Though Community Fund for the Arts interim director Malcolm Robinson is quick to note that “it is never too late to make a donation,” today marks the end of the organization’s 30th annual fundraising campaign.
CFA, which is affiliated with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and provides funding support to 15 area arts organizations, will see some changes as it enters its 31st year, Robinson says.
“It’s not that CFA will disappear, but it probably will change and noticeably so,” he says, adding, “Nothing has been decided yet.”
The changes will be discussed and finalized after incoming Arts Council President and CEO Renee Chatelain takes over the helm in August, says Robinson, who also serves as marketing director for the council.
“She’ll be coming in around mid-August and at that time the (Arts Council) board wants to get together with her and the community and just sort of rethink how we’re supporting the arts now and how we can better support the arts in the future,” he explains.
The Arts Council announced Chatelain’s hiring earlier this month. For the past five years Chatelain has been executive director of the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center in downtown Baton Rouge. She replaces Eric Holowacz, who resigned in February following a vote of no confidence by the board.
CFA supports arts organizations including the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, Baton Rouge Gallery, Foundation for Historical Louisiana, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Of Moving Colors Productions and local National Public Radio affiliate WRKF-FM 89.3, among others.
Though this year has been a difficult one for the arts due to state and federal budget shortfalls, Robinson says, the CFA fundraising campaign has “really not been too bad.” While the annual campaign annually closes with the end of the fiscal year, he says, donations will be welcomed beyond today.
—Steve Sanoski
