​Executive Director's Report

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Executive Director’s Report
January 2019
 
Finances
  • Cash flow: Barring any major surprises, our cash flow situation is fine through the end of the fiscal year, despite some headwinds mentioned elsewhere. This is in part because the bulk of this season’s most lucrative tour dates fell in winter and spring. Estimates as of Jan. 23, 2019:

  • Feb. 1: $44,431
  • Feb. 16: $45,288
  • March 1: $19,033
  • March 16: $45,681
  • April 1: $38,419
  • April 16: $34,524
  • May 1: $37,350
  • May 16: $58,115
  • June 1: $50,491
  • June 16: $42,322
  • July 1: $37,010
  • July 16: $23,901

  • NEA: Cantus received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, but NEA funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis. I filed the paperwork for the first portion of our reimbursement in December – just before the government shut down. Although it’s difficult to estimate when that money will arrive, our cash-flow situation should be OK without it in the short-term (for the estimates here, I have arbitrarily placed its arrival in March).
 
Fundraising
  • Grants:
    • MSAB Arts Access: As you know, Cantus secured a grant to work with Voices of Hope, a choir of inmates at the Shakopee correctional facility. We received the necessary approvals from the prison in advance of submitting our grant proposal to the MSAB – however, there has been staff turnover at the prison, and in late December Shakopee rejected our plan without explanation. Jeff is reaching out to ask if Cantus can appeal or if we can get enough feedback to adapt our project appropriately. Because there is a real risk we will need to return this $28,000 grant to the MSAB, it is not factored into cash flow.
    • Target Foundation: Target is bowing out of arts funding over the next three years. Our Target program officer said we will receive a one-time “bridge grant” this winter (not factored into cash flow because the amount is TBD) and the opportunity to apply for significantly reduced “phase out” grants over the next three years. This change extends beyond Cantus – I have spoken with colleagues at the SPCO, Textile Center, Vocal Essence, TCGMC, and Minnesota Chorale who have received the same news.
    • Grants received:
      • Wenger Foundation: $5,000 for general operating
      • Twin Cities Opera Guild: $2,000 for HSR
    • Proposal pending: MSAB general operating, submitted Jan. 18 with notification in July
    • Upcoming: New Music USA (Jan. 31) and MSAB Arts Learning (Feb. 8)
 
General and Admin
  • Focus groups: Thank you to Beth Anne for leading a very compelling focus group of current and recently lapsed subscribers on Jan. 19. We are now working to assemble a second focus group. 
  • Institutional marketing: Cantus released a short video of “Still, Still, Still” (recorded live at the Dec. 20 concert at St. Thomas) on Christmas Eve; we expect to have similar (non-holiday) video content to release soon.
  • Young/emerging composer’s competition: As shared at a previous meeting, Cantus will launch a competition for young composers’ competition in conjunction with our 25th season. The competition will be rolled out in the next week or so, with submissions due in the spring, and the winning composition(s) will be performed on a program next year.