1.  What is the Arts Fund?            A united, annual appeal to organizations, businesses, and individuals to support the arts organizations participating in the drive.  The Arts Fund is an activity of the Allied Arts Council.

 2.  What is the Allied Arts Council?     A federation of sixteen arts organizations that acts as a catalyst for bringing arts and people together.  The Council takes the lead in organizing, fund-raising, advocating, educating, coordinating, and servicing the St. Joseph arts community.

 3.  Which agencies are funded by the Arts Fund? 

            Allied Arts Council                                         Performing Arts Association

            American Guild of Organists                          RiverSong

Creative Arts Productions                              Robidoux Resident Theatre

            Midwest Artist Association                            St. Joseph Community Chorus

                                                Saint Joseph Symphony

  4.  What other organizations belong to the Allied Arts Council?

            Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art                    St. Joseph Figure Skating Club

Junior League of St. Joseph                           St. Joseph Historical Society

Runcie Club                                                  St. Joseph Museums, Inc,

                                    Voices of America                     

5.  How are arts organizations selected for participation in the Arts Fund drive? 
All member agencies of the Council are eligible to apply for support from the Arts Fund.  When approved, each agency meets annually with an allocations committee to verify needs and set goals. 

6.  What is the goal for Arts Fund 2011?      The goal is $200,000. 

7.  How much of the $200,000 will go directly to support the arts organizations? $184,000  $10,000 has been set aside to cover campaign expenses, $6,000 is reserved against uncollectible pledges, usually from individuals who move out of the area.

8.  Can I donate online?     Yes.

 9.  Can I designate my donation to a specific organization?        Yes, just write the specific organization on your pledge card.

 10.  Will my company be solicited again this year?     Each member agency agrees not to solicit cash support except through the annual united Arts Fund.  They may, however, request advertising, season ticket purchases, memberships, or sponsorship of a special event.  Member agencies agree not to solicit any of these during the weeks of the Arts Fund. 

 11.  What percentage of the agencies’ budgets is raised through the Arts Fund? The arts rely on private and public support to exist. We are fortunate that our local arts organizations earn approximately 50% of their income through ticket sales, admissions, and concessions. Individual and corporate donations count for 25%  of an organizations income, 10% comes from government support. The remaining 15% comes from the contributions you make to the Arts Fund.

 12.  Why should I (or my company) support the arts?  Your gift allows the agencies to provide a higher level of artistic expertise and serve a broad range of people. Over 300 public events and educational programs are offered by the Arts Fund agencies each year at affordable prices. Without the Arts Fund, those agencies would have to cut programming or raise ticket prices. Until the economy starts to improve, the State’s support of the arts is in jeopardy. To keep our arts community flourishing during these difficult times we are asking all Arts Fund supporters to consider a slight increase to this year’s pledge.

 A national study of St. Joseph’s non-profit arts industry confirmed that the economic impact of the arts organizations is significant:  $8,500,000 in economic impact, over 300 full-time equivalent jobs with a local payroll of over $450,000, $700,000 in state and local governmental revenue, and 30,000 out-of-town visitors.

 The Allied Arts Council and its member agencies produce many affordable educational programs for children, including Artists in the Schools, Artscape summer camp, Creative Arts Productions and Performing Arts Association’s theatre workshops, Saint Joseph Symphony Musical Petting Zoo and Youth Concerts, and Robidoux Resident Theatre school matinees. The arts are proven time and time again to increase performance in other subject areas like math and science.  In addition, participation in the arts teaches children self-discipline and increases confidence.

 13.  Will a small gift really have an impact on the arts?       Yes.  Here are some examples:

            $20      One Artists in the Schools presentation

            $30      Ten children’s admissions to the Youth Symphony

            $50      Two student first-place awards in the Art for the Health of It competition