DUNEDIN FINE ART CENTER INC

To ensure financial viability for sustaining the Mission: Enriching lives through educational experiences in the visual arts. A solid structure is needed to earn income. There is a 25% financial gap in revenue. DFAC fundraises for exhibits, special events; Circles of Giving Membership at $1500 up to $15,000; Scholarship Funds and the Sterling Society, the friends group help raise funds for Scholarships.

The Youth Education department’s diverse program: Wheels on Wheels, a mobile clay lab, visits schools weekly. The Children’s Hands on Art Museum, ages 2.5 to 16 has stations to explore different media. A Gallery exhibits children’s art. The program hires 25 teachers for the Art Academy with 1700 students in 2018.

Adult Education employs 98 instructors to teach a range of visual arts throughout the year. Workshops offer condensed instruction each term.

DFAC is sustained by planning, transparency, succinct information on expenses and a yearly audit.

Our 2019-2021 Strategic Plan is a road map for moving forward to ensure financial sustainability.

1. Create more valuable and fulfilling experiences for our Members and our Community
2. Serve our Community and expand our student base by attracting National and International programming
3. Attract and cultivate the very best instructors
4. Develop more ways of attracting first time students to help them discover their internal artist
5. Expand our collaborative & cooperative relationships to serve the shared goal of expanding artistic opportunities
6. Expand the traditional boundaries of visual art by redefining what is included in creative self-expression
7. Seek Additional ways to engage young minds in the artistic experience
8. Better sustain and grow the impact of DFAC by broadening our donor base and expanding revenue streams

DFAC has a well-educated staff, an expert Board of Directors, Sterling Society, a friend’s group and an Advisory Board. Our partnership with the City of Dunedin helps our budget by repairing all outside equipment, air conditioners, lights, grass cutting, building and parking lot maintenance. Additionally, we receive a cash grant which is unrestricted. We purchase employee health care and life insurance from them. These cost savings benefit our financial sustainability. DFAC’s endowment and an educational Trust for children’s programs from K. to Grade 5. The above funds add to DFAC’s overall budget of 75% earned income and the remaining 25% is raised through fundraising activities with the Development Director and President/CEO. Due to continuing oversight and transparency in DFAC’s accounting daily we are aware of how the organization functions. Excellence has a price and we strive not to jeopardize programming through overspending.

DFAC has a robust educational program in visual arts for adults, teens and children. We have 21 purpose-built studios well equipped for teaching visual art; 7 galleries showing curated art and two galleries for local and regional artists from the Tampa Bay area. The quality of exhibition is acknowledged in the many awards received. During the 2017/2018 financial year, 1285 artists were exhibited, along with 6000 students and thousands of visitors. The Gallery Shop is 85 % artist consignment, and the Founders Hall is welcoming with the Perkins Library and access to all the other galleries and Palm Café.
DFAC is renovating a 900 sq. ft. studio on the second floor of the West Wing to teach Food Arts. This renovation will incorporate a Chef’s demonstration area, separate teaching modules for hands on learning. This program joins our flagship Clay and Jewelry Studios.
Next, expansion of the Clay Lab and Children’s Hands on Museum.