As announced on April 22, OAC’s Fiscal Year 2008/2009 biennium budget has been reduced by 10 percent. This reduces the original appropriation of $24,976,322 by a total of $2,497,632 for a new appropriation of $22,478,690 for the biennium.

The Ohio Arts Council’s primary goal was to minimize the impact this cut would have on grantees. Therefore, this cut was executed in three ways: 1) reducing programs which had remaining balances, or unallocated funds, 2) by reducing the agency’s administrative budget, and 3) by cutting existing grants.

All unpaid grants in the following programs were reduced by 7.68 percent: Sustainability (over $1.5 million), Sustainability (under $1.5 million), Arts Access, Arts Innovation, Arts Learning—Arts Partnerships, Building Cultural Diversity Initiative, Capacity Building, Individual Creativity—Artists and Communities, International Partnership and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships.

The Individual Creativity Excellence Awards are included in the recommended cuts. Excellence Awards originally recommended for $5,000 were reduced to $4,000 and those originally recommended for $10,000 were reduced to $8,000.

This budget reduction, combined with no increases in the personal services line for the agency in more than eight years, reductions in our basic state portion of NEA funds, and increasing salary, health care and benefit costs have forced the agency to reduce its number of full-time employees in order to maintain a balanced budget.

Thus, it is with great regret that we announce the layoffs of four highly valued OAC staff members and the subsequent elimination of their positions. This is an incredibly difficult position for a small agency to be in, to lose such valuable people, some of whom have been with the OAC for a very long time and are not only colleagues, but friends as well.

The employees being laid off and the four positions that will be eliminated are:
Donna Sue Groves, Southern Ohio Field Representative
Lacey Luce, Riffe Gallery Marketing Specialist
Nancy Vincent, Receptionist
Sally Winter, Northern Ohio Field Representative

The last day of work for these staff members was June 2, 2008. In addition the contract for Appalachian Arts Program Field Consultant, Caroline Pierson, was not renewed after May 31, 2008. The duties assigned to these positions will be condensed and redistributed to other employees with the necessary experience and expertise to handle them and who already have similar responsibilities.

Two employees have accepted an Early Retirement Incentive. They are Kevin Cary, grants office director and Irene Finck, program coordinator for the Percent for Art and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships programs. (Their last day will be August 29, 2008.)

I want to assure all of our constituents that as we conduct a reorganization of the duties and responsibilities of Sally, Donna Sue, Lacey, Nancy and Caroline, maintaining the quality of our service to the field will always be at the forefront of any decisions made. This will be a difficult time for the agency and we face more challenges ahead. As we prepare for what will undoubtedly be a very complex budget negotiation for FY10/11 funding, your continued efforts on behalf of the OAC will play a vital role in the future health of the arts and culture in Ohio.

Nominations for Ohio Heritage Fellowships are considered in three categories: performing arts (folk dance and music), community leadership and material culture (folk art and crafts). The performing arts and material culture fellowships are given to individuals or groups for their lifelong record of artistic excellence, authenticity and significance. The community leadership fellowship is given to an individual or group whose lifelong achievements have had a lasting positive impact on the excellence, vitality and public appreciation of the folk and traditional arts in Ohio. Self-nomination is not permitted. The deadline for nominations for the 2009 awards is Tuesday, July 15, 2008.