THE KEY TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY

CONTENTS

4 Our Mission and Values

6 Growing Our Reach: 2019 Funding

7 YSO Transforms

8 Don’t Fear the Fringe

9 Seniors Spin Poi

10 Tracking our Progress

12 A Look into 2020: Four Tiers of Support

16 Our Team-The Cultural Alliance of York County’s current and past leadership

Dear Residents of York County,

This year’s Impact Report celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Cultural Alliance of York County! For the past two decades, the Cultural Alliance has been the catalyst in bringing people together to promote the value and role of arts and culture in the development of a thriving community.

In 2019, the unifying power of arts and culture was on full display in York County. Over 275,000 friends, neighbors and visitors shared in arts and culture experiences funded by you through the Cultural Alliance of York County. Last year, the CAYC funded 107 arts experiences from large to small, that brought people of all ages together through performances, exhibits, and history. We are proud to share the 2019 accomplishments of our organization and of our partners and grant recipients on the following pages.

We have deep gratitude for all of our contributors and volunteers who support the arts in York County and beyond. You are the key for children to have access to the arts, adults to rediscover their passions, and our whole community to see the value in creative expression and cultural learning.

As a result of our three-year listening project, we received valuable feedback about strengthening arts and culture in our community. In 2020, we are changing our operating model to be more inclusive and diverse. We are changing our allocations process to achieve greater equity and diversify our grantmaking. We will bring new arts and culture organizations into our operational funding model as well as offer funding to individual artists who live and work in York County. While a more inclusive and diverse operating model will enable greater opportunities to grow operational funding for our partners and members, we have launched our Pillars Endowment initiative to further strengthen the Cultural Alliance as the primary support system for the arts and maximize the operational dollars being invested for arts and culture, both now and for future generations.

On behalf of the current board and staff, we thank those who came before us and laid the foundation for our success: all of our founding corporate leaders, including our champion Arthur J. Glatfelter; the hundreds of volunteers who helped with making each annual campaign a success; our corporate, foundation and individual contributors; and our cultural partners and artists who constantly move the needle forward on awakening the arts in our community. We thank all of you for your steadfast support for the arts and culture in our community. Your continued support provides universal access for all residents to experience a more meaningful and enjoyable life here in York County. We know a strong and successful York is dependent on a strong and successful arts and culture sector. As we embark on our 20th Annual Campaign in 2020, we have set an ambitious goal to raise $1 million. We have set a new and more impactful vision for the Cultural Alliance of York County and you are the key to making this vision a reality!

Anthony P. Campisi, Board Chair

THE KEY TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY

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Strong organizations are grounded in their mission, vision, and

values — we are no exception.

Planning for our future helped us see our need to focus on not only the

groups we fund, but the residents that we ultimately serve. Our

values help guide how we do our work,

but also affirm our commitment to serving our community through

everything we do.

MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

CATALYST FOR CHANGEWe recognize that our society is challenged to overcome a complex web of inequities, and we believe that we exist to support all of York County’s residents and strive to lead by listening and acting in partnership with our cultural partners and community residents.

STEWARDSHIPWe are accountable to all County residents for ensuring that resources – both human and financial – are managed prudently and to their best use now and for years to come.

PURPOSE-DRIVENWe value continuous improvement and strive to bring a spirit of innovation and creativity to all of our work. Recognizing that stewardship of resources can require us to act boldly as well as thoughtfully, we actively seek out new opportunities in line with our values.

TRUSTWe operate with integrity and strive to be worthy of the public’s trust. We operate transparently and openly, and we assume positive intent, actively seeking the best in each person and situation.

We are a Catalyst, fueling the creative energy and vibrancy of our community through Leadership, Collaboration, and Sustainability in order to enrich the quality of life of all of our citizens.

We envision a thriving York County where the arts are an integral component of economic growth and development, tourism, education, and everyday life.

We believe we can go farther together. We nurture the relationships that we have and actively seek out new partnerships that will enable us to better serve the entire population of York County.

Commitment to serving our community through everything we do.

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Michael Reichman These are the projects that truly moved the Symphony

forward as an institution and dramatically increased our community impact. Without those operating dollars, the YSO would be like running on a hamster wheel — burning a lot of calories, but never really getting anywhere.

Our partners receive the operational funds they need to keep their lights on and do the extraordinary work they were created to do.

York Symphony Orchestra: Eyes on the Future

With their eyes on sustainability and growth, the York Symphony Orchestra has spent much of 2019, refining their operations, in terms of codifying their strategic plan, retooling their Young Person’s Concert, and building their chair-naming endowment initiative. This type of strategic focus on the part of the organization is exactly what operational funding, provided by the Cultural Alliance of York County, is created to do. Operational funding, the most difficult type of funding for an organization to receive, can sometimes be what opens a window of opportunity to move forward. The time it takes to prepare an endowment campaign, as the YSO has done this year, is no small feat; all while simultaneously maintaining their high standard of excellence in performance.

OPERATIONAL FUNDING

GROWING OUR REACH 2019 OVERVIEW

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PA Partners in the Arts is a partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to grant money regionally. Through the Cultural Alliance, PPA re-grants state tax funds to support a wide variety of community arts activities in Fulton, Franklin, Adams, and York counties.

Spotlight: The York Fringe Festival

Attendees who managed to get a ticket to “Don’t Read the Comments” piled into the second floor private room at Revival Cafe for the opening night of the York Fringe Festival. What ensued was a dramatic if not silly reading of Facebook comments about York City and all of its highs and lows. In fact, if you were to stop into almost any bar/restaurant in downtown York during the York Fringe Festival and you are sure to have a one of a kind performing arts experience. From magic to music, family friendly to risqué, the 2019 fringe fest, a Creative Impact Award and Give Local York Match Grant recipient is a newer organization with a lot to offer as they work to integrate the performing arts more into the everyday lives of York County residents.

Imagine learning the core components of geometry using yoga, or visual art, or using professional level photography skills to learn what it would have been like historically, to be an immigrant coming to America in the 1800’s.

Through our partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Cultural Alliance brings this type of unique and powerful educational experience to life.

Source: “The Social Wellbeing of New York City Neighborhoods: The Contribution of Culture and the Arts” University of Pennsylvania

ARTS IN EDUCATION

When Arts in Education Director Justin Ayala met local poi artist Chris Tamburro, a great opportunity presented itself. Poi, the art of spinning a weighted ball on the end of a string, to create increasingly more complex patterns and movements, has recently been gaining popularity world-wide. Enter Dr. Kate Riegle van West, who made headlines in New Zealand with her recent research study into the health benefits of senior citizens learning to spin poi. With the help of Dr. van West, a team was created to build the first ever senior citizen poi spinning program in the United States. Seniors who participated reflected the New Zealand study results, including increased coordination, increased range of motion, and a decrease in complaints of joint pain, not to mention, they had fun doing it!

Justin Ayala

Thelaughter

in the room says it all.

Spotlight: Arts and Health Enhancing Lives at the Northeastern Senior Center

5%DECREASE in obesity

18%DECREASE in the serious crime rate

The presence of cultural resources is associated with . . .

2019 Numbers at a Glance

Residency Partnerships318,259 students, teachers,

and parents served

14% DECREASE

in cases of child abuse and neglect

PROJECT FUNDING

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$157,263Total Experiences Funded

Total Awarded for Arts Experiences

107

YORK FRINGE 40Over

1,249Attendees

$9,735Amount Paid to Artists

Performances in days5

Creative Impact AwardsPennsylvania Council on the Arts Project Stream Grants

Give Local York Arts Match

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York Junior Symphony Orchestra York Youth Symphony Orchestra York Symphony Orchestra Creative York York Art Association Greater York Dance The Appell Center for Per-forming Arts The York County History Center DreamWrights Center for Community Arts Eichelberger Performing Arts Center Goodridge Freedom Center Greater York Dance Gusa World Music Festival Hanover Area Historical Society Hanover Symphony Orchestra Hard Bargains 1777 Historic Prospect Hill Cemetery Heritage Foundation Historic Wrightsville Incorporated Human Library: York/Downtown Inc. Inclusive Arts Movement York Kable House Presents/Downtown Inc. Lyric Band of Hanover, Inc. Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society Northern York Historical Society and Preservation Old Fire Farts of York County PA Opera Susquehanna OrangeMite Studios Penn-Mar Irish Festival Police Heritage Museum, Inc. SHINE Foundation Steam Into History Susquehanna Heritage The Belmont Theatre The Grotto Community Center The Parliament Theatre Arts For Everyone (TAFE) Upstart Arts York African American Historical Preservation Society York County Honors Choirs York Fringe Downtown Inc. Get-tysburg Community Theatre York City Special Events Give Local York York Federal Fellows Alumni SpiriTrust Lutheran Unforgettable Big Band Yorktowne Hotel York County Bar Foundation Dillsburg Arts & Revitalization Council The Handsome Cab Crocodiledog Marketing Dallastown Area School District Artistic New Directions Cobblestone Play-ers Studio 117 Keystone Kidspace Jessica and Friends YMCA of York County Gettysburg College Children’s Choir Ophelia Chambliss Warfordsburg Senior Citizens Club Inc. Chapel United Methodist Church York County Industrial Development Authority Y.O.U.T.H. Program, Inc./Teaching Museum for the Fiber Arts and Textiles William Cromwell Art of Recycle Gutherie Memorial Library Creative York Bell Socialization Services Animal Advocates of South Central PA Educated Voices of Hip Hop Crispus Attucks Asso-ciation Stewartstown Senior Center Nicodemus Center for Ceramic Studies Discover DanceWorks Downtown Chambersburg Inc. Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice Hope Fleece-MES/MMS Musical Art Alliance of Greater Waynesboro Noreen Mann-MHS Musical Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, Inc KDO Academy TAC Residency York School of Technology Edgar Fahs Smith STEAM Academy York Academy Regional Charter Upper School Wellsville Elementary South Mountain Elementary Northern Elementary Dillsburg Elementary Upper Adams Senior Center Biglerville Elementary School Bendersville Elementary School Arentsville Elementary School Southern Fulton Junior & Senior High School Red Lion Golden Connections Senior Center Gettysburg Montessori Charter School Littlestown Senior Center Phineas Davis k-8 Salvation Army Northeastern Se-nior Center Alloway Creek Elementary School York Regional Academy Charter School Falling Spring Elementary School Lurgan Elementary School James Buchanan Middle School Chambersburg Home School Group Fendrick Library Adams County Head Start Spring Grove High School Shrewsbury Elementary School Fulton County Library White Rose Senior Center York Junior Symphony Orchestra York Youth Symphony Orchestra York Symphony Orchestra Creative York York Art Association Greater York Dance The Appell Center for Performing Arts The York County History Center DreamWrights Center for Community Arts Eichelberger Performing Arts Center Goodridge Freedom Center Greater York Dance Gusa World Music Festival Hanover Area Historical Society Hanover Symphony Orchestra Hard Bargains 1777 Historic Prospect Hill Cemetery Heritage Foundation Historic Wrightsville Incorporated Human Library: York/Downtown Inc. Inclusive Arts Movement York Kable House Presents/Downtown Inc. Lyric Band of Ha-nover, Inc. Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society Northern York Historical Society and Preservation Old Fire Farts of York County PA Opera Susquehanna OrangeMite Studios Penn-Mar Irish Festival Police Heritage Museum, Inc. SHINE Foundation Steam Into History Susquehanna Heritage The Belmont Theatre The Grotto Com-munity Center The Parliament Theatre Arts For Everyone (TAFE) Upstart Arts York African American Historical Preservation Society York County Honors Choirs York Fringe Downtown Inc. Gettysburg Community Theatre York City Special Events Give Local York York Federal Fellows Alumni SpiriTrust Lutheran Unforgettable Big Band Yorktowne Hotel York County Bar Foundation Dillsburg Arts & Revitalization Council The Handsome Cab Crocodiledog Marketing Dallastown Area School District Artistic New Direc-tions Cobblestone Players Studio 117 Keystone Kidspace Jessica and Friends YMCA of York County Gettysburg College Children’s Choir Ophelia Chambliss Warfordsburg Senior Citizens Club Inc. Chapel United Methodist Church York County Industrial Development Authority Y.O.U.T.H. Program, Inc./Teaching Museum for the Fiber Arts and Textiles William Cromwell Art of Recycle Gutherie Memorial Library Creative York Bell Socialization Services Animal Advocates of South Central PA Educated Voices of Hip Hop Crispus Attucks Association Stewartstown Senior Center Nicodemus Center for Ceramic Studies Discover DanceWorks Downtown Chambersburg Inc. Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice Hope Fleece-MES/MMS Musical Art Alliance of Greater Waynesboro Noreen Mann-MHS Musical Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, Inc KDO Academy TAC Residency York School of Technology Edgar Fahs Smith STEAM Academy York Academy Regional Charter Upper School Wellsville Elementary South Mountain Ele-mentary Northern Elementary Dillsburg Elementary Upper Adams Senior Center Biglerville Elementary School Bendersville Elementary School Arentsville Elementary School Southern Fulton Junior & Senior High School Red Lion Golden Connections Senior Center Gettysburg Montessori Charter School Littlestown Senior Center Phineas Davis k-8 Salvation Army Northeastern Senior Center Alloway Creek Elementary School York Regional Academy Charter School Falling Spring Elementary School Lurgan Elementary School James Buchanan Middle School Chambersburg Home School Group Fendrick Library Adams County Head Start Spring Grove High School Shrewsbury Elementary School Fulton County Library White Rose Senior Center York Junior Symphony Orchestra York Youth Symphony Orchestra York Symphony Orchestra Creative York York Art

TRACKING OUR PROGRESS

Arts In Education

Operational

Project

YorkAdamsFranklinFulton

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The Cultural Alliance has made some truly great discoveries which may never have surfaced had we not gone out and asked.

Four Tiers of Operational Support

Over the past three years of listening to feedback from our partners, prototyping new ideas, and testing outside of the box possibilities, the Cultural Alliance has made some truly great discoveries which may never have surfaced had we not gone out and asked. This thorough process has led us to the creation of a new model of operational funding, so that we can not only sustain what we have built into the foreseeable future, but continue to expand our reach in terms of partners and operational funding.

A LOOK INTO 2020

MISSION PARTNERS IMPACT PARTNERS TRANSFORMATION TIER ARTIST TIER

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Laying the groundwork

The heart of our organization

In 2020, we will lay the groundwork for outstanding arts and culture organizations to receive operational funding from the Cultural Alliance. We look forward to opening our doors to a variety of new partnerships to extend the reach of our operational funding and bolster our connections to the many arts and culture organizations in York County doing great work.

In 2020, and beyond, our Mission Partners will be at the heart of our organization. Long-standing partners who have been with us for at least three years, and maintain a high standard of excellence in their offerings to the community.

These organizations will receive much needed operational funding.

MISSION PARTNERS IMPACT PARTNERS

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Importance of personal interactions

Playing a role in the direction of our larger community

Jess McPherson had the opportunity to see first-hand the boundless opportunity we have at our fingertips when we speak about the artists who choose to live and work in York County. During her internship with the Cultural Alliance, Jess conducted in-depth empathy interviews with area artists to find out what type of support is missing in this sector. One of her big takeaways is the importance of these personal interactions, which can make an artist who may get overlooked at times, feel valued.

What Jess heard, and has experienced personally, is that to get to the next level in their practice or career, there are high hurdles which artists simply couldn’t jump on their own. Especially for artists whose “time and resources were stretched thin by the demands of family and non-art-making employment.” – Jess McPherson The Cultural Alliance will provide resources to these artists through professional development grants and an annual artist award. These resources uplift the art community as a whole, bring additional visitors into an art-centric community, and have significant economic development impact.

It doesn’t always take much to energize and reinvigorate a small community like that of York County artists, and in the case of Jess McPherson, it only took the time to grab a cup of coffee and listen.

It’s no secret that York City is undergoing an immense transformation. From the complete remodel of the Yorktowne Hotel to the addition of the Keystone Kidspace and the new site of the York County History Center. Big things are happening in York, many of them hinged on the art and culture of the city.

While spending time with our partners and collaborators in the last year, the idea resurfaced over and over that the Cultural Alliance should play a role in helping new and challenged arts organizations to thrive. Now with the Transformation Tier, the Cultural Alliance will be able to support those organizations and play a role in the expansion of our community which has already begun.

TRANSFORMATION TIER

ARTIST TIER

Photo credit: Vintage Wine FestPhoto credit: Troy Patterson, Catch and Release Press

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Directors Emeritus

Jody Appell

Arthur J. Glatfelter

Robert Pullo

William H. Simpson

Thomas Wolf

Cultural Alliance Staff

Kelley Gibson, President

Rita Whitney, Director of Communications & Engagement

Jennifer Glassmyer, Campaign Director

Justin Ayala, Arts in Education Regional Director

Cultural Alliance Board of Directors

Anthony P. Campisi, Chair

William Yanavitch, II, Chair-Elect

Erin McGlaughlin, Treasurer

David Kennedy, Secretary/Past Chair

Paula Vitz, Chair of Fund Development

Jim Fowler, Chair of Allocations

Board Members

Jared Bean

Suzanne Becker

Thais Carrero

Dominic DelliCarpini

Loren Kroh

Fran Polk

Rebecca Shanaman

Giana Van Nice

OUR TEAM

Special thanks to those whose work and wisdom have made the past 20 years possible.

CULTURAL ALLIAN

CEYORK

COUN

TY

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culturalyork.org

717.812.9255 | 14 West Market Street, York, PA 17401