Dear B-Girl Be Supporters and Community,
Rumors are a flying, and, as you may have heard today, over the past several weeks, Intermedia Arts, home to B-Girl Be, has experienced sharp reductions and significant delays in funding. As a mid-sized
arts organization, we rely on foundations and funders for our general operating support—foundations and funders who have lost enormous amounts of their assets in our current economic crisis.
Intermedia Arts is in crisis. More importantly, small and mid-sized arts organizations all around us are in crisis. But here's the thing— crisis does not equal failure, and crisis does not mean collapse. It is our response to this crisis that will determine our future.
This a call to action. For over 35 years, Intermedia Arts has served as a resource for our community. The work that we do supports hundreds of artists, arts participants and arts organizations each
year. Intermedia Arts is a vital part of our culture and our community: we cannot—we must not—allow this work to disappear.
So, What Are We Going to Do About It?
We are going to act, and we need you to act with us. Intermedia Arts can survive this economy. We can even come out on the other side stronger and more sustainable than ever before. But in order to do
that, we have to make huge changes in the way we operate, and we haveto make them immediately:
•In January 2009, Intermedia Arts will be moving our five full-time staff members to contract or hourly positions. The work that we do as an organization will be done by our Executive/Artistic Director,
Theresa Sweetland; our board of directors; current staff members working as independent contractors, and community volunteers.
•As of January 9th, we will open only for scheduled events, mostly in the evenings. We will be closing our gallery and eliminating our gallery and poetry library hours but will be expanding our rental
programming in our theater, gallery and classrooms. Our building is a valuable asset to the arts community, and we encourage you to look to us for your upcoming rental needs.
•We are currently working with other local arts groups and organizations to discuss ideas for sharing resources and sustaining our programs. We will also discuss the ways in which our building
could be most valuable to the arts community as Intermedia Arts re-structures our operations and rebuilds our capacity.
•Intermedia Arts has organized a meeting of small and mid-sized arts groups—SOTA: State of the Arts. None of us can do this alone.
I know. It’s huge. It’s fast. It’s dramatic. But we—our staff, our board, our artists, partners, and funders—all of us, are absolutely committed to ensuring the future of Intermedia Arts. I know you are too.
Calling On Our Community (This Part is About You)
We can’t do this without you. Really and truly, whether Intermedia Arts closes its doors or not depends on you. This is what I'm asking you to do:
1. RSVP now. I need you here at Intermedia Arts’ Community Townhall: Rally the People! at 5:30PM on Friday, December 19th. I am asking you to make it a priority to be here, in person. You are our
community; we need you to rally with us as we design our future together.
2. Make a donation. Supporting Intermedia Arts is critical right now, and every dollar counts. We need your support to help us with our general operating expenses as we implement our plan for long-term sustainability. This isn’t about keeping Intermedia Arts open for another month; this is about keeping Intermedia Arts in our community for the long-term. Right now, that future depends on you. Don't
wait: make your donation today.
3: Email us. We need to hear your thoughts, your ideas, your commitment of support, your encouragement, your suggestions and feelings. Send us your questions, tell us what you think, and look to our website for updates, responses, community FAQs, and news each and every step of the way. Email: Community@intermediaarts.org.
* * * * * * * * *
Seriously. You are our community. You are the reason we exist. In
everything we do, we work from the community up. We promise
transparency, honesty and integrity in every step of this process.
You are our artists, our audiences, our members, our friends, our
fans, our volunteers, our supporters, our program participants. You
love B-Girl Be; you love the way we look at the world and ask how we
can make it better.
With your support, we will meet this challenge and lead our community
forward. Now is time for each and every one of us to draw on our
passion and our conviction, and play our part. Because Intermedia
Arts matters. Because your voice matters. Because Intermedia Arts is
YOU.
I know we can do this, and I know we can't do it without you. I will
see you this Friday.
+ + +
Please RSVP Now—Show Your Support by Showing Up.
Intermedia Arts' Community Townhall: Rally the People!
5:30PM Friday, December 19, 2008
Free childcare available!
We are calling on all friends, fans, supporters, members, artists,
participants—anyone and everyone who cares about the future of
Intermedia Arts. This a call to action. Please make it a priority to
be here, in person, for this Community Townhall. You will hear from
artists, community leaders, Intermedia Arts’ staff and board. You
will have a chance to ask questions and offer suggestions. You will
find out what you can do to keep Intermedia Arts alive.
Intermedia Arts is in crisis. More importantly, small and mid-sized
arts organizations all around us are in crisis. But crisis does not
equal failure, and crisis does not mean collapse. It is our response
to this crisis that will determine our future. You are our community;
we need you to rally with us as we design our future together.
For over 35 years, Intermedia Arts has served as a resource for our
community. The work that we do supports hundreds of artists, arts
participants and arts organizations each year. Intermedia Arts is a
vital part of our culture and our community: we cannot—we must not—
allow this work to disappear.
Full details, updates, responses, community FAQs, and news each and
every step of the way: www.intermediaarts.org
