This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by [log in to unmask] Important update. If your organization has been affected by the downturn of events since September 11, you will definitely want to read this. [log in to unmask] Foundation Starts $50 Million Fund for Arts Groups Hurt by Terrorism November 21, 2001 By KAREN W. ARENSON The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced yesterday that it was establishing a $50 million fund for museums, theaters, dance companies and other cultural institutions affected by repercussions from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as well as for public parks where people congregated after the disaster. "At the same time that we are concerned about the victims and their families, we have to be concerned about the future of the city," said William G. Bowen, president of foundation, which is based in Manhattan and is a longtime supporter of the arts. The fund comes at a time when many arts and cultural organizations are reeling from an economic downturn made worse by the terrorist attacks, a decline in tourism and a falloff in donations. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs also anticipates slicing about $20 million from its $137 million budget to meet Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's order that city agencies look for 15 percent budget cuts. A survey of 150 New York arts organizations released this week by the Center for an Urban Future, a nonpartisan policy institute that focuses on economic issues, found that "nonprofit arts organizations are entering their rockiest period in over 30 years." Dr. Bowen said the foundation would accept grant requests immediately and would probably make awards ranging from $250,000 to $1 million or $2 million. There are no formal applications. T. Dennis Sullivan, the financial vice president at Mellon, said the foundation expected to spend at least some of the money before the year ends. "We would invite them to submit proposals and to describe how they have been affected and how they would use this transition funding," Dr. Bowen said. "We're not big on forms." The foundation has no specific checklist of criteria, and is willing to give money to large institutions and small ones. Foundation officials say they may also try to work through some established service organizations like the New York Foundation for the Arts, letting them deal directly with applicants. "We're looking for ideas," Mr. Sullivan said, "and we'll be persuaded by the cases that will be made to us." The foundation is less certain about what it might do with the parks. "Our trustees had a sense of wanting to go beyond the kinds of institutions that we've traditionally supported, like museums, libraries, theaters and dance companies, to do something for the city more generally," Mr. Sullivan said. "The parks served such an important role in the immediate aftermath of the September events that we wanted to do something. In the weeks ahead we will try to explore what vehicles might be available to capitalize on that idea." Mr. Sullivan said the money would come in part from the substantial returns the foundation earned on its investment portfolio until recently. Dr. Bowen said the foundation was concerned that cultural institutions were being financially pummeled and that those with limited resources might have to close. "All of this is happening so fast that some places may be compelled to make decisions that could have long-term effects on them, because they have no choice," Dr. Bowen said. "We thought that if we could help by providing some significant funding now, we could make a difference." Information about the program will be available on the foundation's Web site: www.mellon.org. The grants will be administered by a committee of three trustees led by Hanna H. Gray, the president emeritus of the University of Chicago who is also chairwoman of the foundation's trustees. The other members will be Dr. Bowen and W. Taylor Reveley III, dean of the William and Mary School of Law. Mr. Sullivan, a former executive director of the New York City Municipal Assistance Corporation, will be the chief staff officer for the effort. The Mellon Foundation has an endowment of about $4 billion and a long commitment to the humanities and the arts. About a quarter of its approximately $175 million in annual spending goes to cultural and performing arts organizations. Money spent through the new fund will be in addition to the previously planned spending. "Foundations generally are like little old ladies crossing the street," said Schuyler G. Chapin, the city's commissioner of cultural affairs. "Somebody has to take the first step. The Mellon Foundation has positively taken the first step and I hope others will follow." He said he was particularly pleased that the money would be available to arts organizations throughout the city, not just those below 14th Street. Ellen V. Futter, president of the American Museum of Natural History, said: "This is a shot in the arm to cultural institutions at a time we all very much need it. Our attendance is down; there are many fewer tourists in New York and we feel that right away." David Fischer, project director at the Center for an Urban Future, called the fund a "great idea." "It really provides some first aid in this abnormal time," he said. "This might make the difference between 10 or 12 organizations riding out the storm or going under." Dr. Bowen said that the foundation also saw arts and cultural institutions as a critical part of the rebuilding process and hoped that the fund would "send a message about the importance of these institutions and our commitment to them." http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/21/arts/21MELL.html?ex=1007360825&ei=1&en=965847eb692e1009 HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact Alyson Racer at [log in to unmask] or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to [log in to unmask] Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . 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