Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's Creative Exchange Newsletter | Spring 2024

CREATIVE EXCHANGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editorial: Lessons from a Podcast

Celebrating William Raveis Real Estate

Dennis-Yarmouth Students Ship Up to Boston

A Voice for the Arts

Artist of the Year Julia Cumes

Crea

Run for the Arts

Gifts at Work: Strengthening Families Through Art

AFCC Welcomes New Board Members

Illustrator Bob Staake recently created this image for

a tote bag that, in his words, came out, “TOTES fantastic!”

The Chatham artist has designed covers for The New

Yorker and artwork for an array of notable clients

including TIME, McDonald’s, Vanity Fair, Sony,

Nickelodeon, and the Cartoon Network. He recently

appeared on an episode of the Arts Foundation’s

Creative Exchange podcast (page 2)

To purchase a tote, visit bobstaake com/tote.shtml

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE CREATIVE EXCHANGE PODCAST

I have a confession to make. I’mapodcastjunkie.Ilean towardsshowswhereIgaininsightandinspirationforhowto improve my health, my approach to work, and my relationshipswithothers. Wisdom From The Top, Design Better, and Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris topmylist.

In2019,theArtsFoundationlauncheditsownpodcast,the Creative Exchange,whichjustconcludeditssixthseason.I’ve hadtheprivilegeofsittingoppositeourmanyguestsoverthe past five years. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when going into the podcast, but each conversation has been immenselyrewarding,andinmanywaystherapeutic.

WitheachdiscussionIhave,I’vebeenleftwithagiftfromour guests – advice, nuggets of wisdom, and stories that have reaffirmedmybeliefinthepoweroftheartsandthehuman connection.

Acommonthreadthroughmanyconversationshasbeenthe importanceofnature–theocean,gardening,interactionswith animals,andsimplybeingoutsidehaveservedtonurturethe creativespirit.

In our 50th episode, actor Murray Bartlett spoke about the importance of fearlessness. “Some of my proudest moments werewhenIpusheditoverthetopandmadeafoolofmyself becauseittakessomecouragetoreallygothere,”hesharedof playingArmond,theluxuryresortmanagerin“TheWhite Lotus.”

It’s a lesson that we can all apply to our personal and professionallivesinbeingboldandnotlettingfearholdus back.

InhiswhimsicalChathamstudio,illustratorBobStaake,who hasdesigned New Yorker coversandartworkformorethan75 children’sbooks,toldmethathisidealassignmentiswhenhe isasked“todosomethingI’veneverdonebefore.”

Mayweallbeaswilling(andeager)asBobistotrynew thingsinourlives.

Perhaps my most moving conversation was with Scott Townsend, one of the top female impersonators in the business,whospokeaboutthetraumaheenduredwhenhe wasbulliedasakid.Wheredidhefindrefuge?Onstage.

It’sareminderthattheartsareasafehavenforall.

Severalguests,likefiberartistSalleyMavorandauthorSusan Blood,havetoldmeabouttheimportanceofwriting.Several years ago, Mavor hired a social media consultant who convincedhertoblog.Indoingso,shewasabletoarticulate all the thoughts in her head, conveying ideas that offered claritytoherwork.

Blood(ourfirst-everpodcastguest)balancedwritingwithher day job and raising a family. One story she shared was particularlytelling–shepurchasedasmalllaptopsoshecould writewhilewaitingtopickupherchildrenfromschool.It’sa reminderthatweallhaveroadblockstowhatwewanttodo, butwecancreativelygoaround(orthrough)themtopursue ourpassions.

JulieWake ExecutiveDirector

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: WILLIAM RAVEIS REAL ESTATE

In 1974, William(Bill)RaveisJr.wasa27-year-oldwhohada visionformakinghisownmarkbystartingaluxuryrealestate companythatwasfocusedonfamilyandcommunity.Asthe privately-held real estate, mortgage, and insurance firm he createdcelebratesits50thanniversarythisyear,ithasheldtrue tothosevalues.

AhalfcenturyhasprovidedsufficienttimeforRaveistoevolve WilliamRaveisRealEstatefromitshumblebeginningsina one-room office above Mercurio Grocery in Fairfield, Connecticut,toacompanywithmorethan140officesand over 4,500 sales associates who serve the entire Northeast, Florida, and South Carolina. In 2023, William Raveis Real Estate garnered Top Brokerage in the U.S. from Inman, a nationalrealestatenewssource.

“YouknowtherealjoyisIhavemysonsinvolvedwiththe company,”saidBill,referencinghissonsChrisandRyanwho areco-presidentsofWilliamRaveisRealEstate.Chrisoversees residentialsaleswhileRyanmanagesthecompany’smortgage andinsurancearms.

The trio’s greatest reward? Turning the company’s success into a vehicle for giving back. “We’re all part of the community,aren’twe?”Billsaid,explainingitsphilanthropic efforts.“Thisisaveryimportantpartofbeingalive—togive backtothepeoplewhohelpedyou.Thecommunityhelpedus buildourbusiness.Weallhavechildrenwesendtoschoolin ourcommunitiesandtheagentsherearesupportedbymaking alivinginthecommunity.Whynotgiveback?”

ItisthatattitudethatledWilliamRaveisRealEstatetosignon as the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s Title Sponsor in the midst of the pandemic in 2021. It has renewed that commitmenteveryyearsince.

“Fromtheexecutivedirectorondown,thecommitmentand emotiontowhateveryoneisdoingattheArtsFoundation, youcanjustfeelit,”Billsaid.“Itisgreat.It’snotsomething theyaredoingjusttodoit,buttheyaredoingitbecausethey

believeinwhattheyaredoing.It’sabeautifulthingtoseeand an honor for us to be involved with that kind of commitment.”

NotonlyisphilanthropyembeddedinBill’sapproachtolife, butsotooishisloveofthearts.

He’swrittenfourbooks—hismostrecent,“TheVisionand The Passion: Continuing the Journey on the Way of the Entrepreneur” was published in 2022 — and oversees his company’smarketingefforts.“Ienjoyitalot,”hesaidofthat sideofthebusiness.“Whenyou’rebuildingabrand,you’re basicallytellingthemwhatyourbrandisabout—forus,we’re a luxury service, family business. You’re expressing yourself likeanartistwould.”

“It is impossible to have a life without art.”

HislatewifeCandy,whopassedawaylastOctoberattheage of76,wasapainter,designer,andartist,knownforcreating stunningdecorativepiecesoutofshells.Thecouple’ssonRyan isanavidguitaristandsinger.AndtheirdaughterLaurieis one-half of Raveis Kole, a popular American-indie-folk, singer-songwriterduo.

So it’s not surprising that Bill had this to say about the importanceoftheartsinourlives,inourcommunities,andin society:“Itisanenrichmentofthehumanexperience.Itopens yourmindandenrichesyoursoul.Howcanyoulivewithout that?Itisimpossibletohavealifewithoutart.”

DENNIS-YARMOUTH

STUDENTS SHIP UP TO BOSTON

ThelasttimestudentsfromDennis-YarmouthRegionalHigh School’sband,orchestra,andchorusmadethetrekoverthe bridgetowatchtheBostonSymphonyrehearsewasattheend ofFebruary2020.

Fouryearsandonepandemiclater,40studentsreturnedto Symphony Hall to watch professional musicians perform NorwegiancomposerEdvardGrieg’s“PeerGynt.”Theoneof-a-kindexperiencewasmadepossiblethroughfundingfrom theArtsFoundation’sAFCCAccessprogram,whichcovered thecostoftransportationforthefieldtrip.

“Foralotofthesekids,thiswasoneofthefirsttimesthey wereabletoseeasymphonyorchestraperform,letaloneone ofthetoporchestrasinthecountry,”saidthehighschool’s Chorus Director Stephanie Riley. “They got to see what a Grammy-winningensemblesoundslike.”

AndforRiley,itwasanopportunitytoshowcasehertalentas she was on stage singing with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.“Toseetheirteacherupthere–Ihadtolearnthe whole piece in Norwegian and not English – putting into practice everything I’ve been trying to teach them is invaluable,”shesaid.“It’sworkIamextremelyproudofandto shareitwiththemisexhilarating.”

Getting out of the classroom and having these types of opportunities is incredibly important in their development. “Thisgivesthemarealisticunderstandingofwheretheycan go if they so choose,” said Riley. “One of my biggest pet peevesiswhenpeoplesay,‘Don’tgetamusicdegreebecause you’llneverbeabletodoanythingbutperformorteach.’That is not the case. There’s so much you can do with a music degree,anditopenssomanydoors.”

A VOICE FOR THE ARTS

The Arts Foundation’s Executive Director Julie Wake, DirectorofDevelopmentAmyTuttle,andDirectorofGrants andCommunicationsChrisKazariankickedoffthenewyear by crossing the Cape Cod Canal and making their way to BostonforacelebrationoftheartsacrosstheCommonwealth.

Thetriojoinedhundredsofotherartsleaders,stakeholders, andsupportersatCreativeSectorDayattheendofJanuary, filling the Massachusetts State House to highlight the importanceofartsandcultureinthestate.

OUR MISSION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY YOU, OUR SUPPORTERS, WHO SHARE IN OUR BELIEF THAT INVESTING

IN THE ARTS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF

OUR COMMUNITY

It'soneexampleoftheArtsFoundation'seffortstoadvocate forthearts,workingwiththeCape'slegislativedelegationto ensurethecreativesectorreceivesthesupportitneedstogrow andthrive.Wakeandherteamfollowedthatupbyconvening ameetingoflocalartsleadersinMarchwithStateSenators JulianCyrandSusanMoran,andStateRepresentativesSarah Peake,KipDiggs,ChristopherFlanagan,DavidVieira,Steven Xiarhos,andDylanFernandes.HeldattheArtsFoundation’s office, the meeting allowed arts leaders to highlight ways they’re delivering innovative projects in partnership with sectorsoutsidethearts.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

JULIA

CUMES: BRINGING HUMANITY TO

THE ART

OF PHOTOGRAPHY

When done right, a photo can be a powerfully moving work of art, telling the story of a person and a place at a singularmomentintime.ThisiswhereJuliaCumesexcels.

ItisthroughherlensthattheArtsFoundationofCapeCod’s 2024 Artist of the Year is able to add depth, clarity, hope, connection, and understanding to the human experience. Whetherit’scapturingimagesofwomenfacingthepainful diagnosis of breast cancer; volunteers working to rescue dolphins stranding themselves on Cape Cod beaches; the aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina; or the water crisis in Cape Town, Africa, there’s a breadth of emotiontoJulia’sworkthatcannotbeexpressedinwords.

As Arts Foundation Executive Director Julie Wake said in announcingJuliaCumesasourArtistoftheYear:“Juliaisa beacon for how an artist can make a profound difference throughtheirart.Herphotographsshineabrightlightonto the human experience and important topics like gender identity,climatechange,sustainablefoodproduction,andthe strugglesthatwomenhavefacedaroundtheworld.”

JuliaepitomizeswhatwewantoutoftheArtistoftheYear, someonewho“movesustothinkaboutourplaceintheworld andtheroleeachofuscanplayinshapingitforthebetter,” Wakesaid.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: ROUND TABLE

DISCUSSION

When: Wednesday, April 24, 5-7 PM

Where: Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South YarmouthRSVP Here

ComebeinspiredbytheArtsFoundation’sArtistsof theYearJoHay(2022),MarkAdams(2023),andJulia Cumes (2024) who will talk about their creative journeys,theirartisticprocesses,andwhatinspiresthem to make the type of art that can make a meaningful differenceinourlivesandourcommunities.

Originally from South Africa, Julia Cumes came to Cape Cod in 2001 when she was a summer photography intern at the Cape Cod Times after completinganMFAatCornellUniversityandanMA inphotojournalismatSyracuseUniversity’sNewhouse School.

Her photos have been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, Boston Globe, Associated Press, ChicagoTribune,and USAToday.

ToseemoreofJulia’swork,visitJuliaCumes.com.

“Having

grown up in Apartheid-era South Africa, I understood early on the power of photography to reveal truth, evoke empathy, and catalyze change.”

CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM 2024 COHORT

TheArtsFoundationkickedoffthenewyearbywelcominga talented,diversearrayofartistsforitsCapacity-BuildingGrant Program.

Nearly70artistsappliedfortheprogram,whichisnowinits secondyear.Thisyear’scohortof15artists(picturedhere)will spendsixmonthsdevelopingabusinessplan,completewith actionable goals that allow them to grow their creative practice; participate in a series of professional development workshops, encompassing everything from taxes to artist licensing;andreceivea$2,000grantuponthecompletionof theprogram.

"The support of organizations like the Arts Foundation affirms that what you're doing, no matter where you're at in your career, is validated."

–KarlaDeStefano

“Creativepeople,whatever fieldyouarein,youarethe empathymuscleofour culture.Youarehelping peopletoseeperspectives theyneverconsidered.”

—HannahCole,Visual Artist&TaxesforArtists WorkshopCoach

ABOUT THE CREATIVE EXCHANGE

The Creative Exchange Program offers experience beyond mere funding! The CreativeExchangeProgramofferstailored,artist-centeredprofessionaldevelopment, empowering artists to enhance their creative practice, pursue purposeful careers, forgesupportivenetworks,andsecureresourcesforlong-termsustainability.

Fili

Amy Davie

Filmmake

Tianna

-Song

DeAngelo Nie

MiYo

Gemma Legho

Mike Palmer

Michelle St. John Filmmaker & Musician

Ka

Joe

Am

Gabriella Simpkins Singer-Songwriter

John Thomas Pianist & Composer

COACHES HELP ARTISTS THRIVE

ON THE CAPE

WhyistheArtsFoundationofCapeCod’sCapacity-Building GrantProgramsoimportant?

Because“thestrugglesofartistsareunlikeanyotherprofession outthere,”RickMillerexplained.

Since January, Miller, a psychotherapist, author, and public speaker,hasworkedsidebysidewithartistLauraShabottin supporting the 15 Cape creatives participating in the sixmonthprofessionaldevelopmentprogram.

Thepairareservingascoachesforthecohort,providingtwoon-oneguidanceinhelpingeachartistcreateabusinessplan thatlistsachievablegoalstheycanreachinbuildingfinancial sustainabilityfortheircreativepractice.

CREATIVE EXCHANGE IS EMPOWERING ARTISTS

$52,000 in grants awarded to artists

400+

program

Year 1 (2023):

51 applicants for 12 spots

Year 2 (2024):

70 applicants for 15 spots

Year 3 (2025): 20 spots Combined

“Eachofthemwantsthesamething–todoworkthathas meaning,thatisauthentic,andthattheycanmakealiving from,” said Shabott, who participated in the first-ever artist cohortlastyear.“Therearealotofbusinessplanningclasses ontheCape,butnotsolelyforartists.That’swhythisprogram isunique.”

Oneofthefocusesoftheireffortsistohelpeachartist“crack the time-money code,” said Shabott. “That is one of the reasonswhypeoplegiveupasartistsbecausetheycan’tcrack thatcode.…Iamnotbeyondthetime-moneystruggle.Yes, youhavetime-moneychallenges,butitshouldn’tstopyou. Youkeepgoingandworkthroughthesechallenges.”

PartofwhatShabottandMilleraredoingisprovidingthe motivationforeachartisttodojustthat.

Itisparticularlyneededinaregionwheretheeconomicdivide iswidening.“However,wecanbesuccessfulhereasartists,” Shabottstressed.“Howdoesanartistembracewhatisavailable hereandthrive,notjustartistically,butfinancially?”

MillerandShabottareworkinginconcerttoensureartistsin thecohortcanthrive,artistically and financially.

“Oneofthemostimportantthingsabouthavinganartcoach isthefeelingthatsomebodybelievesinyou,”Shabottsaid.

What makes the program unique, Miller said, is that the curriculumisalmosttailormadetothechallengeseachartistis facing.“Whydotheyneedaprogramlikethis?Thetruthis everyone needs more training, more encouragement, and moregrowth,”hesaid.“Everyoneistakingadvantageofthat andwillgrowimmenselyasaresult.”

FALMOUTH ROAD RACE: RUN FOR THE ARTS

HelptheArtsFoundationaddcolor,creativity,andvibrancy to the Falmouth Road Race! For the second straight year, we’refieldingateamtoruntheiconic7-mileroadracewhile takingmeaningfulstepstostrengthentheregion’sartssector.

Theroadrace,whichwillbecelebratingits52ndanniversary, issetforSunday,August18th.YoucanalsosupporttheArts Foundation’smissionbyparticipatinginavirtual“At-Home Edition”oftherace.

Tolearnhowyoucanrunfortheartsthissummerorbecome asponsor,pleasereachouttoDevelopmentAssociateTJDavis attdavis@artsfoundation.org.GoTeamArtsFoundation!

GIFTS AT WORK: STRENGTHENING FAMILIES THROUGH ART

WhenyousupporttheArtsFoundation,you’reinvestingin artsprogramsthatallowparentstoconnectwiththeirchildren throughcreativity.

ScantheQRcodetolearnmoreabout how your gift allowed Cape Cod Children’s Place to serve 102 families from throughout the region via meaningfulartsactivitiesthatbrought joyandtogethernessintotheirlives.

ARTS FOUNDATION OF CAPE COD with the

“When I contribute to the AFCC, I know the donation will make a real impact and help build the arts economy on Cape Cod.”

–MicheleClarke,AFCCPatron

Your belief in the arts transforms, educates, and inspires, shaping a brighter future for all on Cape Cod.

Rightnow,theArtsFoundationneeds to raise $20,000 to ensure funding is available to support vital arts programming that benefits our community. Your gift supports local arts that you value and touches lives from Bourne to Provincetown, and everywhereinbetween.

Amanda-Clare Cunningham

OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS

The Arts Foundation is excited to strengthen its Board of Directorswithfourtalentedindividualswhohaveapassionfor the arts and a keen understanding of the importance of volunteerism.

ThenewboardmembersareAmanda-ClareCunninghamof Barnstable,principalofA.M.P.M.Design;MariusDehelean ofMashpee,aseniorrelationshipmanager,VPatTDBank; KenElmer,ofBarnstable,aretiredHRprofessionalwhoheld leadership positions at Repligen Corporation in Waltham, attuneinBurlington,andCelerantConsultinginWaltham; and Jeffrey Soares of South Dartmouth, a Cape Cod native who is the former legislative aid to Senator Julian Cyr and currentlythedirectorofrowingatWatuppaRowingCenter inFallRiver.

AFCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kathryn Kayajan, Chair

Philip McCahill, Treasurer

Bethany Muhlebach, Secretary

Diane Boudreau

Lilly Chan

Amanda-Clare Cunningham

Marius Dehelean

Jennifer Dooling

Rachel Doriss

Becky Dowd

Ken Elmer Jeffrey Soares

INCREASE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO THE POWER OF THE ARTS

Expand our AFCC Access Program, which connected 5,700 children to the arts in 2023, to make an even bigger impact.

GIVE THE SECTOR THE TOOLS TO THRIVE Build upon the success of the Creative Exchange which supported over 400 individual

arts on t

last year.

obe

p

LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPE

This