2007 Year-End Newsletter

Dear Friends,

As we approach the end of the year, the Shunpike would like to express our gratitude for all of your incredible support. Without it, we would not be able to offer the unique and important services and programs that are improving the business of art in Seattle every day.

2007 has been a year of growth and change, including the hiring of a new full-time staff, an updated logo and website, and a steady increase in the number of arts groups served. This has been a very exciting time for us and for our partners, as we continue to find more ways to increase sustainability in Seattle's arts community.

The past year saw growth in all three of our primary programs: Partner Artists, Sustainable Organizations, and Accountability and the Arts. Every month, more artists come to the Shunpike for assistance in finance, organizational management and arts administration. Yet again, we look forward to expanding these services and growing the number of those artists again in 2008.

If you've been anywhere near the arts in the last year, you've probably seen companies that have benefitted from the Shunpike's work. From the theatre projects of 365 Seattle, Seattle Public Theater and Absurd Reality Theatre to the cutting edge visual arts at Crawl Space Gallery; from the bold brand-new spaces of Theatre Off Jackson's forthcoming Exit 162 Arts and Balagan Theater Company's new Capitol Hill facility to the cultural projects of Ignition Northwest; from contemporary performance groups such as Zoe | Juniper, Manifold Motion, and Degenerate Art Ensemble to the literary explorations of Rivet Magazine, we've provided guidance and support to dozens of arts groups in the challenging matters of business.

In each instance, we've partnered with an organization to help them serve their community more effectively and efficiently by improving their fundraising, financial operations, and community support. We've offered assistance in Board Development, Strategic Planning, Fiscal Sponsorship, Bookkeeping, Budgetting, Grantwriting, and Communications. The result has been organizations that are stronger, more stable and more engaged.

Every bit of Shunpike's success is due to you, our supporters. You have shared in our hopes and dreams. You've helped to bring them alive. The arts in Seattle have already been affected with positive change that will last far into the future. With your help, we hope to further the cause again in 2008.

While we celebrate our successes, there is always far more for us to do. And we'll need you there with us. It isn't too late to give in 2007! Our annual campaign is winding down, and we welcome any last-minute support. Remember that your tax-deductible gift to the Shunpike benefits all 42 of the organizations we serve. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit us online.

Thanks for all your support,

Board of Directors

Caroline Renard, President

Suzanne Greenfield, Treasurer

Rebecca Denk, Secretary

Nick Barnett

Claire Foley Hawkins

Terri Hiroshima

Dan Mayer

Molly McCarthy

Karina Miller

Mara Rogers

Eric Schinfeld

Staff
Andy Fife, Executive Director

Rebecca Olson, Development Director

Frank Chiachiere, Senior Programs Advisor

Michelle Lewis, Senior Development Advisor