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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Request - Nature of WordsEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: The Nature of Words Organization Description: Established in 2005, The Nature of Words offers Central Oregon residents opportunities to enjoy acclaimed writers visiting the region to share their works, explore their own writing under the guidance of these writers and feedback from peers. The organization has also expanded to include Creative Writing in the Schools program. This is a year-round outreach program that serves underserved and at - risk youth, as well as traditional middle school and high school students. Project Name: The Nature of Words Literary Festival 2011 Project Description: These grant funds will be used to stage the five-day festival, including out -of -area television and radio promotions, author reading and lecture fees, and author -led workshops. Project Period: Event - November 2, 2011 to November 6, 2011 Amount of Request: $3,500 (Estimated total cost for festival = $90,000, with the festival expected to raise $57,000) Previous Grants: • September 2005 — $1,500 (Luke $500; Daly $500; DeWolf $500) • March 2006 - $2,000 (Luke $1,000; Clarno $1,000) • February 2007 - $2,000 (Luke $1,000; Baney $1,000) • April 2008 - $1,000 (Luke $500, Baney $500) • March 2010 - $1,500 (Luke $500; Baney $500; Unger $500) Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Anthony DeBone Date: i • 1 9 - 11 Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Commissioner Alan Unger All Three Commissioners e. N Qdwci.S 13) Coo Applicant/Organization: Address: Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: T-e_i atwto AN) N j P0. sox scp Contact Name(s): EUail .511/.3g3-14/6(0 Tax ID #: City & Zip: Telephone: stfl•ygo .3v3 r• ['.2011 s'// . y 2233 Fax: Email: •Fop`-ncttr,FLoorkig ,,p,r.a On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Alternate Phone: Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Tammy Baney: Amount: Signature: Anthony DeBone: Amount: Signature: Alan Unger: Amount: Signature: (theNatureofWords) April 19, 2011 Mr. David Inbody Deschutes County Administration 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200 Bend, OR 97701-1960 Dear Mr. Inbody, Please find attached The Nature of Words' request for a discretionary grant of $3,500 from Deschutes County's Economic Development Fund. The Nature of Words is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in Deschutes County and serving the greater Central Oregon region. Now in its seventh year, The Nature of Words is proud of its accomplishments as the premier literary arts organization serving Central Oregon with events and year-round programs. Each year, thousands are inspired by acclaimed writers featured at the November literary festival. Students of all ages benefit from the growing number of creative writing and language arts programs and workshops held during the festival and throughout the year. We are very grateful for the support of Deschutes County in previous years and thank you and all the Deschutes County Commissioners for your thoughtful consideration of this request for 2011. Sincerely, Ellen Waterston, Director Enc. 224 NW Oregon • P.O. Box 56 Bend, Oregon 97709 • Tel: 541.647.2233 Fax: 541.317.5937 - Cell: 541.480.3933 www.thenatureofwords.org • Email: info@thenatureofwords.org APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: The Nature of Words CONTACT INFORMATION: Ms. Ellen Waterston, Director The Nature of Words P.O. Box 56 Bend, OR 97709 T: 541-330-4381 C: 541-480-3933 F: 541-383-7406 info@thenatureofwords.org www.thenatureofwords.org PURPOSE, LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE, ACTIVITIES: The mission of The Nature of Vords is to foster an appreciation of the kterary arts and humanities in the high desert region of the Northwest through community interaction with acclaimed authors and through creative writingprograms for students and adults. The Nature of Words was founded in 2005 by Ellen Waterston, an award-winning poet, author and respected instructor of creative writing. Her dual passion for writing and promoting the literary arts converged in The Nature of Words, which began as an annual five-day literary festival held the first week in November in Bend. Over the past seven years, Waterston, as Executive Director, her dedicated Board of Directors, staff and many volunteers have built a highly successful nonprofit organization around the flagship November literary festival. The festival is the only event in Central Oregon offering access to a variety of acclaimed authors in a region that is historically undeserved and limited in its exposure to other large state literary festivals and events. The Nature of Words has a thirteen -member Board of Directors closely involved in the organization. In 2008, the Board adopted a five-year Strategic Plan that helps guide the operations of the organization. The staff has grown to include the Executive Director, Programs Director, Development and Marketing Director and Administrative Assistant. At the annual literary event, NOW presents eight to ten nationally acclaimed authors in five days of readings, lectures, workshops, panel discussions and a culminating gala dinner with the guest authors. Events are held at locations throughout Bend, including the Tower Theatre, Oregon State University -Cascades Campus, Central Oregon Community College, Deschutes Public Library and Umpqua Bank. In 2010, the festival attracted a record-breaking 3,000 attendees. In order to assure community access to the festival, The Nature of Words keeps ticket prices reasonable, offers many free events during the festival, awards student scholarships to author workshops and admits students free -of -charge to author readings. Once the annual literary festival was firmly established, starting in 2006 the organization broadened its purpose and outreach, adding educational programs thoughtfully and responsibly as needs were identified. To date they include: • The Rising Star Creative Writing Competition for young writers • Words Without Walls creative writing residencies, serving Central Oregon's public and alternative education programs, social welfare programs and correctional facilities • The Storefront Project, offering drop-in creative writing programs free -of -charge for middle- and high-school students, specialty workshops, and adult classes at NOW's storefront location in downtown Bend In 2006, NOW launched the annual Rising Star Creative Writing competition for young writers, the winners of which are recognized during the annual literary festival and whose work is included in an annual anthology of student writing. The competition solicits submissions in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, with awards given in three age groups (15- 18, 19-24, 25+) and four genres: poetry, fiction, non-fiction and nature essay. The average number of submissions each year is 200. In 2008, NOW expanded to offer what is referred to as Words Without Walls, offering creative writing residencies in public and alternative schools, social welfare programs, and correctional facilities. The project -based curriculum, developed by Ellen Waterston as a result of her years of instruction experience, culminates with a public performance of student work. Current sites include Sisters Middle School, the Bend High Teen Parent Program, Bend Reading Intervention, the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution, Cascades Academy, Pilot Butte Middle School, Paulina Elementary School and Shepherd's House. In 2010, NOW launched The Storefront Project at its new literary arts center located in downtown Bend, offering twice -weekly, after-school, drop-in creative writing classes and language arts tutoring free -of -charge to area youth as well as story and book -making workshops for regional schools and groups. Instructors are skilled local writers, and workshop themes have included Zen Haiku, 'Zines, Character and Conflict, and Nature Essay. Storefront Project classes average 12 students per class from across Deschutes County. Since 2005, The Nature of Words has benefitted from the steadfast and generous support of Oregon State University -Cascades Campus and Central Oregon Community College. Both provide critical monetary support as well as in-kind contributions in the form of lecture and workshop space during the November event. In addition, NOW collaborates with the Deschutes Public Library, the Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program, the High Desert Journal, Umpqua Bank and locally owned bookstores. PROPOSED PROJECT OR ACTIVITY The Nature of Words respectfully requests $3,500 from the Economic Development Fund of Deschutes County to help offset the costs of The Nature of Words November literary festival. This grant will help pay for the costs associated with promoting and staging the five- day event including out -of -area television and radio promotions, and author reading, lecture, and workshops offered over the course of the five-day festival. TIMELINE The Nature of Words 2011 is scheduled for November 2-6, 2011. The Economic Development funds would be expended on or before October 14, 2011. IMPACT OF THE NATURE OF WORDS ON COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC HEALTH In its first year, The Nature of Words attracted 1,500 attendees at the November literary festival. In 2010, the festival was attended by 3,000 residents of and visitors to Central Oregon. The praise for and interest in NOW's literary event continues to grow. The impact on the regional economy is significant in terms of lodging, restaurant use, and collateral economic impact (countless businesses help produce radio and television spots, print, design, and distribute promotional materials, and a significant number are sub -contracted by The Nature of Words to instruct during the year and plan the November event). It is worth noting that November attendance does not include the 1,500 students involved in year- round programs such as Words Without Walls and The Storefront Project, part of NOW's effort to help offset school budget cuts and the reduction of instruction hours at regional schools. Especially during difficult economic times, it is important to present a culturally rich community to visitors and residents of Central Oregon. NOW is a cultural nonprofit that has survived despite the financial challenges of the current economic climate. This has been accomplished thanks to the efforts of the Board of Directors, the generosity of donors, and efficient management practices. As a nonprofit that serves the youth of the region and also offers a four-star cultural event that attracts people to Deschutes County, NOW is proud to enhance the cultural life of the community and contribute to the education of its young people. SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT The greater Deschutes county population and participants from throughout Central Oregon attend The Nature of Words' November literary celebration, as well as visitors from outside the region. With students admitted to the readings at no charge, student scholarships available for author -led workshops, and multiple free events during the festival, NOW offers festival access to people of all ages and socioeconomic status. Surveys show that people of all ages, levels of income and education are among NOW's festival audience as well as participate in NOW's year-round programs. ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES The cash -based budget for the 2011 literary festival is $90,000. Of that amount, $31,000 is dedicated to author fees and $23,000 to promotion. The expected revenue from the event is approximately $57,000. A detailed budget is available upon request. A discretionary grant from the Economic Development Fund would be used to supplement: A) Promotional activities. A portion of EDF dollars would be used specifically to offset the cost of producing a 30 -second television spot, the airtime for which is being donated to The Nature of Words by Visit Bend, to be aired starting in August from Seattle to northern California via Comcast. B) Guest author fees. Already booked for November are nonfiction writers Augusten Burroughs, Seth Mnookin, Nancy Mairs, and William Kittredge, fiction writers Heidi Durrow and Mark Spragg, and poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil. To date, 2011 fundraising earmarked for the November event have garnered $37,000 in cash with many grant applications and individual and corporate commitments pending. In-kind donations for advertising space are currently $18,000. Donation of venues for workshops and lectures are valued at $2,000 and author lodging at $3,000. The Nature of Words is proud to be an established part of the rich variety of cultural, educational and athletic events and programs offered in Deschutes County. The organization and its events and programs are ongoing throughout the year and are supported by program fees, fundraising and event ticket sales.