Multiple Success Stories as Initiative Approaches its First Anniversary

Participants report up to 30% increases as a result

(New York, March 2004) - As WNYC, New York Public Radio's STAR (Salute the Arts) Initiative approaches its first anniversary, participants are reporting up to 30% increases in attendance as a result of the program.

Launched in May 2003, the STAR initiative was established to provide critical support to small non-profit cultural organizations in the New York Metropolitan area. STAR spotlights three organizations per month, at no cost, through on-air promotional announcements on WNYC 93.9 FM and 820 AM and exposure on www.wnyc.org.

To qualify for the initiative, organizations must have annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less. Such modest budgets typically prohibit these organizations from devoting resources to marketing or public relations, and they often rely solely on word-of-mouth and dedicated repeat audience to get their name out and seats filled in the one of the richest, most varied, cultural communities in the country. These limitations, combined with the inherent challenges in fundraising for the arts, makes WNYC's STAR Initiative invaluable in helping small cultural organizations reach a wider audience than would be otherwise possible.

The Waterfront Museum's experience with the STAR Initiative is a powerful example of the initiative's impact. The Waterfront Museum provides programs in education and culture aboard a historic vessel, which they had been repairing when their pier collapsed. After finding a new home in Red Hook, the organization was worried that their budget was stretched too thin for them to continue with their CIRCUSundays and music series as scheduled. As WNYC began running spots for the performances as part of the STAR Initiative, the shows played to packed houses.

"Fundraising is always a challenge, and has been particularly trying during the last few years of tough economic times and budget cuts," said David Sharps, President of the Waterfront Museum. "The STAR initiative not only offered us tremendous concrete marketing support at a time when we really needed it, but it's been an incredible morale booster as well."

"At the outset of the STAR Initiative, our aim was to further WNYC's mission to promote the importance of arts and culture, especially the area's small, but vital arts organizations, as part of the fabric of our city," said Laura Walker, President and CEO of WNYC. "It is clear we have not only accomplished that goal, but started a new tradition at WNYC that I am confident will continue for years to come."

In addition to the Waterfront Museum, many other organizations have expressed enthusiasm for the STAR Initiative, including:

"Feedback has come from friends, individual, corporate, and government contacts and funders. It has raised our profile tremendously and has strengthened our audience development efforts. We were truly honored. The success of the Downtown Dance Festival 2003 was due in great part to the radio exposure." — Peggy Coleman, Managing Director, Battery Dance Company, Manhattan

"People were impressed that we were being promoted on WNYC. Visits to our website were substantially increased as a result. We received calls from audience and potential client organizations. We sent the announcement of this honor to our regular funders, subscribers and associates in the theatre community." — Melba LaRose, Artistic Director, NY Artists Unlimited

"The STAR program is a validation that even small arts organizations are significant in the life of New York. Mentions on WNYC are a very valuable endorsement. Even without editorial embellishment, New York's public radio station lends the imprimatur of intellectual sophistication and artistic excellence to any organization it mentions." — Alex Roe, Artistic Director, Metropolitan Playhouse, Manhattan

"The Company heard from many people who were pleasantly surprised at hearing about Regina Opera on WNYC. Many people...wondered how we got the money to pay for announcements, or were surprised that WNYC had heard about us, even though we are quite well-known and respected in the opera community and in Brooklyn. It's this kind of exposure that can help a small organization like us reach beyond our usual audience." — Fran Garber, Executive Vice President, Regina Opera Company, Brooklyn

"This is validation that we are an extremely worthwhile organization. People called to say they had heard announcements of our concerts. We had huge audiences. Many attended because of your on-air announcements. We are so grateful to have been selected. Running a series in this economic climate is very hard, but your assistance made it a little bit easier." — Jean Goetz, Festival Manager, Washington Square Music Festival, Manhattan

Monthly participating organizations are selected by WNYC staff; application forms can be completed at www.wnyc.org/events/star.html or requested from WNYC Listener Services at (212) 669-3333. Applications should be emailed to STAR@wnyc.org or sent via regular mail to WNYC Radio, STAR Program, 1 Centre Street, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

2003-2004 STAR Participants

• Asian American Arts Alliance
• Battery Dance Company
• Bronx Opera Company
• The Civilians
• Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, Inc.
• Concerts at One
• The Creative Center
• Dancenow/NYC
• Gotham Chamber Opera
• Education Alliance Art School
• Epic Theatre Center
• Festival Chamber Music
• Flamenco Latino
• Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center
• The Greenwich Village Orchestra
• Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players
• Little Kids Rock
• Metropolitan Playhouse
• NY Artists Unlimited, Inc.
• New York City Police Museum
• New York Classical Theatre
• New York Fringe Festival
• The New York Grand Opera Company
• New York Virtuoso & Canticum Novum Singers
• Nicu's Spoon
• Opera Company of Brooklyn
• Regina Opera Company
• Richmond Choral Society
• Shotgun Productions
• The Village Light Opera Group
• Visible Theatre, Inc.
• Washington Square Music Festival
• The Waterfront Museum

WNYC, New York Public Radio, is New York's premier public radio station, comprising WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching more than one million listeners every week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the entire country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio and Public Radio International. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting.