ArtsKC News for February

5th Annual ArtsKC Fund Campign Has Kicked Off!

Ringmaster, Walter Coppage, kicks off the 5th Annual ArtsKC Fund Campaign with confetti.

Photographer: Kyle Rivas

We launched our Annual ArtsKC Fund Campaign on January 28th, 2011. The ArtsKC Fund campaign is currently in its fifth year and benefits more than 100 arts organizations, arts programs and artists in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Last year alone, thanks to the support of over 70 participating companies across the metropolitan area, the fund provided over $420,000 to our local arts community. Over the past four years, we have raised a total of $2,102,851 for the ArtsKC Fund.

This year the ArtsKC Fund goal is to raise $440,000, and you can help! Giving has never been easier.

Choose from the following options:

• Payroll Deduction - (pledge forms available from your Workplace Giving Employee Campaign Manager)
• On-line at www.ArtsKC.org
• Credit Card - one time or installment payments
• Personal Check

Increase employee morale and creativity - host a workplace giving campaign! Companies interested in hosting an ArtsKC Fund Employee Giving Campaign may sign up now through May 2011 by contacting Liz Albers at 816-994-9223 or Albers@artskc.org.

Arts Council to Perform Research Study
We are proud to be participating in Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, a research study conducted by Americans for the Arts to evaluate the economic impact of nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences' spending in local communities. This spending pumps vital revenue into local restaurants, hotels, retail stores, parking garages, and other businesses. The study will also assess the impact of the recession on the employment and government revenues that are generated by the nonprofit arts industry. The findings are expected to demonstrate that the arts remain a formidable industry in spite of recent economic challenges. Grants Director, Paul Tyler, and Research Intern, Erinn Faulconer, will head up the study.

When we participated in the study in 2005, it was found that nonprofit arts are a $279.3 million industry in our five county area, which includes Wyandotte, Johnson, Jackson, Clay and Platte.

Our President & CEO, Harlan Brownlee, states "When creative activities are occurring in this city, whether large or small, there is an increase in economic vitality; the arts are an economic engine."

Complete details about the 2005 study are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.