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Arts Council of the Verde Valley, a new non-profit at a difficult time
By Deb Bentlage
VERDE VALLEY, AZ (June 1, 2009) - The economy has had a devastating effect on many aspects of society. The arts, as well as other public service nonprofit agencies, have suffered great setbacks in the usual funding venues within foundations, granting organizations and individual donors. As a result, there has been speculation in some media outlets that the need created in communities by the economic downturn must be handled by the nonprofit community. It is difficult to understand how that can be achieved with the current economic environment.
Many nonprofits are struggling with some considering merging, downsizing or ceasing their work in the communities that they are serving. Many state-funded museums and parks have had to either cut their operations drastically or completely close down. Current budget talks in the state legislature indicate that the worse may still be coming for nonprofits reliant on funding for operations from the state budget.
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A recent study conducted by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, a statewide organization dedicated to supporting the over 20,000 nonprofits in Arizona, indicates that now may not be the time to begin a new arts nonprofit. In a survey of economic impact on nonprofits that the Alliance did indicated the following for state arts organizations in particular:
• 80% have experienced downturn in revenues or
expect it by end of 2009
• Average drop in revenues: 36%
• 20% have laid off staff
• 40% expect to lay off staff by end of 2009
• 60% are looking at possible mergers
Robert Booker, Chairman of the Arizona Commission on
the Arts, cautions new organizations. Booker
recently commented on the plight of arts nonprofits,
“Indeed these are challenging times, but they are
also times of opportunity. So many times in the
history of our country we have seen the emergence of
new ideas, new organizations, and creative problem
solving. As we look back to the depression, we also
see the amazing work done by artists throughout our
country both in the building of the infrastructure
of our parks but the actual creation of works of
art. I found power in the words of our president as
he spoke to the graduating classes of ASU. He said,
‘Other classes have received their diplomas in times
of trial and upheaval, when the very foundations of
our lives have been shaken, the old ideas and
institutions have crumbled, and a new generation is
called on to remake the world.’ As arts and
community leaders, maybe this is the time to imagine
a new organization of service to the arts, maybe it
is the time to embark on a new adventure that
celebrates the individual creative spirit? I would
only ask that if that journey is begun, that it be
started with full awareness of the economic
challenges ahead but also with a spirit of
determination and challenge.”
It’s certainly a difficult time to start a new
nonprofit, particularly one that is oriented toward
the arts. A group of dedicated artists and art
supporters are trying to do just that in the Verde
Valley by creating The Arts Council of the Verde
Valley. This organization would be oriented toward
finding resources for working artists in this area.
The group has already held several meetings at
Yavapai College and is looking for others who want
to join their effort. They are especially interested
in finding organizations with similar missions that
might want to combine forces in a synergistic way.
The most recent meeting of the group was held on May
27 at Yavapai College with a group of 14 people
whose efforts were directed toward honing their
committees to research the viability of the
organization, membership and marketing. With the
assistance of the City of Cottonwood Economic
Planner Casey Rooney and several members of the art
faculty at the Yavapai College, this group is
striving to create a significant resource for
artists in this area. Estimates from various
databases available on arts nonprofits indicate that
there are at least 10-20 organizations with an
educational mission, possibly double that for other
types of arts-related nonprofits. To add another
organization at this time may contribute to the
difficulties that are being experienced by others.
Virginia Pates, an arts faculty member at Yavapai
College, was elected Interim President of the new
organization with Catherine Kubu serving as
Secretary and Chris Rooney as the Treasurer. Ms.
Pates expressed the need for such an organization in
the Verde Valley, “There is no unifying point for
the arts across the Greater Verde Valley, but rather
many, many individual artists and organizations,
each working to support and promote its own agenda.”
“Like much of Arizona, the Verde Valley is a
community of immigrants, with a large proportion of
its population having relocated to the area for the
climate and natural beauty. As the primary draw of
the Verde Valley is its aesthetic appeal, many of
these new arrivals are involved or interested in the
Arts. However, participation in arts events and
organizations is mostly through networking and
word-of-mouth, which can be a significant stumbling
block for those new to the community,” she
continued. “We need to help these existing groups
coordinate with each other by facilitating their
communication. This new organization should function
as a hub of information, creating a public and
comprehensive directory of all arts organizations,
arts businesses and artists in the Verde Valley,
with an updating directory of all arts events. From
this information, the various organizations, artists
and businesses can coordinate themselves in concert
with each other to the benefit of everyone.”
The group is working toward creating a website,
membership development and marketing plans for the
new organization. Right now, it has been determined
that immediate action toward 501(c)(3) nonprofit
status should be delayed until further research can
be conducted on the new group since several
organizations could work with the Arts Council in
its efforts.
If you have interest in supporting or becoming
part of The Arts Council of the Verde Valley, their
next meeting is scheduled for June 24, 2009 at 5:00
pm at the Yavapai College campus in Clarkdale, AZ in
Room M-137. For more information on The Arts Council
of the Verde Valley, please contact Kyla Allen,
Assistant to the City Manager, or Casey Rooney,
Economic Planner, at the City of Cottonwood via
email at kallen@ci.cottonwood.az.us.
Deb Bentlage is the Curator & Collections Manager
at the Phippen Museum and Board of Trustees Member,
The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits
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