Collaborative Initiative Strengthens Arts Sector

Pictured, from left: Sherri Geldin, Wexner Center for the Arts; Milton D. Baughman, Greater Columbus Arts Council; Nannette V. Maciejunes, Columbus Museum of Art; Stev Guyer, Shadowbox Live; Janet C. Chen, ProMusica; T.J. Gerckens, CATCO/Phoenix Inc.; Sheryle L. Powell, King Arts Complex; Robert Breithaupt, Jazz Arts Group of Columbus; Bruce A. Harkey, Franklin Park Conservatory; Press C. Southworth III, Opera Columbus; Susanne Jaffe, Thurber House, Inc.; David Chesebrough, Ed.D., COSI; William Goldsmith, Columbus Children’s Theatre; Cheri Mitchell, BalletMet; William B. Conner, Jr., CAPA and Columbus Symphony Orchestra; Suzan Bradford, Lincoln Theatre Association.

The arts community is an integral part of a vibrant, open city. As a whole, arts organizations in Columbus have faced dramatic changes as a result of the recent economy, and many have been significantly affected by a decline in individual and corporate funding, as well as county and city dollars.

In late 2009, The Columbus Foundation announced a campaign geared towards strengthening the arts sector and preparing arts organizations for the future. The Arts Challenge was developed to provide critical support to the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) and 15 leading arts organizations that comprised the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium (CCLC).

Through this unique public-private sector collaboration, Foundation donors and members of the community were able to leverage their contributions thanks to two matching opportunities:

• The Foundation offered a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $300,000 (leveraging more than $600,000).

• Through a special opportunity from the City of Columbus and Franklin County, the $600,000 contributed from the Foundation, donors, and the public was matched dollar-for-dollar, giving those who participated a three-to-one leverage on their contributions.

In total, more than $1.3 million was allocated to help the struggling organizations. The Initiative featured an eight-point progress plan that each of the organizations had to complete prior to receiving funds. Created in collaboration with CCLC, the plan included mandates on collaboration, efficiency through shared services, three-year budget projections, consideration of an enhanced funding model, and strengthening the leadership of GCAC. Each of the organizations successfully completed the requirements, and funding from the Arts Challenge Fund was distributed in 2010.