Cape Cod Life Philanthropy Edition:
Arts Foundation of Cape Cod

MARGARET VAN SCIVER, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE ARTS FOUNDATION OF CAPE COD, CAN SPEAK PASSIONATELY ABOUT ART FOR ART'S SAKE. But the savvy executive, who spent 10 years on Wall Street and owns a financial firm with her husband, knows art is a vital part of Cape Cod's economy. "Nonprofit cultural organizations need to articulate the fact that investment in arts is investment in the community. It's significant and impactful," says Van Sciver.

Van Sciver describes her primary job as raising four daughters, ages nine to 18, but she volunteers full-tilt at the Arts Foundation. The board of directors cut the organization's budget by 30 percent this year, temporarily leaving the position of executive director unfilled. For Van Sciver, this is clearly a labor of love. "I do it because there's a demonstrated need for what I do and I have the privilege of working with wonderful people who share our mission and understand its importance," she says.

The Arts Foundation calls itself the voice of the arts and it serves as the resource developer for arts programs Cape-wide. Van Sciver easily ticks off a list of the organization's achievements, including presenting Pops by the Sea, one of the largest cultural events on Cape Cod, featuring the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and a celebrity guest conductor; fully underwriting 56 free summer concerts presented in eight towns; sustaining arts endeavors for learners of all types, and offering technical resources to aid working artists. The foundation also promotes culture through the Everything Arts Cape Cod Guide (a comprehensive guide in Cape Cod Life's ART of the Cape & Islands) and the "Passport to the Arts" discount booklet.

The economic downturn has affected the Arts Foundation as it has other cultural organizations, but Van Sciver says, "We're in it for the long run. Now we're working harder than ever to attract and retain support. We are blessed to have many business people who volunteer on our board."

Arts education remains a priority, especially because those programs are vulnerable to budget cuts in schools. Van Sciver highlights a new interactive arts education database on the Arts Foundation's Web site, which permits teachers to list their class offerings at no charge, so viewers can see what's being taught on the Cape. The searchable database, which came out of the community-based Arts Education Steering Committee led by a committee of educators and board members, supports people who engage in arts-related business, which in turn promotes reinvestment in the community.

"We decided to take advantage of our high profile in the community to be a connecting point," says Van Sciver. "I'm vastly proud of it because it solves a problem."

One of Van Sciver's favorite programs is an annual regional exhibit featuring 55 artists who live, work, teach, and show on the Cape. She says, "What's different and exciting about this show is no one has to pay. Last year over 2,000 students and an additional 1,000 adults saw the show."

Looking ahead, Van Sciver envisions using social networking Web sites and other media to promote the Cape's cultural resources, and she dreams of being able to hire a full-time director. The Arts Foundation will continue to respond to the community's evolving needs, she says, and make a considerable difference in lives along the way.