NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Of Moving Colors Productions

The recipient entity's physical address:
           Of Moving Colors
2016 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           Of Moving Colors
PO Box 14700
Baton Rouge, LA. 70898


Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Lisa Hooks

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0981

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $100,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

OFFICERS
Jessica Rury, President
4422 Tupello Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Pamela Matassa, Vice President
10751 Bird Song Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Amber Russ, Secretary
8345 Perkins Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Chandra Mims Daniel, Treasurer
36486 Rue La Monte Ct
Prairieville, LA 70769

GENERAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Thomas Angers
5707 College Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Jared Braud
545 Wiltz Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

LeeAnn Kozan
3565 Cole Drive
Baton Rouge, LA. 70806

Claire Major
7555 Boyce Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Paula Merrick Roddy
22624 Plainsland Dr.
Zachary, LA 70791

Matt Doiron
3722 Churchill Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA, 70808

BUSINESS DIRECTORS:
Anna Schwab, Incoming Executive Director
(incoming August 1, 2022)
461 Beverly Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Garland Goodwin Wilson, Artistic Director
2077 Ramsey Drive
Baton Rouge, LA. 70808


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The proposed project is the 35th Anniversary Season for Of Moving Colors (OMC). OMC is a contemporary dance-theatre organization that has been enriching the cultural landscape of Baton Rouge for 35 years. The company was founded in 1987 under Lisa Hooks Murray. In 1998, Garland Goodwin Wilson assumed the role of Artistic Director alongside LeeAnn Kozan as Executive Director.

OMC helps develop and sustain Louisiana’s dance community, providing a rare source for paid dance opportunities in the state. Depending upon programmatic needs, upwards of 15 professional dancers are hired on a
contractual basis along with up to 10 guest artists and teachers. Each season 3 major performances take place and nearly 300 individual program sessions, ranging from classes to workshops and collaborative cultural initiatives. OMC is widely known for collaborations with many other entities in Louisiana such as the New Orleans Ballet Association, Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the Baton Rouge Chamber, the Baton Rouge Downtown Development District, Lafayette's Basin Arts, the Parkinson's Foundation and American Cancer Society. Additional collaborations with arts organizations such as the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Baton Rouge Gallery, LSU Museum, Louisiana Arts and Science Museum and LSU's School of Design

Many dancers receive their first professional work through OMC. Some have developed into prominent artists such as Martha Graham soloist Blakeley White-McGuire. Over the past decade, artists the likes of internationally recognized guest artists Netta Yerushalmy and Christian von Howard have created work, led Master Classes and held workshops as part of OMC’s Master Artist Program.

OMC’s outreach efforts benefit an average of 10,000 people each year including many who live below poverty level. Dance is brought into public schools, festivals, libraries and outdoor spaces. Since 2008, over 1,000 scholarships have been extended to children for participation in OMC programs. A new initiative, a protégé program engages aspiring teens and provides mentorship by professional dancers. In addition to traditional performances and training, OMC offers wellness classes, including Pilates, Gyrokenesis and Dance for Parkinson’s, which is supported by The Parkinson's Foundation.

This year, OMC's season includes an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello which will be supported in part by this funding along with OMC's community performance of Kick It Out which is now in its twelfth year.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000
          Professional Services. . . $20,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $3,000
          Operating Services. . . . $25,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $7,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Of Moving Colors OMC is a contemporary dance-theatre organization whose mission and purpose is dedicated to creating and presenting excellent performances and community-based dance activities that inspire, educate, and stimulate. OMC is equally committed to offering admirable opportunities to dancers in our community in the form of master classes, guest residencies, and paid work in order to further the validity of the dance profession in Louisiana.

This funding will be a miraculous resource for OMC as we and many other arts organizations in the state are still crawling through the rubble of COVID-19. It will assist the organization in our onboarding of our new Executive Director, enable us to launch our 35th anniversary season with confidence which will aid in our development initiatives thus producing more stabilized funding. It will provide funding to better facilitate our upcoming strategic planning retreat and also help us with our programming, specifically for our new spring work, OTHELLO. OMC will create and premiere an original dance adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, The Moore of Venice: a classic tale of racism, gender inequality, jealousy, and trust. Such issues are particularly acute in the contemporary South. This production will feature work created by nationally recognized choreographers and creators as well as provide opportunities for local professional dancers, musicians, and artists to have paid work. In addition to public performances, OMC will offer educational master classes for adults and a special performance for public high school students. A discussion program at the university level is also under consideration.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Our goals and objectives are to fulfill our mission and values. Previously written above, our mission is best fulfilled as the following adopted values are respected:

VALUE STATEMENTS
• We believe that every thriving city is colored with a flourishing arts scene, and that contemporary dance is an important part of that arts scene.
• We believe in the transformative power of the live, in-person arts experience and the value of bringing people together to interact and respond.
• We believe that artists are visionaries, inventors, and innovators who question and push boundaries, leading the development of trends and ideas.
• We believe that alongside artistic vision comes a responsibility to connect with one’s audience and outlying community.
• We believe that dance is a natural outlet for social and cultural diversity, and therefore provides a vein of unity to a fragmented society.

GOAL ONE: OFFERING PERFORMANCE:
to ignite the public with inspiration and motivation through performance

OBJECTIVES
• Build on the rich foundation of a 32-year-old company. We will continue our season of works and offer new opportunities for our community to attend live performances. In strengthening the cultural fabric of our company, we will also bolster the creative perception and economy of Louisiana.
• Invest in immersive and site specific work, both digitally and through live performances, to further develop the voice and presence of dance in our region.

GOAL TWO: SERVING COMMUNITY
to work beyond the theatre and bring dance to individuals of all ages and backgrounds in Baton Rouge

OBJECTIVES
• Continue successful community programs. Our Summer Arts Camp and school tours engage young people to pursue a robust and healthy lifestyle.
• Work alongside the NeuroMedical Center to expand Dance for Parkinson’s©, a program making the benefits of dance available to those living with Parkinson’s Disease.

GOAL THREE: NURTURING TALENT
to raise the standard for contemporary dance in Louisiana through increased world-class training

OBJECTIVES
•I…Provide dancers more outlets to train/work with world class artists through guest residencies.
• Expand the scope of opportunities beyond Louisiana by establishing standards for attending training and performance festivals such as the American Dance Festival & Jacob’s Pillow.

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FUNCTIONAL STRATEGIES
To achieve the goals and objectives that will enable OMC to best serve Baton Rouge for the next three years, we must address the practical challenges of increasing fiscal security, broadening community awareness, and fortifying our organizational structure. The following are opportunities that, as they’re fulfilled, will feed one another to help protect the artistic growth we envision.

STRATEGY ONE: BROADEN BASE OF SUPPORT
• Further develop relationships with current stakeholders; identify and connect with new key stakeholders.
• Increase corporate support while utilizing OMC’s programming as a vehicle for fundraising with tailored sponsorship opportunities.
• Expand scope of funding requests by entering the national arena of grants and foundations and applying to grantmakers who support non- arts related needs such as travel, lodging, and technology.

STRATEGY TWO: VISIBILITY
• Initiate strategic business partnerships to heighten visibility and trigger interest in programs through pop-up events and collaborative fundraising.

STRATEGY THREE: INFRASTRUCTURE
• Implement the first phase of rebuilding the Board of Directors by securing a team of seasoned mentors to spearhead growth in both number and experience.
• Better utilize the existing Advisory Board through regular meetings and an established set of expectations, while augmenting it with new members.
• Institutionalize committees outside of the Board of Directors for fundraising events and our community children’s production.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           10 months to a year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Garland Wilson 
                                       address:  PO Box 14700
Baton Rouge, LA. 70898

                                       phone:  2259076222
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  garland@ofmovingcolors.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Director