In 2000, the Arts
Council of Richmond assembled a group of arts advocates and
business leaders to determine the need for and feasibility of establishing
a united arts fund in Richmond. This group, known as ArtsFund’s
Task Force, worked collaboratively throughout 2003 and early 2004.
After many months of research, and using extensive input from local
business leaders, arts administrators, patrons and educators, the
Task Force created a business plan for Richmond’s united arts
fund. They determined that such a collaboration between arts groups
and artists, the local corporate community, and individual supporters
would strengthen local arts organizations, raise awareness about
the value of the arts in our community, and broaden charitable support
for the arts and culture across all sectors of the community.
Modeled after successful united arts funds in other cities across the United States, the Arts Council initiated ArtsFund in May 2004. The goal of ArtsFund is to bring arts and cultural organizations into partnership with businesses through two principal avenues.
- An annual campaign to solicit direct, unrestricted corporate support... Results: From a founding core of 12 corporate partners in 2004, we have expanded to 25 companies, and raised and distributed more than $1.6 million to 30 arts and cultural organizations.
- Annual workplace campaigns soliciting support from employees... Results: Some 400 new individual art donors, pledging $70,000, contributed to the 2005 pilot campaigns in five area companies — Bank of America, Carter Ryley Thomas, LandAmerica, Wachovia Bank and Wachovia Securities. In 2006, we added three more campaigns (Markel, First Market Bank, and SunTrust) that attracted 300 new donors. Last year, McGuire Woods ran an impressive first year campaign, adding 70 new donors.
In that same period, we expanded our number of affiliates — the arts and cultural groups that receive funding — from eight to 15 organizations. In addition, 15 smaller arts organizations have benefited from three rounds of grants.
Objectives for future campaigns include engaging more direct business investors, expanding the workplace initiative among a broader range of companies, and enabling more Central Virginians to engage easily in the arts and culture by participating in ArtsFund’s Campaign. |
