BCA Noteworthy August 2008

THE BCA TEN - 2008
THE BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America will be announced on Thursday, October 30 during a gala presentation at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. For information about THE BCA TEN or to purchase tickets or tables, www.bcainc.org/thebcaten.html.

Forum for New Ideas
The sixth annual Forum for New Ideas will be held on Thursday, November 20 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at Morgan Stanley, 1585 Broadway, New York, NY. Presented in collaboration with Arts & Business Council of New York, the Forum explores innovative ways for arts and business to work together. Confirmed speakers include Lisa Dennison, Chairman, Sotheby's North and South America and Claudia Kotchka, Vice President, Design, Innovation and Strategy, Procter & Gamble. The national sponsor is Herman Miller Foundation, Zeeland, MI, and the New York sponsor is Morgan Stanley, New York, NY. For information, www.bcainc.org/forum.html.

Fair and Festival Fundraising
Sponsorship spending on fairs and festivals increased 7.7% from 2007 to 2008. IEG projects that fair and festival sponsorship will total $754 million in 2008. Fairs and festivals have been able to maintain corporate interest in a sluggish economy because of their ability to provide access to a large group of people and many demographics. For information, www.sponsorship.com (IEG subscribers only).

Economy's Impact on Giving
83% of fundraisers think the economy is having a negative impact on giving. This is up from 48% of fundraisers who thought the economy was having a negative impact on fundraising six-months ago. All types of fundraising techniques, except direct mail, were less successful than fundraisers predicted they would be this past December. For information, www.nptimes.com.

Rolex Mentors Young Artists
Since 2002, Rolex, Geneva, Switzerland has been pairing talented young artists from around the world with masters in the field as part of its Rolex Mentor and Prot�g� Arts Initiative. Over the course of the year, mentors and prot�g�s spend a minimum of six weeks together. Rolex provides a $25,000 grant to the prot�g�, covers the cost of travel and offers an additional $25,000 after the mentoring year for the creation of a new piece of work, a publication or a performance or public event. For information on this year's mentors and prot�g�s, www.rolexmentorprotege.com.

American Express Announces Second Members Project
American Express cardholders have the opportunity to have their innovative projects funded by American Express, New York, NY. The credit card company is offering grants to projects in five categories, including arts and culture. An advisory committee will choose the top 25 submissions and cardholders will vote for the top 5 to be funded with grants ranging from $1.5 million to $100,000. For information, www.membersproject.com.

In CIT's 5 Minute Capital program, Anita Contini, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate and Public Affairs explains why CIT, New York, NY, supports the arts. Listen to the podcast, www.cit.com. Read the transcript, www.cit.com.

DON'T MISS

2008 National Arts Marketing Conference

The 2008 NAMP Conference has begun to announce its line-up of sessions. New this year, a track of four sessions on branding including Branding 101, Advanced Branding, a session on how to leverage your sponsor's brand, and a session on how branding enhances your fundraising efforts. All NAMP Conference sessions feature experts from the field and experts in the field. Come see and hear how arts groups of all sizes and from all artistic disciplines are tackling some of the most pressing marketing and fundraising issues today. For information, www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

MetLife Foundation National Art Forum Series
In her book, RenGen, author and cultural analyst Patricia Martin defines a growing stratum of Americans who thrive on information and ideas to fuel their creativity and shows how it will drive the next wave of innovation. This cohort crosses racial, ethnic and age boundaries and represents the next wave of thought leaders. She offers lessons from cutting-edge innovators who are tapping the potential of the cultural consumer, and in the process winning the hearts and the minds of the RenGen. Forums will take place in New York City on Tuesday, September 16 and Thursday, October 2 from 6:00 pm -8:00 pm. To register, call 212-279-5910 x1121. For information about the MetLife Foundation National Art Forum Series and Forums in other cities, www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

Summer Jazz Festivals
Since 1984, the JVC Jazz Festivals have been held all over the world and have presented over 47,000 individual musicians including some of the most legendary performers of the 20th century. Sponsored by JVC, Wayne, NJ, jazz festivals will be held in Los Angeles and Concord, CA and Newport, RI in August. For information, www.festivalnetwork.com.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE