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Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga Serves as Host Site for the Kennedy Center’s International Fellows Mentoring Program
Andre Le Roux of South Africa visited Chattanooga March 7-14, 2008 to be mentored by Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga and the local arts community after Allied Arts was selected by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to host a participant in its International Fellows Mentoring Program.
As a part of the Global Cultural Initiative, announced by First Lady Laura Bush in 2006, the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center offered professional development opportunities to 15 emerging arts managers from selected countries.
As manager of the SAMRO Endowment, South Africa’s equivalent of ASCAP, Mr. Le Roux is in charge of fundraising and support for arts education in South Africa through scholarship programs.
The goal of the Fellows Mentoring Program is to energize the work of emerging international arts managers in their own countries by bringing them to the United States and providing them with instructive and informative experiences in the field of arts management. Experiences included classes, seminars and meetings with leading arts managers, exposure to arts management in practice in not-for-profit arts organizations, and opportunities to develop relationships with U.S. arts professionals.
In addition to South Africa, countries that participated in the Fellows Mentoring Program were Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestinian Territory.
In addition to Chattanooga, other host sites included Minneapolis, Minn.; Washington, D.C.; Houston, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; San Francisco, Calif.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Denver, Colo.; and New York, N.Y.
During his visit to Chattanooga, Mr. Le Roux was immersed in the operations of Allied Arts. He met with each member of the staff, attended fundraising campaign meetings, made site visits to potential arts center sites in the Main Street arts district, and attended an arts education workshop for teachers at a local elementary school. Mr. Le Roux, who has an interest in board development, also met with Allied Arts Board Chair Frank McDonald and board members, Jeannine Alday and Annie Hall.
Mr. Le Roux also attended performances and exhibits and met with the Chief Executive Officers, staffs and board of directors of the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, the Association of Visual Arts, the Chattanooga African American Museum, and the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. Mr. Le Roux toured Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, a high school that has been recognized by the Kennedy Center as a national school of distinction for its arts education programs. Mr. Le Roux also met with Tennessee Arts Commissioner Ellen Hays.
At the end of his visit, Mr. Le Roux met with the Allied Arts staff to share his findings from his visit. He said he thoroughly enjoyed Chattanooga and the openness of the Allied Arts staff and arts community.
“It was a great learning experience for me,” said Mr. Le Roux. “There are many similar challenges in South Africa as there are in the United States in the arts and with fundraising. To be able to immerse myself and learn about the culture in the United States was particularly beneficial.”
In addition to their host sites, the participants of the International Fellows Mentoring Program also spent a week in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center and in New York City.
Ramien Pierre, program administrator in the Kennedy Center education department, reported about the experience of the participants.
“Each Fellow had a great experience at their mentor organization,” he said.“Without exception, the Fellows were impressed by the talent and commitment of the individuals working in the U.S. not-for-profit arts scene.They were given many great ideas and plenty of practical inspiration.”
Dan Bowers Named President of Allied Arts
"I am honored to be asked to serve our community in this important capacity," Dan Bowers said. "Allied Arts is one of the premier non-profits in Chattanooga. It has an incredibly strong history and is one of the forces that set us apart from other communities. I look forwarding to working with the donors, board, funded organizations, and staff to continue the great work Allied Arts has accomplished in its nearly 40 years of existence."
Mr. Bowers served the United Way of Greater Chattanooga as Campaign Director from 1988 until 1994 and as President from 1994 until he departed to become President of the Memorial Health Care System Foundation in 2001. He left Memorial last November to form his own fundraising consulting firm and has worked with several non-profits including Orange Grove Center, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association, McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center, and Greater Chattanooga Christian Services.
Chairman Frank McDonald said, "We're excited to have someone of Dan's caliber joining us to provide the leadership and fundraising skills we need to meet the challenges we face in supporting the arts in Chattanooga. We intend to grow our fundraising and advocacy mission significantly this coming year and are delighted to have Dan helping us forge our way ahead."
Allied Arts' Chair-Elect Nick Decosimo said, "We are fortunate to have Dan Bowers join us with his broad expertise and understanding of agency relations as we undergo a strategic planning process. With his valuable experience working with the funded agencies of the United Way, he brings a strong appreciation for the value we place on the partnerships with the agencies funded by Allied Arts."
Mary Tanner, chair of the board's Search Committee, said, "The Search Committee sought the most experienced and talented candidates to move Allied Arts forward. The number of applicants was gratifying, and we feel confident that Dan is the leader who can ensure continued support for the arts agencies in Chattanooga who help make this city such a wonderful place to live and work."
Marilyn J. Harrison, who has served as Interim President since February, has been named Vice President of Allied Arts and will oversee the day-to-day operations. Mrs. Harrison, who previously served as Director of Grant Programs and Member Services, brings 20 years of experience to her role.
Tennesseans for the Arts Presents Arts Advocacy Day on the Hill 2008
Join the ARTS IN ACTION in Nashville on Tuesday, March 4th at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Andrew Johnson Theatre.
Arts Advocacy Day on the Hill, held annually by Tennesseans for the Arts, is an important opportunity for artists, art educators, arts organizations and friends and supporters of the arts from across the state to make contact with their legislators and each other. While TFTA holds regional advocacy activities across Tennessee, Arts Advocacy Day is the one day of the year in which arts supporters statewide can unite in championing the arts.
This year, TFTA will hold a meeting of its full membership in conjunction with Arts Advocacy Day. According to Stephanie Conner, TFTA’s Executive Director, “We want to take advantage of the opportunity to engage our full membership in this important advocacy activity. We also want to have as strong a presence on this day as we possibly can. This is our chance to show lawmakers the extent of support for the arts in Tennessee. A strong showing makes an impression. “
Arts Advocacy Day check-in will begin outside of the Andrew Johnson Theatre at 10:30 a.m. on the 4th. Printable registration forms are available on TFTA’s website at http://www.tn4arts.org/ in the “Advocacy” section under “Arts Advocacy Calendar”.
The full TFTA membership meeting and legislative briefing will begin at 11:00 a.m. with presentations by:
Bob Willie, Chattanooga Ballet, President – TFTA
Rich Boyd, Executive Director – Tennessee Arts Commission
Molly Pratt, TFTA Consultant for Government and Community Relations
Legislative visits begin immediately following.
As registration forms are received, regional Arts Advocacy Day coordinators will contact you with further details on organizing groups from your areas. Register today, bring your fellow arts supporters, and help the voice of the arts in Tennessee be heard on March 4th, 2008. There is strength in numbers!
25 Graduate Allied Arts’ Holmberg Arts Institute
Program Provides Leadership & Advocacy Skills for the Arts
Twenty-five Chattanoogans constitute the latest graduating class of Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga’s Bill Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute, a seven-part series designed to fully engage participants in the arts community.
“Through participation in the institute, graduates are better equipped to become part of the arts community and to serve in leadership positions,” said Marilyn J. Harrison, Vice President of Allied Arts. “It’s a wonderful way to become involved in the arts community in a meaningful way.”
Launched in 2005 in memory of long-time Allied Arts board member and arts advocate A. William Holmberg, Jr., the institute provides behind-the-scenes site visits to cultural and educational institutions, case studies of arts agencies, panel discussions with community leaders, and a unique forum for pursuing shared goals among arts leaders, business leaders, educators, and philanthropic foundations.
Graduates of the Class of 2007 are: Jeanne Abbott, William Acuff, Joan Burpee, Charlynn Harris Fry, David Hudson, Neely Crihfield Hyde, John Jackson, Kim Jackson, Courtney Keene, Missy Luce, Melissa Meade, Raymond Miller, Andrew Montgomery, Deborah Morrison, Renee Nail, Lin Parker, Karen Phillips, Kelly Puckett, Anne Roza, Beverly Scott, Laurie Shipley, Donna Webb Shriver, Joyce Teal, Jane Womack, and David Wood.
Past participants have gone on to serve on Boards of Directors and in other leadership positions with Allied Arts and other cultural agencies.
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