Contributors and Benefactors

theartleague
Annual Report FY2009
July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009
The State of The Art League
As we close our 2009 Fiscal and Membership Year,
we reflect on a very challenging year past and look
forward to the opportunities on the horizon. The economic landscape of the last year, unprecedented in
the 55-year history of The Art League, presented difficult situations in virtually every sector of the economy and certainly within the nonprofit community. We
are happy to have this opportunity to report to you on
The Art League’s current position, both in regard to
service to our mission and our financial viability.
In anticipation of shifting economic trends, our FY09
budget included a plan for closely monitoring our performance, the environment, and for making adjustments to our spending plan if warranted. Our ability to monitor the unfolding situation was challenged
by difficulties encountered in the implementation of
a new accounting system. Fortunately, our experienced staff leveraged an intimate understanding of
the League’s operations to successfully assess and
respond to the challenges during the implementation
process.
Ultimately, the new accounting system was activated,
allowing more efficient data entry and providing more
enhanced, timely reporting. All departments have
seen greater efficiency in the streamlined processes,
and our financial statements show that we are achieving success even in this difficult economy.
Education:
The Art League School continues to provide the most
comprehensive offering of visual arts classes and
workshops in the Washington, DC area. Our 117
instructors taught 5,500 students this year, filling
10,348 class seats; we served 1,405 students through
onsite or travel workshops. Our after-school program
provided satellite children’s art classes in several Alexandria public elementary schools. Our corporate
“creative retreat” program is growing. More than
1000 children and teens took our youth camps and
classes. 68 participating artists and hundreds of observers enjoyed “Paint” Alexandria 2009, an all-media, plein air event featuring 12 instructional sessions
in a variety of media, including a sunset session at
National Harbor, MD.
When Springwater Fiber Workshop, a local 501(c)(3)
nonprofit, was forced to close its doors, The Art
League stepped up to carry on Springwater’s mission
by incorporating and expanding their curriculum and
facility within our own. Our enhanced fiber department, launched in January 2009, offers a fiber curriculum inclusive of many of the subjects previously
taught at Springwater, as well as new and expanded
fiber/textile courses to The Art League’s design.
Nationally recognized ceramist Blair Meerfeld joined
us as the School’s new Ceramics Department Chairman. Blair, whose work has graced the covers of publications such as Ceramics Monthly brings a national
reputation to our department.
Membership and Exhibition:
Membership provided a fellowship to more than 1,000
artists, as well as new and exciting opportunities to
exhibit and sell work. In addition to our VA/MD/DCbased members, our membership includes artists from
13 other states. This year, more than 1600 works of
art were exhibited in the monthly, juried shows and
in the Bin Gallery. Patrons visited the gallery from all
over the world, and purchasers were from 27 different states, one territory, the District of Columbia, and
six foreign countries. The gallery presented more
than 25 exhibits, including 13 Membership shows,
FotoweekDC at The Art League, the Patrons’ Show,
the Student-Faculty Show, and 9 Solo Artist Shows.
Off-site exhibits included two “Art in City Hall” exhibits, and participation in Artomatic.
The gallery increased professional and educational
opportunities for members, offering critiques with
Art League instructors, gallery talks with jurors, and
the opportunity to have artwork professionally photographed. Our monthly newsletter, Tidings, moved
online and became more interactive, informative,
timely, and broader-reaching as a result. Each work
of art juried into our monthly membership shows is
now featured on The Art League’s Flickr site. We
also launched our blog, theartleaguegallery.blogspot.
com.
Outreach:
Our outreach programs, valued and supported by our
community, garnered national attention and inspired
other communities. Operated in collaboration with
Alexandria’s Court Service Unit (CSU), our “Space of
Her Own” (SOHO) program is an art-based mentoring
program for low income, at-risk girls in Alexandria.
To date, the program has provided a meaningful engagement in the arts, coupled with mentoring and
life-skills development, to more than 100 girls. A feature article on SOHO, “A Fresh Coat of Perspective,”
was published on the front page The Washington
Post Metro Section in May 2009. In April, SOHO was
chosen for national recognition as a 2009 Coming Up
Taller Semifinalist by the President’s Committee on
the Arts and the Humanities and its partner agencies.
This year also saw the launch of a new SOHO program, created with the assistance of The Art League
and CSU staff, at the Visual Arts Center in Richmond.
Community:
The Art League was honored by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce with the special “Chamber Champion of the Arts” Award at the 2008 Business Awards
Dinner in November. Staff engages in many community activities and organizations, including the Alexandria Commission for the Arts’ Public Art Committee and the city’s Waterfront Committee, and serves
on the boards of the Torpedo Factory Artist Association, the Old Town Business & Professional Association, and the Alexandria Arts Forum. In December
we celebrated the grand relaunch of the Springwater
Studios at The Art League during ArtFest. The Art
League continues in a leadership role providing additional exhibit opportunities through the “Art in City
Hall” program.
Marketing:
Social networking and expanding our online presence
was a focus in the Communications department this
year. We launched our own Facebook page, blog, and
Twitter feed. We continued our marketing partnership with the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
on CultureCapital.com, and began promoting events
on the Virginia Tourism website and the Alexandria
Convention and Visitor Association’s website. Radio ads promoting classes and special events ran on
WAMU 88.5FM, the NPR news station in the Washington area, and on Classical WETA 90.9FM, which
broadcasts to the Washington area and beyond. Print
ads in select publications promoted classes to various
demographics, and earned media (feature articles
and free publicity) promoted our exhibits and events
throughout the region.
Governance:
The Board of Directors initiated an ambitious Strategic Planning process that included an extensive
survey of members and students, focus groups, and
board retreats. In the spring, the Board undertook a
review of the Board bylaws. After several members
of the Board stepped down before the end of their
terms, The Art League was very grateful for the willingness of new members to step forward and serve
in that capacity.
Budget:
Our proposed budget for FY10 anticipates a deficit, so
we have taken steps to increase income and decrease
expenses. We initiated slight increases in membership dues and some fees as well as minimal increases
in some class fees. We remain committed to offering the finest educational opportunities at the most
reasonable prices to ensure the broadest access. We
continue to offer scholarships to those who require
additional support. We have cut back on non-critical
expenses and re-negotiated some contracts. We are
committed to positioning The Art League to remain
viable and sustainable in the long term, in order to
continue providing the services integral to our mission.
Support:
The 42nd Annual Patrons’ Show fundraiser was the
most financially successful show to date. We received an unprecedented outpouring of artwork and
sold more than 550 tickets. In August, Whole Foods
Market Old Town Alexandria hosted a 5% day on behalf of The Art League, with five percent of the day’s
net sales benefiting The Art League’s SOHO program
and general operating support. We launched an exhibition sponsorship program in the Gallery. In October, The Art League began working with The Monument Group, a fundraising consulting team, to aid in
development activities.
Our programs are sustained by the regular support
from the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA), Alexandria Commission for the Arts (ACA), and the City of
Alexandria’s Fund for Human Services/Youth Fund in
the form of grants and other assistance. We received
VCA/NEA stimulus funds for job retention through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The ACA, with their available grant-making funds reduced, has limited their grants to operating support
only; The Art League has been approved for 2010
support from both the ACA and VCA.
Looking to the Future:
With planning for the redevelopment of Alexandria’s
waterfront activated, and the City committed to a
goal of June 2010 for reaching approval on a plan,
The Art League recognizes that our Duke St. Annex
location will be affected. We are actively seeking
alternative ways to ensure the sustainability of our
organization and the valuable services it provides to
the community. We will be seeking the support of all
who appreciate the value of this artistic and cultural
resource and wish to see it continue as a legacy to
those who will follow us.
We are most grateful to all those who have provided
support in so many capacities throughout our history,
and we encourage you to consider how you might be
involved in assuring our future. We invite you to contact us with any questions you may have, or to offer
your support of a strong and sustainable League.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve this
outstanding organization during the past year. It is
an honor to serve you and the Alexandria community
through our association with The Art League.
Betsy Anderson
President
Linda Hafer
Executive Director
Independent Auditors’ Report
Thompson, Hughes & Trollinger, P.L.L.C.
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
June 30, 2009 and 2008
STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES
June 30, 2009 and 2008
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Grants receivable
Interest receiveable
Prepaid expenses
Inventory Investments 2009
2008
$319,372
11,576
6,787
7,567
45,870
130,626
679,369
$389,895
14,303
4,078
60,401
118,740
697,610
Total current assets 1,201,167
1,285,027
192,873
192,354
21,871
21,871
$1,415,911
$1,499,252
Property & equipment-net of
accumulated depreciation & amortization Deposits
Total assets LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Current liabilities
Accounts payable & accrued expenses
Deferred income
$43,292
437,717
$30,804
462,235
Total current liabilities 481,009
493,039
8,986
3,987
85,103
840,813
83,340
918,886
925,916
$1,415,911
1,002,226
$1,499,252
Long term liabilities
Deferred rent
Net assets-permanently restrictedNet assetsunrestricted Total net assets Total liabilities and net assets Revenue and support
Sales, net of cost of good sold
of $297,618 and $392,726
Tuition and Workshops Membership dues and fees Contributions
Total revenue and support Expenses
Programs
Gallery School Store
Unrestricted
Permanently
Restricted
2009 Total
2008 Total
$248,140
2,123,672
123,778
424,712
$216,276
1,982,610
116,535
428,439
7,143
$216,276
1,982,610
116,535
435,582
2,743,860
7,143
2,751,003
2,920,302
163,250
1,910,994
87,089
2,600
2,780
165,850
1,913,774
87,089
210,223
1,951,154
136,062
Total programs 2,161,333
5,380
2,166,713
2,297,439
Supporting services
Management and general
Fundraising
524,304
104,438
524,304
104,438
531,681
113,827
Total expenses
2,790,075
5,380
2,795,455
2,942,947
Change in net assets from operations
Investment income (loss)
Interest and dividends
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)
Total investment income (loss)
(46,215)
1,763
(44,452)
(22,645)
29,743
(61,601)
29,743
(61,601)
59,208
(17,515)
(31,858)
(31,858)
41,693
Change in net assets
(78,073)
1,763
(76,310)
19,048
918,886
$840,813
83,340
$85,103
1,002,226
$925,916
983,178
$1,002,226
Net assets, beginning of year
Net assets, end of year
Contributors and Benefactors
Grantors
Alexandria Commission
for the Arts
Alexandria Marketing
Fund
Alexandria Youth Fund
United Way of the
National Capital Area
Virginia Commission for the Arts
In Kind Contributors
Pat Barron
Malka Benoff
Kathi Cohen
Michael Heilman
Roberta Lilly
Patrick Pauley
Janet Price
Gretchen Raber
Cora Rupp
Bert Schmutzhart
Matt Smith
Victoria Vest
Gallery Awards
Anne Bradshaw
C. Daniel Clemente
Betty Digges
Linda Hafer
Rebecca Joubin
Sandi Parker
Potomac Valley
Watercolorists
Myrna Silverman
School & Scholarship
Dina Biblin
Kathi Cohen
Paula Coupe
Julius & Beatrice Feinstein
Joan Maloney-Roberts
Andra Patterson
Other
Linda Kirvan
Michelle Guilmain
Corporate Sponsors
Altria
Burke & Herbert Bank &
Trust Company
Dominion
Jakes of Old Town
Jakes of National Harbor
JarrettThor Fine Arts
Kona Corporation
The Meltzer Group/
Community Foundation
of Montgomery County
MRE Properties
Potomac Riverboat
Company/AlexandriaNational Harbor
Watertaxi
Whole Foods Market, Old
Town
SOHO
Avalon Bay Communities,
Inc.
Kathleen Bishop
Karen Cable Mount
Rhonda Lees
Potomac Valley
Watercolorists
Samantha & Rebecca
Redlich
Suzanne Vigil
Washington Area
Women’s Foundation
Anne Wehrly
Benefactors
Museum Circle
Lynn Bartosik
Kathi Cohen
William Doying
Jane Edwin
Anne Heising
David Levine
Phoebe Peterson
Cindy Richmond
Mary Tracy
Peter Ulrich
Collector
Betsy Anderson
Laurie Erdman
Herman Fitzgerald
Nancy Garcia
Ana Mardones
Nikole Smith
Mary Tracy
Bonnie Thomson
Patricia Williams
George Wishon
Greg Woodford
Atelier
Gwendolyn Bragg
Linda Bromley
John Dale
E. De Planque III
Sally Hazard
Scotty Huber
Pauline Lange
Cynthia Lewis
Valerie Martino
Jeffrey Mendell
Marilyn Milici
Rena Selim
Lon Smith
Paula Stern
Elizabeth Terry
Cheryl Tomlinson
Rosa Vera
Linda Whitmore
Jon Wickwire
Studio
Nancy Adelman
Vickie Allen
Sue Baum
Suzanne Bethel
Margaret Cerutti
Susan Colson
Bethanne Cople
Brigitte Davis
Gesine de Wolf
Francesca Di Lorenzo
Eileen Fenrich
Barbara Francis
Sara Glendinning
Caroline Harlow
Russell Harrison
Carol Heindel
Mary Lee Herbster
Patricia Hertzberg
Mary Horne
Jeannette Houghtaling
Kim Hyo Ju
Joanne Madison
Sheri Maeda
James Mehring
Theresa Niemeier
Andra Patterson
Peter Reynolds
Shawn Robertson
Betzi Robinson
Vincent Rogers
Richard Ryan
Janice Sayles
Jerene Scally
Peggy Shiffrin
Samuel Simkin
Maria Somogyi
Elizabeth Stein
Peter Suchman
Katherine Sullivan
Johanna Swart
Scott Thayer
Caroline Town
Marian Van Landingham
Carol Vorosmarti
William Wheeler
Jo Love Willis
Edith Wilson
William Wolf
Easel
Susan Abbott
Juanita Adams
Mireya Ahl
Margarita Babb
Anne Banks
Beth Beck
Alice Bethel
Gwen Bragg
Tina Byrd
George Carr
Mary Delaney
Joseph Delfico
Walt Duka
Mary Eggers
Iris Elfenbein
Aiko Erickson
June Farrell
Morton Ford III
J. Robert Franks
Jaquelin Gellhorn
Richard Gordon
Frances Griffiths
Paul Grimaldi
Marilyn Harrington
Chris Harris
Susan Herron
Catherine Hess
Amoretta Hoeber
Miriam Keeler
Thomas Kirby
Teresa Klima
Diane Lambkin
Pauline Lange
Mary Ann Lawler
Rosemary Luckett
Vaughn Jordan Mackay
Linda Maldonado
Timothy Malone
Ana Mardones
Jane McElvany Coonce
Virginia McGehee
Suzanne Mead
David Meehan
Herman Miller
M. Catherine Miller
Tess Olson
Virginia Pankow
Andra Patterson
Susan Prytherch
Gloria Rapoport
Howard Rodkin
Beverly Ryan
Janet Sahaj
John Sander
Nancy Saulnier
Jacqueline Saunders
Carol Simmons
Kay Springwater
Vicki St. Germain
Norma Starkweather
Kathryn Stevens
Robert Tetro
Gerald Thompson
Michael Vergason
Susan Werner
Elizabeth Woodbury
Maria Zmurkewycz
Laurence Phillips
Margaret Piper-Presing
Patrick Rizzi
Dorothy Simons
Elaine Thorp
Elizabeth Weathers
Byra Zimmerman
United Way
Karen Beard
Christi Carter
Amy Cloud
Andrew Donnelly
Mary Hash
Janice Hendrix
Jamie Kajouras
Gwen Kinney
Shauna Lee Lange
Lauren Lugo
David Robinson
Dana Schlichtmann
Jessica Siegel
Kathryn Trillas
Other
Jeanne Argoff
The Art League greatly appreciates
Marie Baumann
the generosity of our donors
Linda Bronfin
and sponsors and wishes to
Jim Burford
acknowledge and thank you for
John Burgess
your support.
Edythe Cardon
If we have inadvertantly left your
Edgar Cardwell
name off this list, please contact
Carlos Cecchi
the development department at
Victoria Cowles
703.519.1741 or
Marcia Dullum
kateg@theartleague.org
so that we
Anita Epstein
may
correct
the
omission.
John Farhood
Elizabeth Frownfelter Mark
Catherine Fuller
Helen Ginberg
Gretchen Greene
Lewis Gulick
Barbara Haley
Marilyn Harrington
Katy Hunt
Charles Johnson
Willow Johnson
John Jorgenson
Hans Keithley
Sherman Landau
Andy Lundgren Werner
Patricia McSwain
Raphael Nadeem
Christine Narbut
Deborah Odell
Miriam Olinger
Eunice Pancoast
Fred Pelzman