Arts Quincy FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Email marketing@artsquincy.org for more information.
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Simply put, we are a nonprofit organization that works to promote the arts in the region. Our mission statement says that we work to “foster, strengthen and expand the language, visual and performing arts, and Arts-in-Education in Adams County, Illinois.” Arts Quincy is a local arts council (America’s first community arts council, actually).
Arts Councils vary depending on the needs of the community. Quincy is lucky to have so many thriving arts groups, so our approach is less about creating programs and more about promoting the existing ones. Because of this, our work is more behind the scenes. We provide marketing and arts management services to 55 other arts nonprofits in the area. We call these groups our partner organizations.
We work very hard to promote their events and programs through commercials, weekly TV and radio segments, the Arts Blast email, and of course, the Arts Quincy Magazine. We want to make it easy for you, the patron, to find the arts event or program you are looking for. We try to bring all these separate arts areas together in one place.
Not all of the organizations we work with have the staff to maintain a website or physical office that you can call with questions. We try to fill these gaps by being a public information center for arts activities.
More than that, we try to provide administrative services to these groups. Since they are all nonprofits, they are working with limited resources. We do things like provide a bulk mailing permit to make their mailings cheaper, or maintain a media list so they know where to send press releases.
We also try to provide learning workshops to help them be more effective in certain areas, like social media or board building. Because the size of the organizations we work with varies greatly, their needs are as unique as the group. We are here to be a one-on-one resource for them. If a group needs help writing a press release, managing QuickBooks, or even designing a poster, we can provide consultation.
Because of the type of organization Arts Quincy is, we are eligible to apply for certain grant funds that our partner organizations may not be able to. We offer a regranting program called Arts Dollars, which last year provided 25 grants funding of $11,625. These grants helped fund project like Blues in the District and Midsummer Arts Faire.
Yes, we are the same group! The Quincy Society of Fine Arts was in legally incorporated in 1948. According to our archives, the Arts Quincy Magazine was started in 1984 by the organization. The two names have been used somewhat interchangeably since. In 2015, we formally went through a rebranding to Arts Quincy. However, our legal name remains the Quincy Society Fine Arts.
All of these groups are totally separate from each other and from us. Each organization we work with has different nonprofit incorporations, governing boards, staffs, missions and goals. We all work very hard, to collaborate and enrich the fabric of the arts culture in Quincy and the surrounding areas.
Groups apply by writing a letter to our board of directors and are voted in. A group must be legally defined as a nonprofit and must be working to somehow promote the arts in the community (although this can be fairly broad) to be eligible. Currently, groups must be within Adams County. Groups that are outside of Adams County can be a partner organization if they are educational institution like a college or university. For more information contact Laura at director@artsquincy.org.
By supporting Arts Quincy, you support a wide range of groups from all areas of the arts. You can support us fiscally by becoming an individual or business member, and advertisers help support the production of magazine.
There are other ways to support us too, beyond donations. Help us spread the word about arts events by liking and sharing them on social media! Attend arts programs and let someone know you are there because you saw it from Arts Quincy. Be a patron of our business members and advertisers, and let them know you appreciate their support of the arts. Give your time to one of the organizations we work with, they are always looking for volunteers. Be a champion of the arts!
If you think what we’re doing is valuable, and if you want to contribute to community that says “the arts are awesome,” then consider becoming a member of Arts Quincy. Your contribution, as small as $25 a year or $5 a month, will provide a year-long subscription to people in the under-served areas of the community and promote the wonderful things happening with our partner organizations.
Click here to sign up.
The magazine can always be viewed online for free.
If you have an address change or no longer wish to receive the magazine, call 217-222-3432 or email Office@ArtsQuincy.org.
How do I advertise my business or events?
Advertisers provide vital funds for paying for the production and distribution costs of the magazine. Send inquiries to marketing@artsquincy.org or call the office at 217-222-3432 for more information. Download the rate sheet here.
Become a business member of America’s first arts council to help off-set the cost of the magazine and make the publication available to all! The magazine can always be viewed online for free.
Membership starts at $25 and provides a year-long subscription to people in under-served areas. Click here to become a member.
Every piece is carefully considered for publication. We want to honor the contributors and partner organizations who make the arts and culture scene so vibrant. Editorial pieces are assembled from community and partner organizations. Have a story idea? Email Marketing@ArtsQuincy.org.
If you have missed the magazine deadline, feel free to add your arts-related events to our community calendar for free! Click here.
Arts Quincy Magazine Policies and Procedures
Submission Deadlines
a. Partners must meet submission deadlines to be included in Arts Quincy magazine
b. Late submissions will only be included as space allows; priority will be given to those that meet submission deadlines
c. Articles more than 1 week late will not be included in the magazine
d. If there is a special circumstance (eg. waiting to confirm a speaker) the org may communicate with marketing BEFORE magazine deadline to discuss whether we are able to wait on content
Content Guidelines
a. If you provide a photo, please include photographer credit and/or permission in your email
b. Please think about the magazine as a vehicle for storytelling, and not a simple listing of your program or classes. For example, a director’s intention in programming a show’s theme is more interesting to read than a simple listing of pieces being performed. If you need help in creating content, please set an appointment with AQ well before deadline.
c. Content for the magazine can only come from Arts Quincy Partner Organizations.
Sponsor Listings
a. Arts Quincy will include up to 3 major sponsors in a thank you paragraph at the end of any article.
b. Additional sponsors or small logos of sponsors can be listed for a $25 each
c. Sponsor name may not be included in the headline of an article
d. If your event has sold a headline sponsorship, it can be included 1 time in the opening paragraph of an article (eg. Example Business Presents: Example Cool Arts Event!)
e. Large sponsor logos will be treated like ad space and are available to purchase at discounted rates for partner orgs.
Fundraiser Policy
a. In general, events that are primarily considered fundraisers will not be printed in the main section of the magazine
b. Brief fundraiser notices can be printed in the Etc. section as space allows.
c. Arts Quincy will print feature articles on events which are also fundraisers if they satisfy the following criteria:
– Are mission driven
– Program based
– Have high educational or artistic merit
This determination will be made by Arts Quincy staff and/or board on a case-by-case basis.
Cover/Feature Selection
Selecting the cover story for Arts Quincy Magazine is an internal decision based on the following considerations:
– Timeliness of the information relative to the magazine’s dates for coverage
– Availability of appropriate high-quality photography for the subject
– How recently the partner has been featured on the cover
– Quality of editorial content provided
– Impact to underserved communities (Defined as low-income residents, seniors, differently-abled, minorities and veterans)
If a Partner Organization has an event that they would specifically like to be considered for a cover story or 2-page feature, they may submit a written request for consideration as far in advance as possible. A request is not a guarantee of cover or feature.
Please note: if you have an annual event that you’d like considered for a future cover, it is advisable to photograph your event with next year in mind. The magazine cover features a vertical layout and requires “head space” with room for our banner across the top. Contact us if you have questions about how to shoot for AQ Covers.
Arts Quincy will design an ad for use inside the magazine for no additional charge.
Photography and Graphics
a. Photos must be 300 dpi or higher to print in the magazine
b. Logos and other graphics must be high quality jpegs or vectored .eps files
Advertising
- Partner Organizations are entitled to highly discounted rates for advertising. Please email marketing@artsquincy.org for rates
– Season tickets and fundraisers are both good uses of Partner Organization Advertising Rates and paid ads are not subject to restrictions
