2011 Decentralization Retreat

NYSCA

Founded in 1960 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller, NYSCA is an agency of the Executive Branch of the New York State Government.

NYSCANYSCA was the first of its kind; by the mid-1960s, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) had been established, and more than two dozen other states had established arts councils of their own.

NYSCA’s grantmaking budget for the 2011 fiscal year totaled $35.15 million, and more than 2,100 grants were awarded.

NYSCA

Each year, NYSCA supports more than 1,400 nonprofit cultural organizations.

In addition to funding, NYSCA also provides:

• Professional development advice

• Arts information services

• Networking opportunities

• Special projects addressing the needs of the cultural community

NYSCA

ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & DESIGN

Supports design, planning,contemporary architecture,historic preservation projects, andCapital Funding to improve, expand & rehabilitate arts facilities.

The High Line, New York City

ARTS EDUCATION

Funds school based partnerships between arts groups and schools, and community based arts learning programs for all ages.

Young Audiences of Western New York

DANCE

Supports ballet and contemporary dance companies of various genres, choreographer commissions, residencies and rehearsal spaces.

New York City Ballet

ELECTRONIC MEDIA & FILM

Funds exhibition and residencies in film, electronic media and sound as an art form, as well as workspace for media production and preservation of film and electronic media.

“Immaculate Telegraphy” at Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, New York

City

FOLK ARTS

Programs sustaining living traditions in source communities and performances, and supportsexhibitions and lecture/demonstrations for general audiences. In addition, apprenticeships taught by master folk artists are funded.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS

Supports the creation of new work by composers and theatre artists, and artist-initiated projects in electronic media and film production. In 2009, funded 109 artists at various stages of their careers.

Henry Threadgill, NYSCA Grantee

LITERATURE

Supports contemporary literary writing in fiction, poetry, drama and creative nonfiction through publication of books and literary magazines, translation and public programs of readings.

.J. Clark and Michael Ondaatje discuss the work of Andrey Platonov

as part of the 2009 PEN World Voices Festival.

MUSEUM

Provides funding for art, history, science and children’s museums. In addition, cataloguing and research projects, exhibitions and education programs are supported.Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo

MUSIC

The production and performance of a wide range of genres is supported by the Music program. Through the musical instrument revolving loan fund, high quality instruments are loaned at low interest rates to musicians and music groups.

Bang On A Can Marathon, 2007

PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS

Support is provided to presenters of live performing arts, emphasizing innovative and culturally diverse programs for audiences of all ages.

Celebrate Brooklyn!

SPECIAL ARTS SERVICES

Funds arts activities within communities of color and other culturally specific communities, including performances and exhibitions. Instructional programs aimed towards professional careers or perpetuating traditional arts are also supported.SAS funds a wide

range of artistic activity.

STATE & LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

Community cultural development is supported through the funding of local arts councils and multi-arts centers. In addition, a decentralization program provides re-grant funds for country and regional funding administered and decided locally.

Volunteers from the community become workers who collectively make 10,000 unique leaves out of translucent acetate paper and gel

color paints.

THEATRE

Classical, contemporary and musical theatre is supported, along with experimental productions crossing disciplinary boundaries.

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City

VISUAL ARTS

The creation and presentation of contemporary visual arts is supported through funding exhibitions, installations, workspace facilities, publications and critical writing. CAPTION

Chad Hunt, at Center for Photography Woodstock

FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011

Grantmaking Budget (Local Assistance):

$35,150,000

Administration (State Operations): $4,838,000

National Endowment for the Arts: $995,100

NYSCA’s enacted grantmaking budget for FY11 represents a 15.5% decrease from FY10.

NYSCA’S FUNDING HISTORY – SELECTED YEARS

FISCAL YEAR GRANTMAKING BUDGET1960-61 $50,000

1970-71 $18,000,000

1980-81 $30,370,800

1988-90 (Peak) $54,300,000

1990-91 $48,870,000

1992-93 (Largest Cut) $23,294,700

1995-96 $28,950,002

2000-01 $47,400,000

2005-06 $37,400,000

2009-10 $41,602,800

2010-11 $35,150,000

ARTS ADVOCACYAs an Executive agency, NYSCA is generally not permitted to lobby (“lobbying” refers to advocacy efforts that attempt to influence legislation).

NYSCA does work to maintain good relationships with the Governor’s office and both houses of the Legislature by providing information about NYSCA and the impact of the Arts on the citizens of New

York.

HOW DOES NYSCA COMPARE?PUBLIC FUNDINGNYSCA has the largest overall budget of any

statewide arts agency or commission.

New York State Council on the Arts $46,884,800

New Jersey Council on the Arts $14,847,000

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts $11,992,000

Texas Commission on the Arts $7,745,294

California Council on the Arts $4,300,000

Florida Division of Cultural Affairs $2,500,000

In 2010 the following allocations (including grantmaking and administration) were enacted…

NYSCA’S PROCESS:

A NATIONAL MODEL

A FOUR-STEP REVIEW PROCESS

• Staff Review of application and support materials

• Application review and rating by a Peer Panel

• Council Committee review of funding recommendations

• Vote to approve funding by the Full Council

STAFF REVIEW

NYSCA program staff verifies applicant eligibility and conducts a review of application materials in relation to the Council's three primary criteria and program-specific guidelines. Staff may meet with representatives of the organization, visit facilities, and attend programs to become familiar with the organization and its work. Staff review may be supplemented by reports from program auditors and field representatives who have expertise in a particular area.

PEER REVIEW PANELS

Panels rate grant applications according to a nine (9) point scale. Each of the three primary criteria is rated independently. Those ratings are then averaged to produce a final rating.

If an organization scores a three (3) or below on any single criteria, that application is removed from consideration.

EVALUATIVE FUNDING CRITERIA

• Artistic & Programmatic Quality

• Managerial & Fiscal Competence

• Service to the Public

COUNCIL COMMITTEE

There are two committees composed of Council Members: Visual Arts, Multi-Disciplinary Arts, and Performing , Literary and Visual Arts. Funding recommendations and panel ratings are presented to the appropriate Committee for review and discussion. The Committees make funding recommendations to the full Council. Council Committee meetings are open to the public and are webcast.

FULL COUNCIL

The full Council reviews funding recommendations and votes to approve grants. Upon Council approval of a grant, Cultural Service Contracts are issued to the organizations approved for funding. Council meetings are open to the public and are webcast.

GRANT AWARDS The Council does not make grants less than $2,500

The maximum amount for any grant is $150,000.

An organization may not receive more than $200,000 in support in a single fiscal year.

The Council rarely funds:

The full amount of any request;

More than 50% of any project's budget;

More than 25% of any organization's budget in the case of requests for General Operating Support or General Program Support.

CURRENT INITIATIVES• Launching the Cultural Data Project (CDP)• Arts Education refocus• Economic Development• Re-organizing NYSCA’s operations around a committee-based program structure• Exploring new ways to support Individual Artists• Quebec-New York Cultural Exchange partnership

2011 Decentralization Retreat