Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Press Release from Boeing A&E Collaborative Grant

The Boeing Company and the Arts and Education Council Announce
$50,000 in Grants to St. Louis Arts and Education Programs

St. Louis, MO - The Boeing Company, in collaboration with the Arts and Education Council, announced today that it has awarded $50,000 in grants ranging from $5-10,000 each to seven arts and arts education programs in the St. Louis bi-state area. The Boeing Company and the Arts and Education Council partnered to offer this unique funding opportunity to organizations that create and promote a more sustainable arts and cultural environment that engage people to become lifelong arts participants, patrons and practitioners. Special consideration was given to those programs which included a component aimed at developing future leaders skilled in the successful creation and operation of viable arts organizations.

“Partnering with The Boeing Company on a project emphasizing the longevity and sustainability of local arts organizations speaks to the value that business leaders place on having a vibrant arts community. We’re thrilled with this year’s projects and look forward to the long-term benefits these grants will have on these organizations,” said Cynthia A. Prost, President of the Arts and Education Council.

The following programs were chosen to receive a Boeing Collaborative Grant:

  • Cinema St. LouisFellowship
The fellow, a recent graduate potentially interested in film or arts-nonprofit careers will receive a thorough grounding in all aspects of the St. Louis International Film Festival, participating in the full range of related activities: marketing, venue setup and supervision, print shipping, guest hosting, student screenings, program introductions, website updating, social networking and tech assistance.  The fellow will also participate in overall operations immediately following the festival.

  • Grand CenterNon-Profit Arts Practicum <----THIS IS ME!
This program will be a practicum by educational standards, wholly immersing college students or recent graduates in the day-to-day operations of the fast-paced, multi-faceted organization and encouraging them to collaborate with full-time staff and to feel free to share opinions, ideas and strategies.

  • Jazz St. LouisInternship
This year long program will allow an individual to work up to twenty hours a week and apprentice under the direction of seasoned staff members to fully engage in and learn the business of arts management while advancing the uniquely American art of jazz via the nonprofit model.

  • Opera Theatre of Saint LouisAdministrative Internship Program
This internship program provides important training, job experience and the guidance of Opera Theatre’s professional staff and the artists who stage each spring festival season. Each opera season, the company hires six college students or recent graduates to work for one specific department in the company, including artistic administration, education, development, finance, marketing and patron services.

  • Stages St. LouisSpotlight on Careers
This apprenticeship program provides learning opportunities for qualified college students, recent college graduates, and young professionals actively pursuing careers in professional theater who are interested in acquiring a broad understanding of theater leadership, management, company organization, and administration.

  • St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts – No Artist Left Behind
This initiative will make sure that no student majoring in an arts discipline at a St. Louis area university or college will graduate without exposure to basic legal and business matters. This project will provide guest speakers, free easy-to-understand guides and affordable professional development for faculty members.

  • The Black Rep – Teen Techs
This program provides middle and high school students, as young as 14, the opportunity to gain experience in the technical careers of the theatre by actually working on main stage productions through apprentice-type relationships with the lighting, costume, and sound designers in the mounting of productions.

Arts and Education Council Since 1963, the Arts and Education Council has raised nearly $100 million in private funding for the arts – an important task that directly affects the quality of life of our region.  With those funds, the Council annually assists approximately 70 non-profit arts and arts education organizations.  Additionally, the Council provides office space, state-of-the-art technology, rehearsal and performance space for 16 arts nonprofit organizations in the Centene Center for Arts and Education, a unique arts incubator located in Grand Center.  Visit http://www.keeparthappening.org/ or call 314.289.4000 for more information.

The Boeing Company – The world's leading aerospace company, Boeing is the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales. Visit http://www.boeing.com/ for more information.

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Monday, November 8, 2010

This almost feels like a promotion....

I got more hours!!  It's great since I feel like I can get more done in a work week and take on more projects.

Project Updates:

1. Still pushing ticket sales for CMSSL's Benefit Dinner.  Slowly we're getting there.
2. Still working on copy for our annual appeal brochure...Jay hasn't gotten a chance to look at my first draft yet and is out today, so I keep re-writing it.
3. First Night is fast approaching.  Artopia is scheduling artists and I'll be working on button sales and added value folks.  Our weekly meeting is this afternoon.

Kind of a slow Monday so far. Hopefully that will change.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

To Quote My Favorite Musical...

Wicked.
"I couldn't be happier right here." My cheese-factor just flew through the roof, but we just got a letter from Boeing/A&E...

AND WE GOT $7,500 FOR THE PRACTICUM PROGRAM!!

2/3 for getting money for my grant apps! (Gannett Foundation was my fail.)  But who wants to think about that right now? Not meee!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

In One Month...

Wow. I cannot express how busy the last month has been as Grand Center, Inc.  I apologize for my blogging falling by the wayside...

There has been much progress with the Chamber Music Society's gala mailing (as in it should be out in the mail by day's end tomorrow).  Their stationary looks fantastic and I can't wait to see what a great return they will get.

Dancing in the Street has taken place and was a smashing success for Grand Center, Inc. and a huge hit with the community.  1. 12,000-15,000 people attended  2. The performances by Regional and National dance troupes were amazing.  3. I succeeded at artist hospitality  4. I desperately hope to volunteer next year.

I submitted the Boeing/A&E grant I was assigned for the continuation and expansion of the Grand Center Arts Practicum.  Fingers crossed!  I should hear back by mid-October!

The Grand Center Gala is this coming Friday at the Sheldon.  I'll be attending and working registration and representing the wonderful institution that Grand Center is.

I thoroughly have enjoyed the past month and love being a part of Grand Center.

As time marches on and my practicum draws to a close, I'll keep you posted on how my job search progresses.  I have no doubt that Grand Center has prepared me to move up and out into the non-profit world....hopefully still in the arts.

Friday, August 27, 2010

SUCCESS!

HEARD BACK FROM BANK OF AMERICA!

$5,000  towards SCAPE's third public sculpture!!!

BOO-YEA!  Great way to go into the weekend :)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Dancing in the Street

Whoo...been busy here in preparation for Grand Center, Inc.'s next big festival, Dancing in the Street.  I've been in contact with many of the Company Directors gathering information for the program.  Technological difficulties reign with people not understanding "attachments."  I feel pretty well caught up now, and I've also been putting together CMSSL's Solicitation List.  That has been the most time consuming since the list we created is a combo of their list, our lists, etc.  I really hope we get it to them soon, as even I am getting nervous about their timeline being met.

Also, last weekend was our SLU Welcome Week-Grand Center Concert brought about 2,000 students and got us over 200 names and email addresses of students interested in receiving cool info about the goings-on of Grand Center. Looked

My newest grant assignment is to write a proposal to Boeing/AEC for the continuation/renewal of the grant that has allowed me this opportunity at Grand Center, Inc.

Getting truly upset that I'll have to leave eventually.
Anyone out there hiring young professionals with development and event planning experience?

Friday, August 13, 2010

Young Friends (and Older Friends)

Yesterday, I went to the Grand Center, Inc. Gala Kickoff Event at Kota.  I was pretty much there to facilitate the check-in/name tag process.  It was a really nice event, and Ken Kranzburg gave a really nice "motivational" speech to the crowd of host-committee guests. In attendance were Danny Ludeman-CEO of Wells Fargo, Mayor Slay, CEO of Brown Shoe Co, and many more of St. Louis' finest philanthropists.  Mr. Kranzburg made a really great point when he argued that St. Louis is lucky enough to be one of the most diverse cities, and as far as attractions go, can grow to be on par with Chicago, Boston, and NYC.  He also said that Grand Center could be like Times Square...not so sure of that one...but a noteworthy dream to say the least.

Afterwards/During, the Young Friends of Grand Center hosted their very first event!  We enjoyed happy hour at Kota among other young professionals.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the mini-raffle we had of Dirty Dancing items was a great success.  In total, I would say there were around 30 people in attendance.  Not too bad!

Also, this week the St. Louis Beacon published a really great article about the wonders of Grand Center highlighting our developmental progress, new institutions, etc.  It's a great read so check it out!