Bedford-Stuyvesant : FREE SPACE

changing names ... MOVING FORWARD

2005-05-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

While the programming identity known as FREESPACE will remain in use, the process to achieve non-profit and501(c)3 status for its umbrella organization - FREE DIMENSIONAL - is underway with assistance from Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA). For this reason, future program updates will be broadcast from http://freedimproject.blogspot.com.

GOOD NEWS / bad news

2004-11-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Blue Ridge Foundation of New York (BRFNY) has decided not to pursue ‘Bed-Stuy FREE^SPACE’ for its portfolio at this time.

With that out of the way, on to the VERY POSITIVE developments BS/FS has seen in the past week.
· Discussions with representatives of both the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts and the Scholar’s Relief Fund have been instructive for conceptualizing a Cross-Sector Advisory Committee for the BS/FS project.
· After a meeting with Rudy Bryant (Assoc. Director) and Mercedes Narciso (Senior Planner) of the Pratt Institute Center for Community & Environmental Development (PICCED), members of the BS/FS steering committee Todd Lester and Hugo Espinel were directed to five possible sites that might suit projected needs of the BS/FS center:
o Transit Hall at the corner of Willoughby & Nostrand Avenues
o Armory
o Restoration Plaza
o 2 properties near the intersection of Atlantic and Herkimer

· BS/FS is currently in discussions with PICCED to attain institutional support that could manifest itself in a mentorship relationship and desk space from which to operate.

· On Friday, November 12th, Todd Lester attended the ‘Translation vs. Interpretation: Beyond Cultural Competency’ conference hosted by the Brooklyn Borough Hall AND personally delivered a copy of the BS/FS plan to Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office.

· Additionally, copies of the project plan have been mailed to the following three elected officials:
o Albert Vann, Council Member for District 36 (that includes Bed-Stuy)
o Jose Serrano, Council Member and Committee Chairperson for Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations
o Lewis Fidler, Council Member and Committee Chairperson for Youth Services

· On Tuesday, November 17th, an executive summary of the BS/FS project was submitted to the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC); this was an optional step in the competition process that can result in BS/FS receiving a mentor from the Columbia University School of Business.

· The BS/FS project staff welcomes all feedback as they prepare an application for the Echoing Green Fellowship, which is due on December 1st.

· On December 9th, a representative of the BS/FS project will attend the Arts & Business Council’s ‘Cultural Tourism Workshop’

EXPENSES:
(1) The ‘Bedford-Stuyvesant FREE^SPACE’ project recently became an Emerging Member of the Alliance of Artist Communities (http://www.artistcommunities.org/) at a cost of $200.
(2) The BS/FS project will become a member of Fractured Atlas (http://www.fracturedatlas.org/) as the first step to applying for fiscal sponsorship through this organization; Emerging Organization membership dues are $150.

MANAGEMENT CAPACITY-BUILDING

2004-11-04T16:42:00.000-08:00

Todd Lester is currently auditing a course at the New School on Launching a Magazine - to learn more about the proposed publication of the BS/FS project, feel free to email Todd at tl_lester@yahoo.com

CONNECTING

2004-10-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

WITH OTHERS IN THE FIELD

Attended panel discussion of the World Policy Institute entitled Local Citizens or Global Citizens: National Loyalties at Play in an Age of Mass Migration - Focused on transnational issues at the heart of the BS/FS project as well as demographic information for New York City

Met with Kerry McCarthy, an arts consultant familiar with site/building acquisition through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (Nov'04)

Attended national conference of the Alliance of Artist Communities (Oct'04):
o This was a unique opportunity to meet a wide range of practitioners operating artist communities both domestically and internationally. This setting allowed the BS/FS project to assess need and further develop its plan (in the 2nd or 3rd phase) to take on the role of international liaison among artist communities/residencies that wish to host exiled and censored communicators and artists. Once in place, the network will work to avoid lengthy visa processes for program applicants whose urgent situations can be better accomodated by FREESPACE affiliates in other parts of the world. The project looks forward to collaborating with Res Artis on this initiative.

Attended a presentation by Steve Frillman, Executive Director of Green Guerillas to learn about the community garden situation in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Oct'04)

Upcoming Visits:
- Scholar Rescue Fund of the Institute of International Education
- International Center for Migration, Ethnicity & Citizenship – New School Univ.
- The Foundation Center
- PEN American Center
- Center for Economic & Social Rights (Brooklyn)
- Trace Magazine
- Human Rights Watch / Hellman-Hammett Grants Program
- Pratt Institute Center for Community & Environmental Development/ PICCED
- Cities of Asylum (via email)
- Res Artis (via email)

CURRENT READING

The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts & Cultures (Frans Johansson – Harvard Business School Press)
This new book looks at creativity at the intersections of fields, disciplines, and cultures.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Proposed Earned Income / Fee for Service:
Commissioned productions (audiovisual, radio, online, event)
Youth software design
Conference services (use of conference room, courtyard, general facilities)
Cultural and entertainment services (use of theater, stage, technical equipment)
Radio advertisements
Community Television advertisements
Magazine sales and advertisements
Periodic publication sales
University-level instruction module
Permanent rental space for local non-profit organizations
Off-season studio rental
Gallery sales
Café sales
Event ticket sales

Proposed Grants by Sector (Individual/ Social Enterprise & Organizational):

After-school program support
Youth development
Community development
Joint-grants with youth media and arts initiatives
Communications (journalism, censorship, expression)
Humanities and arts in exile (safe haven, travel, advocacy)
Artist community
Facility restoration / historical preservation

IMPORTANT DATES / DEADLINES

Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) Executive Summary due - 17 Nov 04
Echoing Green Fellowship deadline - 01 Dec 04
GSVC Mentor-Entrant Day Workshop @ Columbia University - 11 Dec 04
Thatcher Hoffman Smith Prize application - 15 Jan 05
Echoing Green Fellowship phase two application - Jan-Feb05
GSVC Final Business Plans due - 01 Feb 05
GSVC Semi-finalist Revised Business Plans due - 25 Feb 05
Sparkplug Foundation Grants Application deadline - Spring 05 (grassroots organizing)
GSVC Final Competition (Haas School of Business) - 15 Apr 05
OSI / NYC Community Fellowship Program (NYCCFP) Proposal due-Apr 05
Echoing Green Fellowship selection weekend - May 05
NYCCFP Finalist decisions announced - May 05
NYCCFP Finalist interviews - June 05
NYCCFP Awards announced - July 05
Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship letter of intent - Aug 05
Skoll ASE letter acknowledgement / finalist proposals invited - Sept 05
NYCCFP Start date - Sept 05
Skoll ASE full proposals due - Nov 05
Skoll ASE approved - Feb 06
Skoll ASE announced - Mar 06
Skoll ASE start date for funded programs - Mar/Apr 06

Actions w/o Specific Deadlines:

The Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science, and Technology query
Draper Richards Foundation Fellowship application
Fractured Atlas Fiscal Sponsorship application (1 month – 6 weeks process)

Ø Grants that will be applied for after 501(c)3 status or fiscal sponsorship achieved:
o The Glaser Progress Foundation (independent media)
o Connect US Fund
o The New World Fund – Donor Collaborative: The Take Action Fund for Youth and Community Renewal
o The Media Justice Fund of the Funding Exchange – Community Media Collaboration Grant/ CMC (January 2005 ??)

Alliance of Artist Communities - Conference Expenses:

2004-10-26T20:09:00.001-07:00

Airfare to Albuquerque (using SkyMiles) = $85
Round-trip Shuttle to Santa Fe = $46
Car Service / AirTram (New York) = $35
Conference Registration = $375
Accommodation (3 nights) = $75
Presentation materials (folders) = $4
Meals (Wednesday – Saturday) = $95

TOTAL = $715

Update & Networking Opportunity

2004-10-05T16:47:00.001-07:00

Some of you may have received the kind email from team members of BS/FS soliciting funds for participation in the Reflection to Reinvention: Creativity at Work Conference of the Alliance of Artists Communities to be held next week in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is a relatively big investment for BS/FS at this point; however, it is also an important meeting and network to which the project should belong. If you would like to know more about the conference, see: http://www.artistcommunities.org

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
- On Monday, September 20, '04, the Bedford-Stuyvesant FREE SPACE project was submitted to the Blue Ridge Foundation New York (BRFNY) after final review by Nita Greene, Chris Greene and Todd Lester

- Jesse Willmon has offered to help BS/FS in terms of branding and graphics design

- Brandon Baker has agreed to work with BS/FS to prepare a submission for the 2005 Global Social Venture Competition

- A synopsis of the BS/FS project has been circulated to various individuals for review and feedback

- The timeline for short-term grant proposals is being finalized

CURRENT READING:
(1) 'Culture Counts in Communities: A Framework for Measurement' and the Arts and Culture Indicators in Community Building Project (ACIP) of the Urban Institute
(2) 'Powerful Voices: Developing High-Impact Arts Programs for Teens' from the Surdna Foundation
(3) 'A Resource Guide for Planning and Operating After-School Programs' from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL)
(4) 'Artists from Abroad - Complete Guide to Immigration & Tax Requirement for Foreign Guest Artists'
(5) 'A Voice of Their Own: Youth Media', Chapter 8 from Why Fund Media?

**
If you would like to learn more about the BS/FS project, you can email tl_lester@yahoo.com OR post a comment to the weblog.

Introducing BS/FS

2004-10-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Bedford-Stuyvesant FREE SPACE (BS/FS) is a start-up organization dedicated to fostering transnational citizenship through educational exchange and community development. BS/FS facilities will be physically located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant Community in Brooklyn, New York. The project will create a community-based center that blends high-impact youth programming in arts and media with an international residency program providing safe-haven and creative space to exiled and displaced practitioners in the same fields. The latter will interact with local youth and the community-at-large. We hope that you will join us in building a space for global civic education and free expression in the heart of Brooklyn.

Please feel free to offer ideas and contacts for this project and pose any questions you may have regarding the BS/FS team, timeline, and program development.