Arts & Education Council Of Greater St Louis

TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION THROUGH GRANTS, FULL SERVICE COLLABORATIVE OFFICE FACILITY, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS.

ALLOCATIONS AND GRANTSOPERATING GRANTS PROVIDE UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT TO ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS THE COUNCIL'S GOAL TO DRIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT BY PROMOTING THE ELEMENTS OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. OPERATING SUPPORT IS CATEGORIZED INTO THREE LEVELS BASED ON THE BUDGET SIZE OF AN ORGANIZATION.

SEE SCHEDULE O.INCLUDES INDIRECT EXPENDITURES WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THE ARTS AND PROVIDE ARTS-RELATED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. THESE INCLUDE THE COUNCIL'S QUARTERLY PRODUCED HAPPENINGS NEWSLETTER, WITH A CIRCULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 4,000. HAPPENINGS IS SENT BY MAIL AND ELECTRONICALLY TO THE COUNCIL'S MEMBERS AND IS ALSO ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. THE COUNCIL ALSO SENDS A WEEKLY E-BLAST TO APPROXIMATELY 13,000 SUBSCRIBERS WHICH PROMOTES UPCOMING GRANTEE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AS WELL AS FREE ARTS ACTIVITIES HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE REGION. ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE A BLOG THAT IS DISTRIBUTED WIDELY, IN ADDITION TO VARIOUS OTHER PUBLICATIONS. THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE PROMOTES THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS ITS GRANTEES AND THEIR PROGRAMS. THE SITE INCLUDES A CALENDAR FUNCTION WHICH ALLOWS USERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COUNCIL'S ARTS CARD DISCOUNTED EVENTS. THIS ENHANCES THE PRESENCE OF GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE WEBSITE IS COMPLETE WITH INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS SUCH AS IMAGES, VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SITE INCLUDES AN ONLINE-GIVING PORTAL THAT ALLOWS DONORS TO MAKE GIFTS SECURELY AND SEAMLESSLY TO THE COUNCIL. THE SITE ALSO INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES, LECTURES, AND ACTIVITIES THROUGH ARTS MARKETERS AND TWO COHORTS OF LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLES (BOTH ARE PROGRAMS MANAGED AND CONDUCTED BY THE COUNCIL). ARTS MARKETERS, CREATED IN 2011, PROVIDES ADDED PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR ARTS MARKETING PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT THE COUNCIL'S GRANT RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS OTHER REGIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT ST. LOUIS. THE COUNCIL ANNUALLY PRODUCES THE ST. LOUIS ARTS AWARDS, THE AREA'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED AND PREEMINENT EVENT HONORING INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO ACHIEVE A LEGACY OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND ENRICH ST. LOUIS' ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY. SINCE 1992, THE ARTS AWARDS HAVE HONORED MORE THAN 190 INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE ANNUAL EVENT CELEBRATES AND CONNECTS OUR ARTS COMMUNITY, FURTHER STRENGTHENING AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION. THE ANNUAL EVENT TYPICALLY TAKES PLACE EACH JANUARY, BUT WAS HELD OUTDOORS IN MAY 2021 DUE TO COVID-19.THE STARTUP CREATIVE COMPETITION, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND PNC FOUNDATION, ENCOURAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT IDEAS WITH ART AT THEIR CORE THAT STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE ST. LOUIS ARTS COMMUNITY. THIS COMPETITION SEEKS TO IDENTIFY AND FOSTER ROBUST, INNOVATIVE, FRESH APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING CHALLENGES OR NEEDS IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION THROUGH THE ARTS. BENEFITS FOR COMPETITION WINNERS INCLUDE FREE OFFICE, PERFORMANCE, REHEARSAL, AND MEETING SPACE FOR ONE YEAR IN THE CENTER AND CASH SUPPORT. ALL WINNERS HAVE AN OFFICIAL ADDRESS AT THE CENTER, NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORING, FINANCIAL COACHING, AND IDEA SHARING AS PART OF THE GRAND CENTER ARTS DISTRICT.

THE COUNCIL PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY ADMINISTRATIVE, REHEARSAL, COLLABORATIVE EVENT AND EXHIBITION SPACES FOR NEARLY 20 RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CENTENE CENTER FOR THE ARTS (THE CENTER), A UNIQUE ARTS INCUBATOR LOCATED IN THE GRAND CENTER ARTS DISTRICT. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NETWORK, TELEPHONE AND INTERNET SERVICES, AND VARIOUS OTHER OCCUPANCY-RELATED COSTS TO THE TENANTS OF THE CENTER AT A RATE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE ACTUAL COSTS INCURRED FOR SUCH ITEMS AND SERVICES BY THE COUNCIL.

THE ARTS AND HEALING INITIATIVE, A NEW PROGRAM IN 2020, AIMED AT INCREASING THE CAPACITY TO HEAL THROUGH THE ARTS. THE FIVE-YEAR INITIATIVE SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ST. LOUIS CITY AND COUNTY IN ITS FIRST YEAR, AND IN YEAR TWO, THAT IMPACT WAS EXPANDED INTO RURAL MISSOURI COUNTIES.THE MARITZ ARTS AND EDUCATION FUND FOR TEACHERS, UNDERWRITTEN BY BOEING EMPLOYEE COMMUNITY FUND AND THE ARTHUR AND HELEN BAER FOUNDATION, IS A UNIQUE COUNCIL PARTNERSHIP THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL FUNDS TO ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE ST. LOUIS BI-STATE REGION. THE COUNCIL OFFERS THIS UNIQUE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO SUPPORT PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM. THIS FUNDING PROGRAM ENABLES TEACHERS TO APPLY DIRECTLY FOR A GRANT TO USE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE GOAL IS TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM-BASED PROJECTS AND ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THE BAYER FUND RURAL COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE THAT STRENGTHENS RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ARTS. FUNDING FROM THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ARTISTS, ENTERTAINERS, AND PERFORMANCE VENUES TO ENSURE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES LIVING IN COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA HAVE ACCESS TO THE ARTS, ENSURING THE ARTS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. PNC PROGRAM GRANTS, UNDERWRITTEN BY THE PNC FOUNDATION, PROVIDE MERIT-BASED GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ST. LOUIS BI-STATE REGION THAT PROVIDE ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS.THE KATHERINE DUNHAM FELLOWSHIP, NAMED IN HONOR OF THE DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER AND ACTIVIST, WAS CREATED AND FUNDED BY SARA AND JACK BURKE TO GIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE AND BE MENTORED IN THE FIELD OF ARTS ADMINISTRATION. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES IMMERSION IN DEVELOPMENT, GRANTS AND PROGRAMS, OPERATIONS AND FISCAL AND BOARD MANAGEMENT, ALL CRITICAL SKILLS NEEDED TO MANAGE AN ARTS ORGANIZATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY.CATALYST CONVERSATIONS IS A SERIES OF CASUAL DISCUSSIONS - SOME PLAYFUL, SOME SERIOUS, BUT ALL ENGAGING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING. EACH CONVERSATION FEATURES PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THEIR TALENTS AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES TO INSPIRE, CONNECT AND SHAPE NEW PERSPECTIVES. CATALYST CONVERSATIONS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLES IS A PROFESSIONALLY LED PROGRAM TARGETED TO LEADERS OF ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE GOAL IS TO SUPPORT LEADERS WITH PEER EXCHANGES AND RESOURCE SHARING THROUGH PEER LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL FACILITATION.IN 2017, THE COUNCIL OPENED THE CATALYST INNOVATION LAB, A UNIQUE FIRST FLOOR SPACE THAT INVITES COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY GATHERING. THE SPACE WAS RENOVATED THROUGH A CORPORATE GIFT AND HOSTS CONVENING AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS ARTS MARKETERS.