Dr. Doug Borwick.

It is undeniable that the “Great Recession” has hurt arts funding in Charlotte. Arts and cultural stakeholders have coined the current situation “a perfect storm,” noting that the once effective fundraising model of the Arts & Science Council is no longer cutting it. In fact, even with improvements in the economy, workplace gifts to the ASC have not gone up; they are down 40 percent since 2008. Then add to that a 25 percent cut over the last decade from city and county funding for the ASC, and you can begin to visualize the “perfect storm” arts and cultural leaders are discussing. The A&S Council has even started a Cultural Life Task Force charged with examining the challenges faced from the region’s changing demography and economy.

Some commentators tout the need for revised business models, even noting the very ineffective model of subsidizing tickets, to solve funding issues. But others are calling for a much more radical shift to re-evaluate the arts and cultural sector’s “mission models.” In other words,” to ensure the survival of the arts and cultural industry, fundamental, mission-level change to a true focus on and relationship with the broader community is essential.” To this end, the A&S Council is hosting a workshop on February 27th from 8 a.m. until noon at the Harris Conference Center entitled: “Developing Sustainable ‘Mission Models’ for Arts & Culture” with Dr. Doug Borwick.

Dr. Borwick is one of the leading advocates for the arts and community engagement. Author of “Engaging Matters,” a blog for ArtsJournal and “Building Communities, Not Audiences: The Future of the Arts in the U.S.” He has presented numerous workshops across the United States regarding this topic and is CEO of Outfitters4, a management service provider for nonprofits, and ArtsEngaged.

The workshop will feature a keynote address by Dr. Borwick and a panel discussion led by representatives of the Levine Museum of the New South, the McColl Center for Visual Art, and One Voice Chorus. Registration is required and ends Monday February 24; cost is $30 for an individual ticket.

**Statistics taken from “Arts Funding Troubles, part 1: How We Got Into This Mess” and “Arts Funding Troubles, part 2: What It Will Take To Survive” by Julie Rose and Briana Duggan.