Area arts council faces upcoming cut in state's funding

State funding to the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has been cut in half over the past two years, leaving the organization hunting for new ways to bring in revenue so programs won't have to be discontinued.

The arts council expects to receive one-third less money from the Missouri Arts Council for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. The reduction comes atop a 20 percent funding cut sustained in fiscal year 2002.

Missouri's $18.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2003 reduces funding for most state agencies because of revenue shortfalls. The budget cuts back allocations to the Missouri Arts Council by 33 percent for the next fiscal year, slashing its $5.9 million budget by $2 million.

In fiscal year 2001, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri received $25,500 in state funding, an amount accounting for 30 percent of its operating budget. The state funding reduction to $12,250 in the coming year means the organization must mount a major fund-raising campaign, says executive director Becky Fulgham.

"The last thing we want is for it to affect what we offer to the community," she said.

Officials adamant

Fulgham became the organization's leader April 1 after Tom Howard stepped down to resume his teaching career. She and Dr. Robert Gifford, chairman of the arts council board, are both adamant about keeping the organization's programming running at the present level despite the budget cuts.

Besides monthly art exhibits at its two galleries at 119 Independence St., the arts council sponsors summer classes for youths and adults, a children's art show in the winter, an art festival during the City of Roses Music Festival and partially sponsors a children's literature festival. In October, the council plans to bring the St. Louis Brass Quintet to town for a concert.

Fulgham said the arts council has no money in the bank that can be used to make up the shortfall. She and the 14-member arts council board held a retreat Saturday to talk about ways to increase revenue and donations.

"We need to try to decide whether to try to do what we do better or find additional sources of income," Fulgham said.

The pre-Christmas craft show at the Show Me Center and Osage Community Centre is the organization's major fund-raising event, providing half its operating budget. Memberships in the organization, which now total 156, are one source of income.

Gifford said the arts council will begin a membership drive soon. Members receive the council newsletter and reduced prices for arts council programs.

One potential new source of income is the silent auction being conducted this month for "Eastern Access," a painting of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. Prints of the painting are being sold to raise money for lighting the bridge, but proceeds from the sale of the painting, which currently is on display at the S. Gregg Gallery on Main Street, will go to the arts council. The artwork was commissioned by Jim Riley of Red Letter Communications and was painted by Eric Bryant of Perryville, Mo.

The council will repeat a recent tour of buildings designed by the late John Boardman, Fulgham said, and a tour of homes at Christmas is being planned in conjunction with Lutheran Family and Children's Services.

Trend may continue

Beverly Strohmeyer, a former executive director of the local arts council who now is the MAC's assistant director for programs in St. Louis, says the trend of funding reductions may continue awhile.

"We're anticipating that FY04 is probably not going to be much better," she said. "From what we have heard and been told, we anticipate it's going to take that long for the economy to turn around."

Larger arts organizations are being cut even more severely across the state as the MAC makes an attempt to help as many of the 400 to 500 organizations it funds as possible. Grants to some larger organizations probably will be reduced by as much as 50 percent, Strohmeyer said.

MAC is recommending arts councils to seek other sources of revenue from foundations and grants, she said.

Some organizations may have to cut programs, she conceded.

"We don't like to see that happen, but in some cases they have to."

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182