President's Update
Presented at Creative Capital's Board Meeting
By Ruby Lerner, November 27, 2000

OVERVIEW

It has been a busy and remarkable year, thanks to the wonderful artists we're supporting and the amazing staff, which has been tireless in its efforts on behalf of those artists.

We've made more than 40 presentations in more than 30 cities and we are now in active relationships with most of the 75 artists we're supporting. Although it is way too early to conclusively assess the value of this hands-on approach to funding, there is no question that even at this early date, this approach appears to be working well for a number of the artists selected in our first round.

2000-2001 GRANT ROUND

We received 2,972 proposals this year. This preliminary account, which includes duplicates, is 1,165 more than last year. Given that we only accepted proposals in 2 discipline areas this year (visual arts and media), this actually represents an increase of 2,047 over last year, when we received 525 visual arts proposals and 400 proposals in media. A geographic breakdown is enclosed.

We can definitely see the impact of our outreach efforts – it is particularly apparent in states such as Washington (24 applications in 1999; 89 in 2000); Oregon (20 in 1999; 62 in 2000); Colorado (22 in 1999; 51 in 2000); and North Carolina (20 in 1999; 83 in 2000), to name just a few of the places we visited this year. Analysis of the geographic breakdown will allow us to now target our outreach efforts more strategically in the coming years. Of course, now we must see if this outreach has yielded not only increased numbers of applicants, but applicants who can be competitive within a highly competitive national pool.

Although I was initially planning to add only about 30 new projects to the roster, that seems just too heartbreaking. The staff and I believe that with a little extra help, we can handle about 50 new projects, which still represents less than two percent of the total received.

Here's an overview of our grantmaking process: Each proposal is checked for completeness and eligibility. All complete and eligible proposals are then read by two outside evaluators from the appropriate discipline, as well as the appropriate program staff person. Assisting us are approximately 60 evaluators from across the country.

Proposals are scored based on four criteria: the artistic strength of the project; the capabilities of the applicant to realize the project; the feasibility of the project; and the impact that our support, both financial and advisory, would have on the applicant and project.

This year, where possible, at least one of the evaluators is from the applicant's region. We felt that this would accomplish two things:

1. increase the likelihood that at least one of the evaluators might be familiar with an artist's work, and,

2. help familiarize local presenters with artists in their region who might currently be unknown to them.

We are always looking for people who would make good reviewers at both the evaluator and panel level. Please let us know if you have any suggestions.

We will receive evaluators' responses in early January and determine the projects that will move on to the second round, in which we ask for greater project and budget detail and work samples, by the end of January. Applicants will then have about a month to prepare the requested materials. Panels will meet in April, and the board will be asked to approve the selected projects at the May 2001 board meeting

2001 RETREAT

Although we loved Skowhegan, we definitely taxed its capacity. With about 50 new grantees, plus some of the current grantees probably returning, we have identified Wells College in Aurora, New York as the site for the 2001 retreat. Located on the Finger Lakes upstate, it has been used by the Flaherty Film Seminars in the past. We think that the costs of transporting artists and consultants will also be substantially less than to Maine, which is helpful, since we'll have more participants this year. The dates are August 8th-12th.

TRAVEL/SPEAKING UPDATE

I did a presentation for the Columbia College Center for Arts Policy in Chicago in early November at the Field Museum. It was very well attended (about 170 people). I also did a small public meeting in Pittsburgh hosted by the Warhol Museum, and while there made a presentation at the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies conference, to the Deputy Directors of state arts councils. This was extremely productive and a number of exciting partnership possibilities were discussed. For example, several offered to have their public relations departments help get the word out about artists we're supporting in their states. A few mentioned that they might try to provide matching money to artists we support from their state. And we will provide all of them with the list of Creative Capital applicants from their states. I think this is a very exciting partnership for us. I did a lot of consulting work with many of the state arts agencies in the 1980's and have longstanding relationships with a number of the staff members, which will hopefully facilitate some of these activities.

I am also delighted to have been asked to deliver the keynote address at the annual ArtTable luncheon to be held next April. They will be honoring Paula Cooper.

SUMMARY

I would be remiss if I did not call your attention to the incredible job that the Creative Capital staff has done this year. It is their thoughtfulness and commitment that has made this year such a productive and extraordinary one.

I also want to thank you for all your helpful guidance throughout the year. I have so appreciated your availability to help me think through ideas. Your generous support of this project has meant so much to me, the staff and the artists.