Tapping that goodwill is an arduous task that often falls to an organization's board of directors. Further, Feinstein said that arts groups also are competing with other causes, such as health care, education and housing. That's understandable but it leaves arts with a thin opportunity. Feinstein said he believes the time has come for arts organizations to coalesce to apply as one force for large sums of money from private foundations. Individual community members also have a role to play in subsidizing the arts.
Communities have to want their cultural resources.
She said many people mistakenly believe that wealthy philanthropists are the only ones needed to shoulder support for the arts. At the Northampton Arts Council, the role of grant writing and raising funds from the private sector falls to Kasper and Bob Cilman, the council's other co-director. Having the city pay their salaries means the money they raise goes entirely to furthering the cause of arts in the city. The council does not need to have grants underwrite administrative costs. That's a key factor.