Author: Marchese, Pat

Publication Year: 1979

Media Type: Report

Summary:

Prepared for the Allied Arts Council. As a result of local interest in a supportive relationship between business and the arts, the Allied Arts Council requested funding assistance from the Nevada State Council on the Arts to conduct this research project. Specifically this report deals with the role of the corporate community in supporting and planning for the arts at the local level.

Abstract:

Prepared for the Allied Arts Council. As a result of local interest in a supportive relationship between business and the arts, the Allied Arts Council requested funding assistance from the Nevada State Council on the Arts to conduct this research project. Specifically this report deals with the role of the corporate community in supporting and planning for the arts at the local level. Prior to undertaking this project, the Allied Arts Council met with local business and arts leaders to explore ideas about corporate support for the Arts in the Las Vegas community. As a result of these meetings, the council was encouraged to undertake this research and to explore the concepts of a united arts fundraising campaign and affiliation with the local chapter of United Way. In addition, it was anticipated that research in the area of corporate giving might also address the concepts of community foundations and local endowments for the arts. Following approval of this project, research was divided into three main phases for research, surveying and analysis.

Survey results indicate that the arts in Las Vegas have experienced an impressive period of growth during the past four years. There has been an increase in both the number of active arts agencies and in the size of agency budgets. As a group, responding arts agencies reported a combined budget in excess of one million dollars in the fourth or current year with more growth projected in the upcoming year. Survey results also indicate that the corporate community has demonstrated a growing interest in the arts during the past four years. We found that 59% of the business respondents have supported the arts within that period and that an additional 12% would be willing to consider future support. Both corporate contributions amounts and numbers of contributors to the arts have increased over the four year period. Corporate support is becoming increasingly important to local arts agencies. In addition to financial support, local business has also contributed in-kind support in the form of loaned space, equipment, personnel and services. Research further indicates that corporate involvement in the arts is largely the result of individual guidance and commitment at the executive level.

The most important factor local corporations consider in supporting the arts is community interest and need. Priority is given to requests from arts agencies which are local, non-profit and tax-exempt. The hotel/gaming and retail industries are the most actively involved in support of the arts. Performing and media arts are the most frequent recipients of corporate support. On closer examination, research indicates that local corporate contributions are concentrated among a few contributors. The number of single corporate gifts reported by arts agencies ranges from one to twenty-two during the four year period. While some corporations are multiple contributors, an average of nine single corporate contributions was reported by participating arts agencies over the four years surveyed.

The distribution of local corporate contributions is also concentrated among a few arts agencies. While 38% of the responding arts agencies have been successful in obtaining some degree of corporate support during the past four years, 13% of these agencies received 93% of the corporate arts dollar in the fourth or current year. Not surprisingly, arts agencies with full or part time fundraising staff are also the most successful in obtaining corporate interest and support.

As a result of the interest in a united approach, the concepts of a united arts fundraising campaign and possible affiliation with United Way were researched in-depth and materials on community foundations and local arts endowments were gathered for future use. Research in these four areas indicated that United Way support for the arts is a future prospect which will depend on funding and policy decisions which the United Way board plans to address within the next year. The concepts of a foundation or endowment for the arts were determined to be long-range options which could logically supplement other united arts efforts. A united arts fundraising campaign was identified as the most immediate plan of action researched.

CONTENTS
Introduction.
Project summary.

Detailed support information:

Section 1. Project background.

Section 2. Survey results:
                A. Survey methodology.
                B. Survey response rates.
                C. Survey analysis.

Section 3. Research results:
                A. Community foundations and local endowments.
                B. United Way affiliation.
                C. United arts fundraising.

Section 4. Conclusions and recommendations.

Section 5. Appendix:
                A. Corporate survey questionnaire.
                B. Corporate questionnaire attachments.
                C. Corporate survey highlights.
                D. Corporate response tabulations.
                E. Arts agency survey questionnaire.
                F. Arts agency questionnaire attachments.
                G. Arts agency survey highlights.
                H. Arts agency response tabulations.

Section 6. Acknowledgements.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Private Sector