. The evaluation will outline approaches for building larger, more diverse audiences, increasing contributed income, building stronger and more inclusive boards, and reducing costs through collective action.
Note: Please use this Access Passcode: R736x&2z
Microloans for Big Ideas
Still a work in progress, ArtsGreensboro will work with Piedmont Business Capital to provide microloans to arts groups to seed and develop ideas for new or enhanced earned revenue opportunities. Funds may be used to plan and implement an expansive marketing campaign for significant productions or projects with a broad geographic appeal or help work through a merger between two sustainable entities. An advisory council will be formed to assist in vetting applications, setting benchmarks, and reviewing progress.
Estimated Start Date: Fall 2021
ArtsGreensboro Relief Fund for the Arts
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding is designated direct aid for local arts councils and arts organizations built around an expense reimbursement model that benefits more established and larger organizations impacted by COVID-19. For artists and organizations without working capital, access to CARES funds is limited. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many smaller arts organizations with limited capacity shuttered or drastically reduced their expenses.
ArtsGreensboro’s Relief Fund for the Arts will provide access to resources for those unable to receive CARES funding. The primary intent is to provide a more equitable opportunity to support artists and arts organizations. Priority will be given to small, emerging, and BIPOC led (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) organizations.
Professional Development for Arts Organizations and Artists
The Groundwater Approach – Racial Equity and Inclusion in the Arts
ArtsGreensboro partnered with the Racial Equity Institute to provide a Groundwater Approach training session for the arts community. Executive directors, key staff, and board members were invited to participate with ArtsGreensboro covering the cost of two seats to the workshop and a discounted rate for any additional participants.
The November 6, 2020 session was facilitated by Monica F. Walker, a veteran organizer, artist, trainer, speaker, and social activist who has spent the better part of her career addressing race, equity, and inclusion while organizing social justice on every front. She recently retired from Guilford County Schools, where she served as the Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Co-leader in the Groundwater Training was Dr. Blaise Amendolace, a licensed clinical psychologist with over ten years of collegiate mental health experience. A total of 77 participated in the training.
Read our Statement on Cultural Equity
Building Blocks to Successful Career as a Working Artists
ArtsGreensboro is convening arts groups, educators, and entrepreneurship organizations to provide professional development opportunities for artists. From marketing to maintaining good credit, idea pitches, to portfolio development, artists can access educational opportunities to start, maintain, and thrive in Greensboro. Collaborators and partners include Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, Professor Jennifer Reis, UNC Greensboro, TAB Arts Center, Center for Visual Artists, Launch Greensboro, Piedmont Business Capital.
Launch date Spring – Summer 2021
Shared Services
When resources are scarce, it makes sense for traditional models to shift to allow organizations to use their staff capacity to focus on mission-directed activities and find new models and platforms to provide administrative services.
ArtsGreensboro has taken the lead in identifying pathways for organizations to find new, cost-effective structures using a shared services model. The Shared Services platform offers a long-term solution by allocating much-needed resources to multiple organizations for an affordable fee.
Currently, ArtsGreensboro provides accounting services to small and emerging art organizations at a fee of $40/hour. These services currently include accounts payable/accounts receivable, monthly bank reconciliations, cash flow analysis, budget development, and tracking, and audit + 990 preparation. This is intended to provide essential services that enhance financial sustainability to partner organizations.
Shared Services is active and accepting inquiries from arts groups with budgets less than $200,000 per year.
Universal Charitable Deduction In Effect for 2021
The pandemic relief bill extends the $300 universal, above-the-line deduction for non-itemizers through 2021 and also allows joint filers to deduct up to $600. This deduction only applies to cash gifts and does not apply to cash gifts to donor-advised funds or supporting organizations. The bill also extends the temporary increase of the adjusted gross income limits for cash gifts through 2021 (100% of AGI for individuals, 25% for corporations).
