ONLINE CULTURAL GIFT DIRECTORY

The Online Cultural Gift Directory, the Alliance's free service to the field which promotes giving opportunities offered by New York City cultural organizations, is again available on the Alliance's Web site. The directory was originally launched in December 2001 in response to September 11. It continues today as a way of encouraging the public to join, subscribe, volunteer or contribute to cultural organizations. To view the directory, click here.

CONGRESS FINALIZES ARTS FUNDING FOR 2005

On November 20, Congress passed a $388 billion "omnibus" spending bill. In addition to the funding of the major federal cultural agencies (for a breakdown of this funding, see below), several major New York City cultural institutions--the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New York Botanical Garden, the New York Hall of Science, Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall--received individual appropriations amounting to $3.5 million.

Federal Funding for Cultural Agencies
National Endowment for the Arts:
FY 2004: $120.97 million
FY 2005: $121.27 million

National Endowment for the Humanities:
FY 2004: $135.30 million
FY 2005: $138.06 million

Arts in Education programs through the U.S. Department of Education:
FY 2004: $35.1 million
FY 2005: $35.6 million

Office of Museum Services:
FY 2004: $31.4 million
FY 2005: $34.8 million

ALLIANCE ONLINE GALLERY OF OLYMPIC AND SPORTS ART

The Alliance for the Arts has published an informational brochure about its online gallery of Olympic and sports art in New York City collections. The brochure coincides with NYC2012's submission to the International Olympic Committee of the final Candidature File for the proposed 2012 Olympic Games in New York City. To view the Alliance's online gallery, click here.

New York is one of five Candidate Cities competing for the 2012 Games. The other cities, London, Paris, Madrid and Moscow also submitted their final documents on November 15. The cultural portion of the Olympic bid book highlights New York City's unparalleled diversity of cultural offerings as well as the support for the Olympic Games from prominent New York cultural figures and institutions. For more information, click here.

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TO EXPAND SERVICES

The New York Public Library has announced that it will restore hours and services cut after September 11. The library is also now preparing to restructure itself to coordinate the neighborhood branches more closely with the library's central operations. In addition to a new six-day schedule at the landmark Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street location, the library will extend hours of operation at many of its 85 neighborhood branches in Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx, beginning next month. The changes do not affect libraries in Queens and Brooklyn, which operate independently. For more information, click here.

NEA ANNOUNCES MEDAL OF ARTS RECIPIENTS

The Medal of Arts, established by Congress in 1984, is awarded by the President to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the creation, growth and support of the arts in the United States. Each year, the National Endowment for the Arts seeks nominations from individuals and organizations across the country. The National Council on the Arts, the Endowment's advisory body, reviews the nominations and provides recommendations to the President, who selects the recipients. This year's recipients are:

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, philanthropic foundation, New York, NY
Ray Bradbury, author, Los Angeles, CA
Carlisle Floyd, opera composer, Houston, TX
Frederick Hart, sculptor, (deceased)
Anthony Hecht, poet, (deceased)
John Ruthven, wildlife artist, Georgetown, OH
Vincent Scully, architectural historian and educator, New Haven, CT
Twyla Tharp, choreographer, artistic director, dancer, New York, NY

ARTS & BUSINESS COUNCIL CULTURAL TOURISM GRANTS

The Cultural Tourism Initiative Grant Program seeks to provide a link between the cultural community and the state and regional tourism efforts in order to expand and enhance the use of tourism in the creation, presentation and promotion of the arts and cultural heritage in New York State. Annually, funding is awarded to partnership-based projects designed to attract new visitors, stimulate local economies, generate new jobs and recognition of the value of the arts and cultural heritage of local communities.

This grant program provides up to $25,000 per project based on a one-to-one cash match. Eligible applicants must meet the criteria outlined in the guidelines.

Application Deadline: January 24, 2005

For more information on the CTI grant program and to sign up for the informational workshops dealing with CTI grant applications, click here.

MILESTONES

Wave Hill opened its new Perkins Visitor Center designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Pentagram. The project transformed and extended a turn-of-the-20th-century garage and comprises a staffed orientation area, a new Wave Hill Shop, ADA-compliant amenities and an expanded horticultural workspace. For more information click here.

Dance Theatre of Harlem reopens. After a brief emergency closure due to budgetary reasons, on December 4 Dance Theatre of Harlem will reopen its school. The dance troupe will begin operations again some time next year. DTH has received $1.6 million in government and private funding to facilitate this reopening.

MoMA changes closed day to Tuesday. With the intention of attracting the Wednesday theater matinee audience, the Museum of Modern Art has changed its closed day from Wednesday to Tuesday. For more information, click here.

PEOPLE

Oskar Eustis will be the new artistic director of the Public Theater effective spring 2005, replacing George C. Wolfe. Mr. Eustis was formerly artistic director of the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI.

Vallejo Gantner is the new artistic director of P.S. 122. Mr. Gantner was previously the director of the Dublin Fringe Festival.

This column is an ongoing feature of the Alliance for the Arts Newsletter. Please submit suggestions to advocacynews@allianceforarts.org

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