Stimulus grants stimulate nonprofit jobs

When the economy began taking a downward spiral last year, it brought numerous businesses and organizations down with it. For many others, it threatened the existence of old and new jobs, especially those in the arts and humanities field. Women Make Movies, Incorporated, a film company established in 1972, was one of those organizations.

"Women Make Movies is a non-profit media organization based in New York, whose mission is to facilitate the production, promotion and distribution of films by women directors and producers," said Marketing Manager Abby Peck.

The organization was created to focus on issues of misrepresentation of females in the media industry. WMM especially places emphasis on work by women of color. Some might even describe it as a feminist movement in film.


The specific goal of WMM is to train women to become film and video makers, according to its website. In January 2002, the organization began its 30th anniversary year at the Sundance Film Festival with a record breaking 10 films.

The organization said on its site, "While earned income from the WMM distribution service has continued to increase steadily since 1983 and currently provides 85% of our overall operational budget, we are deeply grateful to the wonderful government, corporate and private foundations which support us."

Some of the funders of WMM include the New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Unfortunately, even big name institutions such as these are limited to what they can give. Despite a laundry list of donors, the economic downturn of 2009 threatened the security of jobs provided by WMM. Therefore, the organization reached out to the federal government for assistance.

"We were awarded a grant for $50,000 from the NEA but only requested $10,000 of the grant," said Peck, whose position at the company may have been directly affected by the assistance.

Another arts and humanities organization in New York City was also forced to seek financial aid in 2009 because of the economy.

Danspace Project, Incorporated is a nonprofit dance organization founded in 1974 to provide a venue for experimental and independent choreographers. The organization is funded by several public donors such as the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and acknowledges private support of organizations like the Arnhold Foundation, Inc.

In July 2009, Danspace was awarded $50,000 to create two administrative jobs: a program manager position and a marketing manager position. However, the organization only received $35,000. Whether this was Danspace's choice is unknown. Danspace administrators would not respond in regards to its award.

So how has the economic stimulus recovery program ultimately benefited these organizations?

"For the third year in a row, films from WMM took home top prizes at the Sundance Film Festival," said Peck.

In addition, PBS will broadcast a recent film from WMM's Production Assistance Program, "El General," by Natalie Almada, in Summer 2010.

As for Danspace, it is currently hosting "Retrospective Project" featuring the experimental dancers and choreographers whom The New York Times calls "The King and Queen of Slow," Eiko and Koma.

The positions created and retained by the economic stimulus recovery awards are still in effect today.