A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-14, regarding a survey of local arts organizations and private foundations that may support their work

Memorandum To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager; Lisa C. Peterson, Deputy City Manager From: Jason Weeks, Executive Director CC: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Lisa Hemmerle, Division Head, Economic Development Date: 7/23/2019 Re: Awaiting Report 19-14, Policy Order #4 This memo is in response to Policy Order #4 from the February 11th City Council Meeting (Awaiting Report 19-14), which requests a report on conducting surveys of local arts organizations and private foundations that may support their work locally and efforts to make this information more readily available on the City of Cambridge website and through other communication sources. Based on discussions amongst staff from our two departments, we have the following information to report to the City Council. Cambridge is a city that is home to many and varied arts organizations that provide significant services, connection, presentation, and other opportunities to showcase and celebrate the work of local and regional artists and creatives. This work connects positively to residents, regional audiences, and visitors to the City and inspires joy, positive community engagement, beautification of public spaces, and powerful cultural experiences that strengthen the social fabric of the community. In addition, local arts organizations employ people from Cambridge and the region, purchase goods and services from other local businesses, and attract tourists to visit and spend time and money in the City. Given these important roles and outcomes from their presence in our midst, it is important to know these organizations, where they are located, and what support they need to thrive and carry out their mission-driven work. Working collaboratively, Cambridge Arts and Economic Development Division of Community Development have arrived at the following outcomes that will provide a better understanding of what organizations

July 23, 2019 2 exist, their location in the city, and the general impact they have through services and programming to neighborhoods, retail districts, and the city more generally. Arts Organizations Inventory & Survey Information In partnership with Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the nation’s lead arts advocacy and research organization, and with financial support from the Barr Foundation locally, Cambridge Arts implemented the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 initiative to conduct an economic impact and audience study of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in the City. As one of 300 partners across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Cambridge Arts collected detailed financial and audience data about our local nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in a broad array of focus areas and disciplines, including: theater, music, dance, visual art and museums, film, festivals and arts education. The study provided an opportunity for the City and surveyed arts organizations to gain a clearer understanding of the local impact of the arts in Cambridge and quantify the impact of the arts in the areas of jobs and employment, the purchase of goods and services from local businesses, and the significant role that arts play in driving tourism and economic development in the City. This study began in 2016 and was conducted over a period of 18-months through a direct partnership with the City’s Economic Development Division of Community Development. Through this partnership, staff jointly secured data through organizational surveys, questionnaires, and via direct audience intercepts. The report also accessed and utilized data from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and DataArts, a national database and study of organizational capacity, economic health, and employment. As part of the preparation for the study, significant review was conducted to create local outreach lists that could ensure that we had the broadest possible representation and participation from local arts-focused organizations for the data received. Data sources came from the following partners and initiatives and has been used to make key updates to the information provided to artists and the community via the “Resources” section of the Cambridge Arts and City of Cambridge website. • American’s for the Arts/Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report (2017) • Foundry Redevelopment Project & Community Engagement • Cambridge Arts Grant Program • Cambridge Arts Marketing Network Initiative • Cambridge Non-profit Coalition

July 23, 2019 3 • Cambridge Community Foundation • Mayor’s Cambridge Arts Task Force Along with this communication, I have included the following resources that demonstrate the results of this work and partnerships developed along the way: AEP5 Inventory for Performing Arts Organizations in Cambridge AEP5 Inventory for Visual Arts Organizations in Cambridge AEP5 Sample Outreach & Engagement Report Cambridge Arts Organizations - Location & Contact Information AEP5 Customized Report for Cambridge, MA Artist & Organizational Resources – Advocacy & Funding Pursuant to this work in the realm of organizational inventory economic impact, Cambridge Arts also looked at the funding resources available to local artists to support their work and continued presence and made significant updates to the information provided under “Advocacy & Funders” in the Resources section of the departmental website, which is organized by and includes the following areas of focus and interest: • Advocacy & Funders • Art Associations & Co-ops • Art Jobs • Arts & Media Education • College & University Arts Resources • Dance • Galleries & Museums • Materials & Maker Spaces • Music • Performance & Event Venues • Permits for Artists & Events • Poetry & Literary Arts • Theater, Film, & Comedy A key addition to the resource list is the inclusion of private and regional funders such as the Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, and New England Foundation for the Arts who in recent years have seeded and supported more regional funding to support opportunities for artists to work directly in Boston and in neighboring communities throughout the greater-Boston region.

July 23, 2019 4 To support and promote these opportunities and financial resources within the local community, Cambridge Arts has expanded the services in recent years provided through the Cambridge Arts Grant Program. This includes providing interested parties and direct grant-seekers with specific information on local and regional funders, training and technical support on developing grant applications, and documentation on how to improve access to funding through “Grant Writing Basics” and “Grant Writing Resources”. This information is made available 24-hours a day via the City and departmental website and is incorporated into general community meetings, focused Grant Writing workshops with residents and community members, and through one-to-one and small group meetings to provide individual artists, creative partnerships, and arts organizations with the information and tools they need to be successful grantees and funding recipients.