TCG Bulletin

August 2006, Volume 29, Issue 8

Also online this month:

FIELD LETTER

In the first half of the two-part August Field Letter, TCG board president Abel Lopez provides an update on the search for TCG's next executive director and an introduction to the consulting firm the search committee has hired to lead the process in the coming months. In the second half, interim executive director Gigi Bolt introduces herself and shares her thoughts on TCG's past, present and future, and on the outgoing leadership team of Ben Cameron and Joan Channick.

• Click here to view the August 2006 Field Letter

TCG NEWS

TCG Theatre Membership Renewal Deadline has passed!

TCG theatre membership renewal materials were mailed out to all member theatres at the end of February. We hope that you will once again choose to join the national theatre field in a spectrum of programs and conferences designed to further our collective artistic and management skills, advance internal field communication and position the field more effectively in our local and national communities.

As a TCG member, you belong to an increasingly vibrant community of more than 430 theatres and make a stand for artistry, effectiveness and advocacy. We hope that we can count you as part of the TCG family in the coming year.

Action: The deadline for theatre membership renewal was June 1. To avoid suspension of your membership and to ensure your listing in the 2006-2007 Theatre Directory, please contact Jen Cleary.

Emilya Cachapero Named Director of the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute

In August, TCG's director of artistic programs, Emilya Cachapero, will take on additional duties as director of the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), succeeding Joan Channick, who served as director of ITI since 2001. In this capacity, Emilya will oversee all of TCG's international activities, will serve on ITI's executive council and will represent TCG on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. An experienced internationalist, Emilya has already played a significant role in ITI by overseeing TCG's two international grant programs, participating in the past three ITI World Congresses and heading ITI's New Project Group, which presented "The Borges Project," a multinational collaborative production that premiered at the most recent Congress in Manila this past June.

Action: Visit the International section of the website for more information on TCG's international programs, events and ITI news.

Update on the Ben Cameron Fund of the TCG Endowment

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to the Ben Cameron Fund of the TCG Endowment! As you know, TCG set up this permanently restricted fund to honor Ben on his departure. Building TCG's endowment and supporting artists are two issues dear to Ben's heart, and the response has been fantastic! Thus far, 276 donors have contributed $150,010 in the first significant enhancement of TCG's endowment since it was established by the Ford Foundation in 1966. Ben has been deeply touched—and not a little overwhelmed—by the generosity of the field.

Action: Visit the About TCG section of the website to make a gift or call Martha Neighbors at 212-609-5900 x223.

Fall 2006 TCG/ITI Travel Grants

TCG/ITI Travel Grants, funded by the Trust for Mutual Understanding, are designed to foster cultural exchange and artistic partnerships between theatre professionals in the United States and their counterparts in Russia and Eastern and Central Europe. These $2,500 grants support travel in either direction between theatre artists, administrators and educators, enabling them to share ideas, gain exposure to each other's cultural traditions and communicate contemporary theatre techniques. Recipients may be either a U.S. not-for-profit theatre applying on behalf of a theatre professional(s) or an individual theatre professional(s) who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.

Action: The postmark deadline for Fall 2006 TCG/ITI Travel Grants is October 27. Visit the Grants section of the website for application guidelines and more information.

Save the Date! 2006 TCG Fall Forum: November 10–12

TCG's annual Fall Forum brings together teams of artistic and management leaders and trustees to provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion on governance issues. The Forum gives theatre leaders the chance to hear some of the most provocative thinkers in the field and to engage with their peers in an intimate and informal setting. The 2006 Fall Forum will take place in New York City from November 10–12, 2006. Registration materials will be sent to all member theatres in late summer.

Action: Check the Events section of the website for details on the Forum later this summer.

TCG Bulletin Notification Expands to Staff

TCG is now sending email notification of the TCG Bulletin and Field Letter directly to general managers, education directors, business managers, marketing directors, PR directors, literary managers, dramaturgs, development directors and associate artistic directors at TCG member theatres.

TCG is undertaking this effort in order to keep staff informed of the activities and developments of the not-for-profit theatre field, to deepen staff knowledge of TCG and to increase participation in our programs. Many of these senior staff already participate in TCG programs and have sent TCG their email addresses. However, we are far from a complete list. We strongly encourage you to send us email contacts for the aforementioned staff at your theatre.

Action: To receive notification of the TCG Bulletin and Field Letter by email, contact Cindy Lee.

TCG Requests Production Posters

TCG is requesting posters from your theatre's current season. We prominently display members' posters in our office, which not only creates a lively and attractive work environment but also helps us showcase the full diversity of our membership to the artists, funders, government leaders, theatre administrators and board members who visit TCG. We also remind you to send posters to your federal, state and local legislators. They often like to display their constituents' posters in their offices.

Action: Mail posters to Demosthenes Chrysan, TCG, 520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156, as well as your legislators.

TCG Trustee Leadership Network

All trustees of TCG member theatres are eligible to join the TCG Trustee Leadership Network. For $75 annually, the network affords trustees the following benefits: American Theatre magazine; annual TCG Theatre Directory; and notification of management publications including the TCG Bulletin, Field Letter and Centerpiece. Please encourage your board members to join.

Action: Visit the Membership section of the website to download a registration form or for more information.

TCG and League of American Theatres and Producers Collaborate on Quarterly Information Alerts to Commercial Producers

As part of ACT II's ongoing dialogue between not-for-profit theatres and commercial producers, TCG and the League of American Theatres and Producers have instituted quarterly alerts to commercial producers about upcoming workshops, staged readings and new productions of plays and musicals of particular interest.

If your theatre is developing a new work or production that you feel has commercial potential, it will be suitable for the alert. You will need to provide the following information: name of new work; author(s); theatre; a one-line description; dates and location of workshop, reading or production; and contact name, phone and email at the theatre. Entries will be distributed quarterly to League members.

Action: Submissions for the September 1 issue are due by August 15. To participate, email your details to Ben Pesner, League of American Theatres and Producers.

TCG Seeks Interns

TCG's Internship Program is looking for highly motivated individuals with good organizational, communication and computer skills. Learn about contemporary American theatre through contact with the artists and professionals who work in our over 430 member theatres, as well as constant interaction with the TCG staff and its unique resources. Internships are offered year-round in the following areas: Artistic Programs, Fundraising, Communications/Public Relations, Management Programs & Advocacy/Education Programs, American Theatre magazine/Publications, Graphic Design, Business Administration and Website. Fall 2006 internships are available.

Action: For more detailed information, please visit the About TCG section of the website. To apply, email your résumé and a cover letter indicating primary area of interest to Jen Cleary.

Club Quarters—A Benefit for TCG Member Theatres, Affiliates and Individual Members

Club Quarters are private, full service hotels exclusively for member organizations; they offer unique, user-friendly services designed for both business and leisure. Club Quarters have rooms of various sizes for long or short stays and each location has a restaurant and bar, club room, fitness facility and meeting space accommodating up to 250 people.

TCG is a member of Club Quarters, and TCG member theatres, affiliates and individual members can pay low rates for quality hotel rooms in eleven prime urban locations, such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston and London.

Action: Visit the Club Quarters website or call Club Quarters Member Services at 212-575-0006 to make reservations or for more information. Your password is TCG.

ADVOCACY NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE AND TCG

Senate Approves Level Funding for NEA

On Tuesday, June 29, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a budget of $124.4 million, level funding, for the NEA. The arts community had been working hard to get an amendment in subcommittee or full Appropriations Committee to increase the budget by $5 million to match the increase approved by the House in May. Although several key committee members indicated support for an increase, none was willing to introduce an amendment in committee. Funding will be considered by the full Senate sometime later this summer.

Action: Stay tuned for an Action Alert if there is an opportunity for grassroots action, and please participate!

California Approves Largest-Ever State-Funded Expenditure for Music and Arts Education

By approving the state budget on June 30, California designated the largest-ever state-funded expenditure for arts education in public schools in California and nationwide. As a result, schools will now have access to $105 million in annual funding for arts and music education, in addition to a one-time allocation of $500 million for arts, music and physical education equipment over the first year. This funding stream will go to every school district statewide; this is the first time state funds have been so designated since the late 1970s.

Action: Visit the NAMM (International Music Products Association) website read a press release detailing the expenditure.

L.A. County to Double Arts Grants

Los Angeles county recently decided to more than double arts grants in the coming fiscal year, from $2.2 million to $4.5 million. In addition to that increase, the county Board of Supervisors also gave cultural institutions $20 million of a $400 million surplus that built up during the expiring 2005-06 budget year. On the state level, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a $5.1 million budget for the California Arts Council—a $1.8 million boost that relies on projected income from purchases of special license plates.

Action: None

Source: Cultural Policy Listserv, June 28, 2006

Source: Los Angeles Times, June 28, 2006

Arts Resolutions Adopted by Hundreds of Mayors During U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting

Each year, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopts a series of policy resolutions proposed by individual mayors who chair committees that focus on specific issue areas such as the arts. Once adopted, these resolutions become policy priorities for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. This year, under the leadership of Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz—chair of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee—a number of arts resolutions were proposed and unanimously adopted, including a resolution to reaffirm support for the NEA, NEH and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and calling upon Congress to increase funding for these cultural agencies.

Action: Visit the U.S. Conference of Mayors website to view all of the policy resolutions from this and past annual meetings.

Source: Americans for the Arts Monthly Wire, June 2006

ARTS EDUCATION

U.S. Department of Education Arts Education Funds Zeroed in the House

For the sixth straight year, the House Appropriations Committee has proposed eliminating funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs. As in the past, we will rely on the Senate to fully restore funding for these important programs. In February, the administration proposed zeroing out the program, and on June 13, the House Appropriations Committee followed suit and proposed terminating the funding in the FY 2007 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. This appropriations bill is expected to be considered on the House floor sometime this summer.

Action: Please write to your Senators and Representatives to encourage them to support this valuable arts education funding.

Source: Americans for the Arts Monthly Wire, June 2006

Independent Commission Seeks Input on No Child Left Behind

Through a new online portal, arts education advocates can inform Congress about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the importance of the arts in every child's education. An independent commission on NCLB is accepting comments through their website and this bipartisan commission will make formal recommendations to Congress in early 2007. As such, this is a key opportunity for teachers, parents and community members to offer constructive feedback on the importance of the arts in any kind of education legislation and specifically NCLB.

Action: Visit the American Arts Alliance website for more information and a link to the commission's online portal.

American School Board Association Highlights Arts Education

The June 2006 issue of the American School Board Journal features an arts education special feature, "A Rich Picture: The Why and How of Arts Education."

Action: Visit the American School Board Journal website to read the four articles contained in the special report.

Google Launches New Shakespeare Site

Google recently launched a site devoted entirely to Shakespeare, which allows U.S. users to browse through the full texts of his 37 plays. The site, which was introduced in conjunction with Google's sponsorship of the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park, also provides links to related scholarly research, internet groups and even videos of performances of Shakespeare plays.

Action: Visit the Google Book Search website to check out this new education resource.

Source: Cultural Policy Listserv, June 14, 2006

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Direct Marketing Conference in New York August 9–10

The Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) will hold its annual conference at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on August 9–10. From the DMANF website: "The two-day event features two keynote speakers who are sure to inspire you, as well as 25 workshop sessions jam-packed with the best ideas and latest trends, from online fundraising and integrated marketing through acquisition, data mining and retention. In addition, there will be roundtable discussions where you will be able to exchange ideas and thoughts on conference topics and common challenges with your peers."

Action: Register before August 2 to save $50 on your registration fee. Visit the DMANF website for more information or to register online.

DEVELOPMENT

NEA Announces New Director of Theater and Musical Theater

The NEA has announced it the appointment of Bill O'Brien, managing director and producer of Deaf West Theater, as the agency's director of theater and musical theater. Among his new responsibilities, O'Brien will design and lead national leadership initiatives, develop partnerships to advance the theatre field, recommend panelists and manage the review process for theatre and musical theatre applications. He will assume his new responsibilities in early September.

Action: Visit the NEA website to read the complete press release.

RESOURCES

Online Database of Capacity-Building Resources

The Philanthropic Capacity-Building Resources Database provides a searchable collection of programs foundations offer or fund in order to strengthen not-for-profits. The database is available free online.

A project of Human Interaction Research Institute, the database contains 368 descriptions of capacity-building programs being carried out by U.S. foundations. Users can obtain program profiles and conduct searches for programs under one or more search categories. The database also contains 21 profiles of intermediary organizations that serve as bridges between foundations and not-for-profits. These intermediaries provide capacity-building assistance to not-for-profits, supported financially by foundations and others.

Action: Visit the Human Interaction Research Institute website to access and search the database.

New Online Performing Arts Encyclopedia

The Library of Congress has launched a new online Performing Arts Encyclopedia as a centralized guide for users interested in exploring the performing arts. It focuses on music, motion picture, broadcasting, recorded sound, manuscript, rare book and other nonbook collections.

Action: Visit the Library of Congress website to explore the new Performing Arts Encyclopedia.

NEW TCG MEMBERS

Actors Co-op Hollywood

1760 N Gower St
Hollywood, CA 90028
tel (323) 462-8460
fax (323) 462-3199
jcuster@fpch.org
www.actorsco-op.org
Deborah Meier, Co-Artistic Director
Mark Stephenson, Co-Artistic Director
Paul Stuart Graham, Producing Director

The Globe Theatre

2308 Shakespeare Rd
Odessa, TX 79761
tel (432) 332-1586
fax (432) 332-1586
hamlet@globesw.org
www.globesw.org
Anthony Ridley, Artistic Director
Kathryn Graybill, Associate Artistic Director
Lisa Crenshaw Estes, Board Chair

Playwrights Foundation

131 10th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
tel (415) 626-0453
fax (415) 626-1138
admin@playwrightsfoundation.org
www.playwrightsfoundation.org
Amy Mueller, Artistic Director
Christine Young, Associate Artistic Director
Jennifer Heyneman, Board President

PURE Theatre

73-750 Catalina Way
701 E Bay St
Suite 1017
Charleston, SC 29403
tel (843) 723-4444
info@puretheatre.org
www.puretheatre.org
Sharon Graci, Artistic Director
Rodney Lee Rogers, Co-Founder
David Mandel, Associate Artistic Director
R.W. Smith, Associate Artistic Director
Peter Karapetkov, Director of PURE International

TCG DEADLINES

Looking for a list of TCG Staff?

Copyright 2006 Theatre Communications Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Information appearing in the TCG Bulletin may not be reprinted without permission.