Oktubre 4, 2021<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Minamahal na komunidad ng WESTAF:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is always a very busy time of the year. The last few weeks seem to have especially borne that out, so I am ecstatic to be coming to you from the early October of our newly minted fiscal year \u2014 FY22! Wow. <\/span>Huge<\/span> thanks to all of the WESTAFers who have been building budgets, plans, goals and OKRs on top of all of the regular work. First off, I wanted to extend hearty congratulations to our colleagues Kelly Ernst, promoted to CVSuite manager, and to Trevor McElhaney, who has the new title of senior data analyst. Way to go, team! As you read on, you\u2019ll learn about trustees and staff who have masked up and hit the road to represent WESTAF across the West these past few weeks. As we turn our attention to the October annual board meeting, we\u2019re working hard to develop staff and trustee experiences in both the in-person and virtual worlds, so that you can attend productively and with peace of mind, wherever you are. We\u2019re looking forward to sharing more agenda details with you soon! Until then, here\u2019s the latest from WESTAF World:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n WESTAF NA KINAKATAWAN SA COLORADO CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CREATIVE DISTRICTS CERTIFICATION REVIEW PANEL (DH)<\/b> \u00a0<\/span> <\/p>\n CAFE (RV)<\/b>
\nEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING (CG)<\/b>
\nFrom September 22-23, the executive committee of the WESTAF board of trustees met for <\/span>their first in-person meeting<\/span><\/a> since September of 2019 in Sacramento, CA. The committee attended to several matters relating to the conclusion of the fiscal year, including a motion to bring the FY22 operating budget forward to the full board for a vote at the October annual meeting. In addition, the full agenda included a report from the development committee and the equity and inclusion committee. During day two of the meeting, the committee grouped their conversation into three primary areas: culture, goals and aspirations; investments, fundraising and grant making, and hazards, unknowns and existential threats. The conversation was rich and vibrant, and while we weren\u2019t able to get to everything in the agenda, the executive committee was able to carry out its oversight duties with diligence and gave Christian and Amy much to consider as the organization moves into FY22. Our evening dinner featured some fabulous Boise-based guests, including EIC committee member and former trustee Michael Faison, as well as ELC alumni Monique Michel, Leta Neustaeder and Dayo Ayodele. In addition to meetings, the committee was also treated with a visit to the remarkable <\/span>James Castle House<\/span><\/a>, home of the enigmatic 20th-century artist, as well as a visit to the <\/span>Global Lounge,<\/span><\/a> a multi-cultural arts, music and dance hub founded by Dayo, where we met with some amazing Boise-based arts leaders and performers. We were also lucky to be visiting Boise during <\/span>Treefort Music Festival<\/span><\/a>, a three-day showcase of emerging contemporary musical artists. Special thanks to treasurer Lange, who was able to provide wristbands for the event as a sponsor of the <\/span>Wyoming Music Showcase<\/span><\/a> (which was awesome). <\/span>Here are some pictures<\/span><\/a> from our time in Boise.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nRAO LEADERSHIP RETREAT (CG)<\/b>
\nFrom September 27 – 29, the executive directors, chairs, vice chairs and chair-elects of each of<\/span> the six regional arts organizations (RAOs)<\/span><\/a> met for<\/span> their first in-person retreat<\/span><\/a> since 2019 in Burlington, VT. In addition to Christian, WESTAF chair Alvarado and vice chair\/chair-elect Broughton were in attendance. Most attendees were there in-person, with four board members from other RAOs zooming into the meeting. The location was Fort Collins, CO \u2014 where we had been planning to hold our retreat, pre-pandemic. The facilitator was <\/span>Marc Vog<\/span><\/a>l, who guided the agenda very effectively and successfully. On Monday, the executive directors met in person to cover a variety of potential and in-flight projects. This was followed by an ice-breaking dinner for all the participants. All day Tuesday, we had a super-productive (but exhausting!) session, where together we landed on four core concepts that we agreed were a matter of priority and focus for the RAO collective \u2014 both in our individual and collaborative work \u2014 moving forward: serving BIPOC-focused\/serving organizations; serving individual artists; investing in regional and national advocacy efforts, and “modeling togetherness\u201d through our efforts to work co-creatively, to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing at all levels of our organizations and to focus on fair and positive work cultures. A variety of programs currently under consideration\/evaluation \u2014 involving partners like the NEA, the Wallace Foundation, or others \u2014 fit into some of these foci, with other initiatives still under review. The RAOs (including board members, and even those on zoom all day!) left the session feeling energized, holding even more mutual trust and collegiality, and gained a deeper understanding of their daily work together and apart.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nNASAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING RAO REPORT (CG)<\/b>
\nHiniling kay Christian na magbigay ng napapanahong ulat sa lupon ng mga direktor ng NASAA sa kanilang pagpupulong noong Setyembre 30 na nagha-highlight sa gawain ng mga RAO, at nag-aalok ng update sa ating gawain nang sama-sama. Nakatutuwang iulat sa NASAA na ang mga RAO sa pangkalahatan ay mas mapagkakatiwalaan, transparent, collegial at collaborative, at mas handang magtulungan at bumuo ng mga estratehikong partnership (malamang, hindi palaging nangyayari!) Sa katunayan, nakikita namin ito bilang isang kritikal na kinakailangan. Kapansin-pansin dito na ang mga priyoridad ng RAO at NASAA ay medyo malapit na nakahanay at in-synch habang papasok tayo sa bagong taon. Nakapag-ulat si Christian sa iba't ibang pakikipagtulungan ng RAO noong nakaraang taon (CARES, ARP, Mellon's Regional Arts Resilience Fund); hinawakan ang iba't ibang mga inisyatiba ng NEA-partnership (The Big Read ng Art Midwest, Mid-America's Arts Creative Forces, WESTAF's Performing Arts Discovery at iba pa), may kinalaman sa ilang pagpupulong (kabilang ang sarili nating Creative Vitality Summit). Ang board ay interesadong malaman ang pinakabagong tungkol sa makasaysayan at hindi pa nagagawang regalo mula kina Mackenzie Scott at Dan Jewett. Ipinapaalam namin sa kanila na ang mga RAO ay nakasentro sa aming mga halaga at pangako sa pagkakapantay-pantay, pagkakaiba-iba, pagsasama, at pag-access habang ang bawat isa sa atin ay nagpapasya kung paano pinakamahusay na gamitin ang hindi pa nagagawang regalo na ito upang magkaroon ng positibong epekto sa mga komunidad na aming pinaglilingkuran. Ang NASAA board ay tila pinahahalagahan ang pag-update.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDavid has been invited to serve as a panelist for the <\/span>Colorado Creative Districts program<\/span><\/a>. Six communities from across the state are reapplying for certification: Breckenridge Arts District, Carbondale Creative District, Crested Butte Creative District, Fort Collins Creative District, Golden Triangle Creative District and Mancos Creative District. The new communities applying for this period are: Aurora Cultural Arts District, Gunnison Creative District, La Veta Creative District and La Junta Creative District.\u00a0 As a panelist, David will participate in virtual panel meetings and at least one site visit this fall to review and select compelling communities for Creative District Certification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWESTAF, PINANGUNA ANG MGA SESYON SA RURAL, REMOTE AT FRONTIER COMMUNITIES AT CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BILANG ARTS ADVOCATES, SA COLORADO CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SUMMIT (DH)<\/b>
\nKelly, Trevor, and David attended the <\/span>Colorado Creative Industries Summit: Frontier of Imagination<\/span><\/a> September 29 – October 1, moderating and participating in five separate panels during the conference. David moderated a session on chambers of commerce as arts advocates in collaboration with Western Arts Advocacy Network (WAAN) member Christin Crampton Day, executive director, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts. He also moderated a session on arts and culture in rural, remote, and frontier communities in Colorado.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nANG WESTAF AT CREATIVE ECONOMY COALITION AY NAG-ORGANIS NG CREATIVE ECONOMY SESSION SA INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ANNUAL CONFERENCE (DH)<\/b>
\nDavid and fellow Creative Economy Coalition Executive Committee member Susan Soroko have arranged a session for the International Economic Development Council Annual Conference: <\/span>Creative Economy: Economic Development for a Sustainable Future.<\/span><\/a> Margaret Hunt, director, Colorado Creative Industries, and Jessica Stern, senior manager, Americans for the Arts, will join David on this panel on Monday, October 4 in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss the creative economy and economic recovery\/community revitalization and the creative economy and inclusive economic development.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWESTAF SA DIALOGUE SA WILLIAM AT FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION TUNGKOL SA BAY AREA ADVOCACY AND POLICY INITIATIVE (DH)<\/b>
\nSi David ay nananatiling nakikipag-usap sa koponan ng Performing Arts sa Hewlett Foundation tungkol sa isang potensyal na collaborative na proyekto, at ang WESTAF ay inimbitahan na magsumite ng panukala para sa isang patakarang pangkultura at programa sa adbokasiya ng sining sa Bay Area.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPANGKALAHATANG RESPONSIBILIDAD AT PAGSASAMA (AK)<\/b>
\nSi Anika, sa totoong paraan ng WESTAF, ay nagkaroon ng isang ipoipo ng karanasan sa onboarding sa nakalipas na dalawang linggo na may kasamang isang linggong serye ng mga briefing sa departamento ng SRI at sa mga programa at pagpupulong nito sa Teknolohiya, Pananalapi at Pangangasiwa, Marketing at Komunikasyon ng WESTAF , at marami sa aming mga Business team. Dumalo rin siya sa mga pagpupulong kasama ang South Arts tungkol sa aming pakikipagtulungan sa ELC, kasama si Kaisha Johnson ng Women of Color in the Arts tungkol sa karagdagang equity advancement work sa aming regional performing arts network, at isang federal audit training kasama ang National Endowment for the Arts, bukod sa iba pa. mga pagpupulong.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nUPDATE SA PONDO NG WESTAF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PARA SA MGA ORGANISASYON (AK\/JC)<\/b>
\nThe WESTAF executive committee has approved the 44 organizations recommended by the SRI team to receive WESTAF ARP awards.\u00a0 Originally planned to disburse grants at an average level of $50,000 each to 30+ awardees, these levels and awardees have been adjusted due to the demand from many impacted organizations. WESTAF will disburse grants at an average level of $35,000 each to the 44 awardees. The SRI team has sent out award letters and is receiving signed agreements and financial statements from these new grantees before funds can be transmitted.\u00a0 We expect to receive all documentation by October 15.\u00a0 For detailed information about the representation and spread of the organizations, <\/span>please review the graphs here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWESTAF MEETINGS WITH EMERGING LEADERS OF COLOR ALUMNI (JC)<\/b>
\nSa nakalipas na dalawang linggo, nakipagpulong si Jade Elyssa sa 10 alumni ng Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) Program, na sumasaklaw sa anim na estado at mga taon ng pagtatapos ng programa noon pang 2013 at kamakailan noong 2021. Ang kanilang mga kuwento ng kamangha-manghang tagumpay at mga ulat tungkol sa racialized ang mga hamon ay nagdadala ng mga mukha sa pambansang pag-uusap tungkol sa katarungan sa sining. Lahat ng alumni ng ELC ay nagpahayag ng lubos tungkol sa gawain ng WESTAF at kung gaano kalalim ang epekto ng programa ng ELC sa paghubog ng kanilang mga karera. Ang pangkat ng SRI ay nagpapasalamat na nakakuha ng mga piraso ng kanilang mga karanasan at feedback at magpapatibay sa mga programmatic na talakayan sa kung ano ang natutunan namin mula sa mga pag-uusap na ito.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMGA ARTISTA NA PINILI PARA SA UNANG ROUND NG PERFORMING ARTS DISCOVERY NA MAG-PROFILE SA NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS\/INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ARTS COUNCIL AND CULTURAL AGENCIES AMERICAS SUMMIT (DH\/AK)<\/b>
\n10 artists, companies, and ensembles<\/span><\/a> were selected in the first phase of the Performing Arts Discovery program being managed by WESTAF and delivered by the Western Arts Alliance in collaboration with sister regional arts organizations. Versa-Style Dance Company, Ensemble Mik Nawooj, and acoustic picker Cary Morin were selected from the West in the first round. The ten artists and groups were showcased at the Western Arts Alliance Conference and at the <\/span>Arts Midwest Conference<\/span><\/a>. Northern Colorado-based Cary Morin and New York City-based Michaela\u2019s Love Movement were selected by the National Endowment for the Arts to be showcased virtually at the Americas Cultural Summit 2021 this fall.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPANANALAPI AT ADMINISTRASYON (AH)<\/b>
\nMaligayang pagdating sa bagong 2022 fiscal year! Sa susunod na dalawang buwan, abala ang finance team sa pagsasara ng lumang taon, pagbuo ng bagong taon at paghahanda para sa audit. Ang lahat ng mga iskedyul at mga entry ay dapat na sa mga auditor bago ang Nobyembre 15. Ang pangalawang Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) na utang ng WESTAF ay pinatawad: ang mga pondong ito ay natanggap noong Pebrero, kaya ang pagpapatawad nito ngayong taon ng pananalapi ay nakakatulong. Patuloy na nakikipagtulungan si Becky sa bagong pangkat ng mga gawad sa proseso ng kahilingan sa pagbabayad ng NEA \u2013 lalo na sa American Rescue Plan, na malamang na mapoproseso at mababayaran sa huling bahagi ng Oktubre. Ang badyet ng FY22 ay inaprubahan ng executive committee sa Boise meeting noong nakaraang linggo at mapupunta na ngayon sa full board sa pulong ng Oktubre sa Denver.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMARKETING LH)<\/b>
\nNasasabik kaming matapos ang 2021 Creative Vitality\u2122 Summit at nakatanggap na ng magandang feedback. Salamat muli sa lahat ng mga tagapagsalita, kalahok, at kawani na naging matagumpay sa kaganapan. Kino-compile ng MarComm team ang lahat ng sukatan ng social media at malapit nang magkaroon ng pulong para talakayin kung paano namin mapapahusay ang mga kaganapan sa WESTAF sa hinaharap. Nagsusumikap din kami sa aming Q4 OKR na mga update sa marketing para sa departamento ng negosyo at nakikipagtulungan sa departamento ng pagbebenta upang lumikha ng mga bagong sales slide deck para sa lahat ng mga produkto ng teknolohiya. Patuloy naming sinusubaybayan ang lahat ng bayad na kampanya ng ad sa Facebook, Google Ads, at LinkedIn at nagtatrabaho sa mga huling pag-edit ng aming mga plano sa marketing ng produkto sa FY22.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nKOMUNIKASYON (LH)<\/b>
\nWith the Creative Vitality\u2122 Summit now completed, the MarComm team is working on compiling metrics from the event, including attendance rates (the Summit had a total of 470 registered participants!). We will also be sending out an event survey soon to collect participant feedback to continue to build on and improve future convenings. The team is almost finished collecting staff updates to their bios and will have the <\/span>westaf.org<\/span><\/a> website up-to-date this week. Refinement of the FY22 communications plan drafts continues alongside the drafting of the first WESTAF Now of the new fiscal year and items for inclusion in the October National Endowment for the Arts newsletter.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSTRATEGIC PLANNING COHORTS (CGREEN)<\/b>
\nAng equity cohort ay nagsimula ng isang bagong inisyatiba upang idokumento ang lahat ng mahusay na gawain na naambag ng mga koponan ng WESTAF sa equity at pagsasama. Sa layuning ito, nagpatupad sila ng isang quarterly survey upang tipunin at i-highlight kung ano ang nagawa sa lahat ng mga programa ng WESTAF patungo sa higit na pagiging inclusivity. Maraming miyembro ng policy cohort ang nagbigay ng napakalaking suporta sa Q&A na bahagi ng tatlong session ng Creative Vitality Summit na ginanap noong Sept. 20 at 21. Pinarangalan silang maging bahagi ng isa pang matagumpay na pagpupulong ng WESTAF! Nagpulong din ang cohort upang pag-usapan ang tungkol sa kanilang mga natuklasan pagkatapos suriin ang mga umiiral nang gabay sa pagtataguyod at tinalakay ang mga pangkalahatang ideya kung ano ang magiging hitsura ng handbook ng kasosyo sa rehiyon. Ang susunod na hakbang ay sumisid sa mga detalye at magpasya sa mga nasasalat na elemento ng kung ano ang gusto nilang isama.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPANGKALAHATANG NEGOSYO (CV)<\/b>
\nAng pangkat ng negosyo ay nagtrabaho upang tapusin ang FY21 at sabay-sabay na naghahanda para sa FY22 sa pamamagitan ng pag-update ng mga template ng negosyo, mga third-party na koneksyon, mga proyekto ng Asana, mga backlog, atbp. Nagsusumikap din kami sa pag-update ng aming mga responsibilidad at layunin sa Insights, at natugunan namin ang ang departamento na magsagawa ng refresher sa bagong projection at buwanang proseso ng pagbabadyet para sa FY22. Nagsusumikap din kami sa mga sales deck para sa bawat produkto ng SaaS bilang bahagi ng aming patuloy na gawain sa pag-aayos ng mga benta.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nTinatapos na ng CaFE team ang pagsubok sa unang round ng multi-factor authentication (MFA). Nagdaragdag ang MFA ng isa pang mahalagang layer ng seguridad at pagsunod sa serbisyo, na sinisimulan nang isaalang-alang ng mas maraming kliyente kapag sinusuri ang mga platform ng pamamahala ng application. Isinara ng CaFE ang taon nang mas mahusay kaysa sa inaasahan, tulad ng nakita mo mula sa kamakailang pag-uulat sa pananalapi mula sa pananalapi. Inaasahan ng team na lampasan ang mga resultang iyon sa FY22 na may marami pang trabaho sa hinaharap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nCVSUITE (KE)<\/b>
\nMatagumpay na nakumpleto ng CVSuite ang unang taunang CVSummit, at nalampasan nito ang mga inaasahan kapwa sa pagpapatupad at sa pakikilahok. Ang huling bilang ng pagpaparehistro ng summit ay nasa 470 katao, at, bilang resulta, ang CVSuite ay nag-iskedyul ng mga demo sa mga ahensya ng sining ng estado ng New Hampshire, Montana at Idaho. Ang Utah Arts Alliance ay nire-review ang kanilang tatlong taong pag-renew at ang kanilang alliance membership program ay may bagong manager na nagpaplanong mag-book ng limang bagong miyembro. Si Arts Cleveland, isang na-drop na kliyente, ay nagtanong tungkol sa pag-renew ng kanilang kontrata. Ang susunod sa deck para sa CVSuite ay ang pagtuunan ng pansin sa pagkolekta ng pag-uulat ng taon at paghahanda at pagpaplano para sa mga agenda ng OKR para sa paparating na taon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n