The 2010 “10 Weeks Festival” of Springfield area arts events exceeded its goal by raising more than $11,000, which will be shared evenly between the Care to Learn Program for Springfield Public Schools and the Arts in Action endowment fund.

The “10 Weeks Festival” surpassed its $10,000 goal by raising $11,354, with donations coming in throughout June after the official festival events concluded in late May.

The primary fundraising took place at more than 100 performing and visual arts events where patrons contributed $1 or more at a time throughout the 10-week period. This year’s festival also included the first-time “Flights of Fancy” event celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Springfield-Branson National Airport in May.

The “Care to Learn” program was created to meet health, hunger and hygiene needs for Springfield Public Schools students.

“The partnership between the arts community and ‘Care to Learn’ strengthens our community not only by serving those in need, but by allowing a new generation to explore their potential through the arts,” Founder Doug Pitt said.

The Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative oversees the Arts in Action education endowment fund at the CFO. The goal is to develop sustainable operational funding sources for the arts and therefore allow Springfield arts agencies to concentrate on presenting quality  programming for the region.

The Community Foundation today announced the creation of the CFO Cultural Investment Fund, a revolving low-interest loan program to help Springfield-Greene County arts and cultural organizations pay advance costs for performances and exhibits.

The CFO Cultural Investment Fund will offer loans of $1,000 to $20,000 to non-profit groups to help cover the down-payment costs associated with booking major performers, shows or exhibits. The loans, which will carry a 4 percent interest rate, are designed to be re-paid by ticket proceeds, sponsorship funds, or other income raised by the event.

“Managers of our local arts and cultural venues have said that the lack of capital to pay the up-front costs required in many of these contracts impedes their ability to book major regional or national shows,” said Brian Fogle, executive vice president of the Community Foundation.

In fact, the City of Springfield’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Strategic Planning Committee also plans to identify this issue as one of its goals for enhancing arts and culture offerings in Springfield, he said.

The community arts leaders who serve on the CFO’s Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative committee will review and approve all applications. The Fund will be open to all eligible Springfield-Greene County 501(c)3 agencies, but each participant will be required to make a one-time investment of $2,500 into the fund in order to submit applications. The CFO’s initial investment will be $50,000.

The Cultural Investment Fund is the second component of the CFO’s Mission-Related Investment Program. The CFO Board of Directors created this program in 2009 to commit up to 2 percent of the CFO’s assets for community investment. The program represents the CFO’s commitment to the “double-bottom line” of investing in enterprises that produce both financial and social returns for Ozarks communities, instead of investing assets solely in financial markets.

The one-year anniversary of the opening the new Springfield-Branson National Airport is approaching and to celebrate that event, the Airport will host an event from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 20, with all proceeds to benefit the “Arts In Action” Arts Education Endowment/Care To Learn funds equally.  The “Flights of Fancy” event will take place in the terminal lobby and will feature special guest , Doug Pitt, originator of the Care to Learn Program.

Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the following 10 Weeks Festival arts organizations and individuals:

• Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts representatives
• Missouri State University Student Film Feature presentation
• Missouri State University Student Vocalists
• Opera Theatre Performance
• Springfield Ballet Performance
• Springfield Little Theatre Performance
• Springfield Regional Arts Council Visual Artists demonstrations
• Springfield Regional Opera Vocal Artists
• Springfield Symphony Orchestra Trumpet Trio

Information about the “Flights of Fancy” event and how to purchase a completely tax-deductible $25 ticket can be found on the 10 Weeks website or flyspringfield.com/fancy or by calling 864-6199, ext. 14.