Democracy Needs Independent Voices

[indyarts at lists.artsandmedia.net]

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       Indy Arts Winter Fund Drive
       Funds raised so far: $1,075   //   Goal:  $2,000

       Donate online: http://artsandmedia.net/contributions/

       * Full details on making a tax-deductible
         donation are at the end of this email. *

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Dear Friend of Indy Arts,

By now you know the drill: Rampant commodification has degraded our  
institutions of democracy almost beyond recognition.

Candidates are excluded from media debates because they are not rich enough.

Newspapers are sold off and cut back because they don't meet Wall  
Street's profit expectations.

Even that great hope for independent dialogue, the Internet, is under  
seige, from Myspace and Facebook's efforts to turn the Web into the  
world's largest one-to-one marketing and data-mining tool, to punitive  
licensing fees that threaten to shut down even noncommercial online  
music broadcasters.

Since 2000, Indy Arts has worked wonders for independent voices and  
non-commercialized media and culture, with an array of free or very  
low-cost programs and services.

These include Newsdesk.org, News You Might Have Missed, Expo for the  
Artist & Musician, DIY Workshops, numerous dialogue and media  
projects, and our growing fiscal spnsorship program.

We want to bring all of this and more to you in 2008 ... and beyond.

Indeed, big plans are in the works to do just that. We'd love to spill  
the beans all at once, but for the time being we can only tease you  
about:

-- A major expansion of our fiscal sponsorship program, to include  
several outstanding peers in the independent media, arts and culture  
communities.

-- The debut of a new arts "micro-funding" program aimed at empowering  
local cultural communities in the Bay Area *and beyond*.

-- Major changes and evolution for the Expo for the Artist & Musician.

These changes are taking root, putting out branches, and will soon  
bear fruit, which we will be delivering to you soon.

Other works are not so certain, and require investment by funding  
collaborators:

-- Newsdesk.org is champing at the bit to move beyond News You Might  
Have Missed, and begin a new program of exclusive reporting on  
"important but overlooked news." At the top of that list is the 2008  
presidential election, which promises to be a dreary re-run of the  
usual poll-tracking, commentator upsmanship, and trivial obsessions  
with candidate hairstyles and the cookie-baking skills of their  
spouses. Can you help break this tedious news cycle with an investment  
in coverage of issues that matter?

-- Our radio and print media programs need support. We are eager to  
continue producing podcasts and radio broadcasts of outstanding local  
dialogue events, such as Shaping San Francisco's remarkable Talks!  
series. And we have high hopes for new editions of The Messenger, our  
free print newspaper covering DIY cultural and democratic  
participation. Can you help cultivate these media programs?

The good news is, we are well-positioned to make all of it come true.  
We have years of experience producing these works by leveraging social  
capital to make up for budgetary challenges.

And: Indy Arts has just moved from Hayes Valley to North Beach, where  
we are subleasing office space from the Earth Island Institute.

Although we are not an EII program, we consider them a role model as a  
large and successful sponsoring agency for independent, public-benefit  
projects.

Our focus is on media, arts and culture -- fertile ground for  
independent voices and the root stock of democracy.

Your generous, tax-deductible donations have made, and will make, all  
of it possible.

Thank you for helping us get so far, and for helping us achieve even  
more in the coming year.

Sincerely,

The Indy Arts Volunteers

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HERE'S HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT INDY ARTS IN 2008

       Indy Arts Winter Fund Drive
       Funds raised so far: $1,075   //   Goal:  $2,000

       Recommended donations: $25, $50, $100, $500 or more.

       Donate online: http://artsandmedia.net/contributions/

       Snail Mail (checks only!): Independent Arts & Media
       PMB 821 * 601 Van Ness Ave., Ste. E * SF, CA 94102

       * All donations are tax-deductible. *
       * Thank you for your generous support! *

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