This section will be updated again August 1, 2010.
The Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan Year One Report was published March 16, 2009. Please view this report at the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan section of the website.
The items listed below directly support the seven overall goals and dozens of specific recommendations of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan which was published 3/16/2009, caused the creation of CultureWorks, and informs CultureWorks’ mission and vision.
7.7.2010 Monthly Report
√CultureWorks Grants Program Distributes Funds – CultureWorks has initiated the CultureWorks Grants Program with awards totaling $10,000 that will enable innovation in visual, performing, and literary arts. Yellow House, in partnership with Theatre in Battery Park, will use a grant of $4,000 for its outdoor Shakespeare productions that will take place in August in Battery Park and that will engage residents of that community. Art On Wheels will use $3,000 to provide art experiences for elderly persons whose structured group residences provide limited access to art. New Virginia Review will use $3,000 to develop and launch a web-based literary journal of work by middle-schoolers. The Grants Program will grow and in future rounds will also include grants to individuals.
√Concert Raises Funds for Grants – Personally funded by CultureWorks board member David Christian, the June 25 CenterStage concert by Tommy Emmanuel resulted in $9,966.75 – via ticket sales – that will be used for future grants via the CultureWorks Grants Program. The concert also recognized and thanked area arts/culture organizations and providers via special seating, stage remarks and recognition, and a printed list.
√National Networking Provides Specific Assistance – CultureWorks president John Bryan was among 1,000 arts leaders who participated in the Half-Century Summit of Americans for the Arts June 24-27 in Baltimore. Among dozens of persons who provided productive personal consultation were Jeannie L. Howe of Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre (about Baltimore’s experiences establishing arts/culture districts); Peggy Kendellen, Public Art Manager for Portland’s Regional Arts & Culture Council (about establishing public art plans); Maria Lopez De Leon, executive director of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (about service to this segment of the community); Margot Knight, CEO of Orlando’s United Arts of Central Florida (about raising money for united grants programs); and Connie Linsler Valentine, president and CEO of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville (about serving the corporate community).
√ Budget on Track – Thanks to fiscal generosity and partnership from organizations and individuals - along with considered budgeting and expenditures processes - CultureWorks enters its second fiscal year with no debt, with the base budget for FY2011 in hand, and with substantial progress towards its pledge to have self-sustaining revenue streams in place after its first 36 months. CultureWorks always welcomes, and can make use of, additional funding to enhance current services and to fund a waiting list of additional service areas.
√Strategic Partnership with NorthHighland in Place – CultureWorks has signed a one-year agreement with NorthHighland – a national company that provides ongoing strategic consultation regarding mission, programs, and strategies. NorthHighland is donating $50,000 in consultation, including monthly reports and sessions, in exchange for being recognized as a CultureWorks corporate strategic partner.
√Meeting the Press – During June 9-11 CultureWorks met and spoke with visiting writers from American Style, Fodors.com, Passport, National Geographic Traveler Kids, Parents, Culture & Leisure, and TrekkerTime.com who were hosted by the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. The itinerary included Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, CenterStage, galleries, and other venues. The focus was arts and culture in Richmond.
√Developing Regional Relationships – On July 13 CultureWorks will provide consultation to Martinsville’s Harvest Foundation and the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center about forming an organization similar to CultureWorks to provide service/leadership for that region of the state.
√Consultation for State Commission – Virginia Delegate Chris Peace has enlisted CultureWorks to provide consultation – beginning at a Commission meeting on July 28 - for the Virginia Indian Commemorative Commission that is charged with honoring the Virginia Indian with a physical monument on the Capitol grounds.
√Fish Market Continues to Raise Funds for Arts/Culture – Having now raised funds for Positive Vibe Café and Petersburg Area Art League while exhibited there, John Bryan’s painting exhibition – “Fish Market” – is now on dispaly at Hanover Tavern (during the July/August run of “On Golden Pond”) with 100% of sales being split among Hanover Tavern, Barksdale Theatre, and CultureWorks. Next: Listening Room Gallery at Ashland Coffee & Tea in September.
FOR PAST PRESIDENT'S REPORT CLICK HERE.