Schools across Oregon and Southwest Washington may need to revise their scheduling of visiting artists for classes and assemblies as the nonprofit organization, Arts for Learning Northwest (ALNW), grapples with significant financial challenges.
The nonprofit, which connects performers and artists with teaching positions in schools, has hit a critical point, leading to a pause in in-school performances, workshops, and residencies as of June 6 due to insufficient funding.
ALNW’s network of over 70 artists provide diverse arts education experiences, including aerial performances, Ghanaian drumming, drama, mask-making, and ceramics, serving approximately 50,000 students every year.
However, recent internal communications and interviews with numerous artists reveal the nonprofit’s precarious financial situation, exacerbated by the abrupt resignation of its executive director last month.
The organization’s troubles intensified in May when a crucial $40,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts was placed “on hold for review,” rather than being terminated outright as has happened with several other local arts organizations.
Lauren Jost, who was then the executive director, communicated the severity of the situation in a May 12 email to teaching artists, referring to a decline in reliable funding sources as they approached the next fiscal year.
Following Jost’s resignation on May 21 and a subsequent emergency board meeting, the board disclosed the extent of ALNW’s financial challenges in a June 6 email, describing the previous year’s budget as “tight but manageable” and painting an overly optimistic picture of the organization’s financial health.
This situation has raised significant concerns among the artists relying on ALNW for their livelihoods.
Michelle Fujii, co-director of the taiko drumming ensemble Unit Souzou and a member of ALNW’s roster since 2005, explained that her contracts provide at least half of her income.
Just after the announcement of the financial difficulties, she discovered that her paycheck was delayed by two weeks, causing anxiety among the artists connected to the organization.
Fujii expressed disbelief at the speed at which the situation deteriorated, feeling as if the board took advantage of the teaching artists.
Many of these artists, including Fujii, work as independent contractors, leading to a reliance on ALNW to manage their scheduling and contracts, with the nonprofit taking a 30% cut of their fees.
With the current pause in programming, artists are now left to navigate the application and scheduling process independently.
This predicament is particularly concerning for cultural artists who might face language barriers, making it harder for them to connect with schools.
In response, Fujii and several artists have formed an informal collective to provide mutual support throughout this tumultuous period and have urged the board to publicly address the funding shortfall so artists could begin reaching out to schools immediately.
Jen Hernandez, a Corvallis illustrator and ALNW artist since 2022, noted that she relies on the organization for about 30% of her income.
Hernandez, who hopes to open a community art studio in Corvallis, expressed her gratitude for the opportunities ALNW has provided while recognizing the significance of such organizations in the promotion of arts education.
She pointed out that without effective advocacy from ALNW, teachers and school principals might overlook the value of arts education.
Both Fujii and Hernandez highlighted the essential role ALNW has played in championing arts education, suggesting that the absence of the organization could significantly impact students’ artistic experiences.
In a written statement, ALNW’s board acknowledged the challenges being faced during this leadership transition and emphasized the importance of focusing on financial planning.
While two of ALNW’s spinoff programs, the Right Brain Initiative and the Arts Care and Connection Project, will continue to operate at a reduced capacity, the organization has temporarily ceased other activities.
The Right Brain Initiative aims to integrate the arts into everyday learning and will maintain its partnerships with Hillsboro and Gresham-Barlow schools.
Despite the setbacks, the board stated a commitment to making arts and creativity accessible to all, conveying hope for a relaunch of the core Right Brain Initiative this coming fall.
Generations of students from Portland Public Schools can remember participating in ALNW’s “Run for the Arts” fundraiser, a crucial revenue source for the organization that has seen a decline in school participation over the last five years.
The latest tax filings for the organization reveal a net loss of approximately $400,000 for the fiscal year ending in June 2023, following a net gain of $40,000 the previous year.
The financial strain on ALNW reinforces a broader trend noted within arts organizations, where funding and support has become uncertain and inconsistent.
The future of ALNW remains uncertain, but artists and supporters are striving to maintain the essential presence of arts education in schools, recognizing the fundamental impact it has on students’ lives and creative development.
image source from：wweek
