ArtsFund helps the show go on

FOR four decades, ArtsFund has helped power artistic excellence in King and Pierce counties. The region's cultural life is richer for it.

Now in the midst of its 40th campaign, the role and presence of the venerable organization in the arts community could not be more important. Fundraising is elemental, helping keep the lights on and curtains going up. But the mission and success of ArtsFund has always been broader.

The genius of the campaign originally was to combine dozens of individual pleas for support into one purposeful, focused effort to sustain a broad swath of artistic and cultural expression.

Money comes from corporate, workplace and individual giving. That generosity is funneled into grants for music, theater, visual arts, dance, film and media, and literary arts. Quality offerings build loyal audiences.

ArtsFund is working in the midst of the economic downturn to raise enough to maintain the $2.9 million in grants it made last year. An ArtsFund survey released in January found declines in giving and drops in subscriptions, which results in scaling back or cutting programs.

In these challenging times, another piece of ArtsFund expertise takes center stage. This nonprofit also provides management and marketing consultations to arts organizations. ArtsFund is helping local arts groups rethink their budgets, and figure how to manage and plan for less. A longtime staple, leadership training for board members, could not be more timely.

Building stronger organizations has not only contributed to a richer cultural life, but it has also helped provide a foundation for a billion-dollar addition to the region's economy. The arts employ 28,000 full- and part-time workers, according to a 2007 study.

Giving money to the ArtsFund has always been important, but especially now.