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April 14, 2010

Shake Up Your Management Style at the Annual Conference
Feeling stuck in a rut? Tired of looking at the same four office walls? Need some inspiration for new ideas?

It's time to REDEFINE YOUR BORDERS!

At this year's Annual Conference, several of our break-out sessions focus specifically on issues related to MANAGEMENT. In today's uneven climate, administrators are called upon to revise roles, responsibilities, and relationships.The management break-out sessions will help you identify bold new business models, evaluate opportunities for shared resources, and examine innovative strategies for successful governance.

You'll walk away with new goals and ideas, backed by the skills and resources to achieve them.

Management Break-Out Sessions
Networking the Next Generation of Leaders Around the World (Thur, June 17, 1-2:30pm)
Our modern landscape is based upon global economies and cross-cultural partnerships. It has become important for leadership to be linked to peers locally, nationally and, increasingly, internationally. This panel will discuss future communication frameworks, will describe how they would expand their current networks to create a global network of Emerging Arts Leaders, and will highlight the importance and value of connectivity.
Panelists: Sherwood Chen (Moderator), Associate Director and Apprenticeship Program Manager, Alliance for California Traditional Arts; Ella Cooper, Founding Director, Emerging Arts Professional Network; Angela Han, Director of Research, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies; Natacha Melo, South American Dance Network; Hakeem Onibudo, Artistic Director Impact Dance.

Thriving Outside America’s Cultural Hotspots (Thur, June 17, 3-4:30pm)
This panel offers insights to the success and challenges of thriving outside of dance’s best-know centers. Hear first-hand how these pioneers of dance ‘decentralization’ have achieved great success away from the recognized hubs of New York and San Francisco.
Panelists: Lois Welk (Moderator), Director, Dance/USA Philadelphia; Ruby Lockhart, Executive Director, Garth Fagan Dance; John Malashock, Artistic Director, Malashock Dance; Jon Michael Schert, Executive Director, Trey McIntyre Project; James Sewell, Artistic Director, James Sewell Ballet.

Performing Arts Infrastructure (Fri, June 18, 2-3:15pm)
Featuring the brightest minds in arts and technology, this panel will discuss arts infrastructural systems in the performing arts, including open-source software, cluster management, information "meshes" and practices for financial sustainability.
Participants: Sydney Skybetter (Moderator), Artistic Director, skybetter and associates; Tim Cynova, Deputy Director, Fractured Atlas; Anna Drozdowski, Instigator, Ladybird; Ian Garrett, Executive Director, The Center for Sustainable Practice in the Arts.

The Current Funding Climate (Fri, June 18, 3:45-5pm)
The weakening of our economy has clearly impacted the bottom line for so many artists and arts organizations…Learn the current trends of foundation givers, and hear about some highly successful campaigns.
Panelists: Eleanor Savage, Program Officer, Jerome Foundation; Rohit Burman, Director, Culture & Public Broadcasting, MetLife Foundation; Cheryl K. Ikemiya, Senior Program Officer for the Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; David R White, Director, ARTVENTURES NH.

Business Ventures - Changing the Landscape (Sat, June 19, 9-10:30am)
Globally, countries have studied and emulated the U.S. nonprofit organizational model for years. After more than half a century of active use, we as a field are asking whether this is a sustainable model for the future. With recent changes in the economy, company mergers, profit-based earned income schemes, nonprofits doing business as for-profits and subsidiary models have developed, changing the landscape right before our eyes. We'll openly discuss the challenges, realities and solutions for the arts field.
Participants: Michelle N. Burkhart (Moderator), Director, Dance/NYC and Founder, CEO Spectrum Equality Arts, Inc.; Melia Tourangeau, President & CEO, Utah Symphony/Utah Opera; Robert Elmes, Founder/Executive Director, Galapagos Art Space.

In addition to management, other break-out sessions will focus on artistry, audience engagement, and international exchange. You can mix and match sessions from the four tracks to make this your Conference.

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Dance/NYC Launches New Website & Other Exciting News
Dance/USA's branch office Dance/NYC has re-launched www.dancenyc.org with brand new features and design.

Some new features of the website include:
  • The dance map, identifying dance artists, companies, studios, and venues in all five NYC boroughs.
  • Updated or new resources under Articles & Templates.
  • The Reviews & Counter Critique section, a platform for interactive dialogue about dance reviews.
  • The 24-hour dance news feed.
Dance/NYC’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), a group of emerging leaders in dance between the ages of 19 and 30, were recently featured in an article by Michael Kaiser in The Huffington Post. For more on YAC, visit their online blog.

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Advocacy Update
IRS Resources, Health Care Reform
The IRS has created a website dedicated to the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit included in the health care reform legislation. Visit the site for frequent updates, a FAQ sheet, and scenarios of how the tax credit applies to different employers. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220809,00.html?portlet=6

IRS Resources, Jobs Legislation
The IRS has created another website dedicated to the HIRE Act enacted on March 18, 2010. The HIRE Act established two new tax benefits to encourage small business, including nonprofit organizations, to hire and retain new workers. Visit the site for frequent updates, the latest forms, and an overview of the tax benefits. http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220745,00.html

Dance Advocacy on the Hill, June 17, Washington DC
As part of the Dance/USA Annual Conference in Washington DC, conference attendees can choose to participate in Dance Advocacy on the Hill. The session will bring dance advocates to Capitol Hill to discuss public policies that support dance in America. Dance/USA staff will schedule the meetings, prepare talking points and materials, and accompany you on the visits. To participate in Dance Advocacy on the Hill, you must register for the Conference by April 15. https://www.danceusa.org/EventDetails?EventID=28

Arts Advocacy Day 2010
Arts Advocacy Day, which took place on April 12 and 13 in Washington DC, brought over 500 arts advocates to Capitol Hill to speak in support of the arts in America. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received the Congressional Arts Leadership Award in recognition of her long-standing support of the arts and actors Kyle MacLachlan and Jeff Daniels testified before Congress. Several Dance/USA members traveled to Washington to participate in the event, which included conducting numerous Hill meetings and attending the Nancy Hanks Lecture at the Kennedy Center. Dance/USA is a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day.

NEA Chairman Testifies Before Congress
NEA Chair Rocco Landesman testified before Congress on Tuesday, April 13, giving details on his new initiative, Our Town. The Our Town initiative is set to invest $5 million in 35 communities for projects that put the arts at the center of creating “sustainable, livable communities.” http://www.arts.gov/news/news10/testimony-advisory.html

Dance/USA’s Advocacy website is continually updated with legislative news and resources. Visit our site often to learn about federal advocacy news affecting dance organizations in America. https://www.danceusa.org/newsactionalerts

Questions about the Advocacy Update? Email Dance/USA Government Affairs Director, Amy Fitterer, at afitterer@danceusa.org.

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