Press Room
CERF+news
e-news | Oct. 2007
News from the CERF+ | October 2007
Jeanne Kirby, Communications and Events Coordinator
news@craftemergency.org
(802) 229-2306
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The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) is taking action to respond to the community of craft artists affected by the Southern California Wildfires. We are reaching out to artists, arts organizations, galleries, businesses and others in the affected areas to offer assistance and to locate information about the arts community. While it is still too early to know the extent of damage, we do know that the situation is severe as news reports indicate. We also know that this area of California has a significant population of craft artists. We have already heard from a jeweler who lost both her home and studio and CERF+ Trustee and clay artist, Lana Wilson, had to be evacuated from her Del Mar home. Please help us spread the word that CERF+ is available to offer assistance to craft artists in Southern California by forwarding this e-mail to your contacts or by sending your contact information of craft artists in this region to CERF+. Please also be aware that your support of our work during these times is essential so that we can deliver aid quickly and effectively. |
In this Issue
Arts Action News: Federal Legislative Update
- Artist Deduction Bill Gaining Co-Sponsors
Program News
- CERF+ Expands Financial Assistance
- SNAG Members Participate in CERF+ Business Insurance Survey
- CERF+ Appoints Three New Trustees
Fundraising News
- CERF+’s Boris Bally Charm Selling Fast
- A Month for CERF+
- seed|bud|bloom Goes to SOFA Chicago
- Upcoming Guild Events to Benefit CERF+
Arts Action News: Federal Legislative Update
Artist Deduction Bill Gaining Co-Sponsors
On Arts Advocacy Day this past March, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) introduced the Artists-Museum Partnership Act – a bill to provide a fair-market value tax deduction for works of arts donated by artists to arts institutions. This bill, H.R. 1524, also sponsored by Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) has been gaining Congressional co-sponsors, now standing at 58, with a number of them serving on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee. The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT) has 25 co-sponsors. The Congressional Arts Caucus recently circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter inviting members to join the bill as a co-sponsor. Click here to read an Action Alert from Americans for the Arts.
Program News
CERF+ Expands Financial Assistance
CERF+ is pleased to announce that it will provide grants to professional craft artists for any career-threatening emergency such as studio fires, which were previously only eligible for no-interest loans. CERF+ has also extended financial assistance (grants and loans) to artists who may not meet the requirement that 50% or more of their income derives from the sale of their work, but who have a demonstrable commitment to their work and have made substantial contributions to the craft field. To review CERF+’s eligibility requirements for financial assistance, please click here.
SNAG Members Participate in CERF+ Business Insurance Survey
Over 550 members of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) responded to CERF+�s Business Insurance Survey in September. In November, the survey will be distributed to members of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) and the Glass Art Society (GAS). CERF+ is studying the business insurance practices of craft artists who belong to major craft organizations. Surveying by craft medium will make it possible to determine if significant differences relating to business insurance exist between craft media, and will provide organizations with information on the feasibility of offering group business insurance plans to their members.
CERF+ Appoints Three New Trustees
The CERF+ board appointed three new trustees at its September board meeting held this year in Montpelier, Vermont. All trustees began three-year terms following the meeting. Newly-appointed trustees are:
- Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO, Americans for the Arts (Washington, D.C.)
- Gwen Magee, Textile Artist (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Toni Sikes, Founder and CEO, The Guild (Madison, Wisconsin)
At the meeting, the CERF+ board and staff gave a fond farewell to retiring trustee and former Chair, Jorge Arango who served on the Board for six years.
Fundraising News
CERF+’s Boris Bally Charm Selling Fast
CERF+’s 2007 limited edition charm created by metalsmith Boris Bally is a hit with both women and men. If you’re looking to show your support of CERF+ then consider purchasing a Boris Bally hammer charm. The charm sells for $45 and is available through CERF+, as well as the Fuller Craft Museum Shop in Brockton, Massachusetts. Click here for more information.
A Month for CERF+
Contributions from this year’s A Month for CERF+ 2007 participants are starting to arrive at the CERF+ office. To date, we have received nearly $25,000 from participating galleries, online markets, show producers, and individual craft artists who hosted a wide variety of fundraisers, including raffles, auctions, and seconds sales. You can read about CERF+’s A Month for CERF+ partners by clicking here.
seed|bud|bloom Goes to SOFA Chicago
At 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 4 at SOFA Chicago, CERF+ will conduct a drawing for one very fortunate person to win the entire seed|bud|bloom collection of miniatures. Tickets ($50 each or books of 5 tickets for $200) are still available for sale online and through the CERF+ office until 3 p.m., Friday, November 2. Tickets are on sale during the SOFA Chicago show, November 1- 4. Contributing artists include: Lanny Bergner, Angela Bubash, Ellie Burke, Harlan W. Butt, David K. Chatt, Kim Cridler, Jaclyn Davidson, Miriam Di Fiore, Ron Fleming, Jill Baker Gower, Mary Merkel-Hess, Marilynn Host, Lissa Hunter, Michael Kline, Micki Lippe, Robert Micklesen, Sarah Obrecht, Tania Radda, JoAnne Russo, Heather Allen-Swarttouw, Ema Tanigaki, Don Vanderpot, Helen Frost Way, and Kimberly Winkle.
Upcoming Guild Events to Benefit CERF+
The Guild has chosen CERF+ as a non-profit partner for their new art fair, The Artful Home Show, in New York City this November. CERF+ supporters receive complimentary tickets, and 10% of purchases made at the Show by supporters will be donated to CERF+. Click here to download complimentary tickets. Enter the password SHOWTICKETS when prompted.
For a third year in a row, The Guild has chosen CERF+ as its holiday charitable partner. Until December 31, The Guild will donate a portion of every sale from the Artful Gifts catalog to the CERF+. Two CERF+ beneficiaries who are also Guild artists will be featured on The Guild’s website. Last year, The Guild contributed over $12,000 to CERF+.
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