COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance is partnering with the Idaho Commission on the Arts to bring special presentations and workshops to Coeur d'Alene June 1-3.

The sessions are part of a state-wide celebration for the ICA in commemoration of its 50th anniversary. Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance executive director Ali Shute said a main goal of these workshops is to call attention to the importance of the arts in the Gem State's local communities.

"I definitely think that strengthening our art community is beneficial for the entire community," she said Monday. "My research has shown that our local community has greatly benefited from the arts."

The free presentations, to be held in University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene classrooms in Harbor Plaza, are geared toward artists as well as any nonprofit that could use assistance with managing finances.

"Let's face it, all nonprofits struggle with (finances)," she said. "Understanding how to best use our dollars is going to help everybody."

June 1

"Financial Management," presented by ICA deputy director Stuart Weiser, will take place in UICDA Room 241 from 10-11 a.m. Weiser will discuss empowering organizations through improved money management and reporting. The presentation will include sections on documents — balance sheets, income statements and cash flow forecasting — and how they work together. Attendees will learn how to identify whether an organization is financially healthy.

Weiser will also present "Arts and the Economy" in UICDA Room 241 from 1-2 p.m. This session will feature national statistics and information from a recent study from Americans for the Arts that highlights how economic development and the nonprofit arts are connected. The AFTA's local economic calculator will be introduced to give nonprofits ideas about their contributions to the economy.

June 2:

Public art consultant Mark Johnstone will present "How to Apply for a Public Art Project" in UICDA Room 240B from 10-11 a.m. This workshop will cover request for qualifications (RFQs), request for proposals (RFPs) and budgeting for artists who are interested in submitting proposals in response to calls for artists.

ICA artist services director John McMahon will present the "Grant Writing Workshop" in UICDA Room 240B from 1-5 p.m. This session will introduce participants to the fundamentals of writing strong grants. After the 1-hour workshop, attendees can register for one-on-one meetings with ICA staff to address individual questions and concerns. This session is limited to 20 participants.

June 3:

From 9 a.m. to noon, the Arts and Culture Alliance, ICA and Bakery by the Lake will present the "Culture Café" at Emerge Studio, located at 208 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d'Alene. Michelle Coleman and Caroline Stivers, both of the ICA, will facilitate an engaging discussion about the value of the arts in the community — past, present and future. Refreshments will be provided. Space is limited.

"I think it's going to be awesome," Shute said of the Culture Café.

To register for a workshop or the Culture Café, contact Shute at ali@artsandculturecda.org or 292-1629. The University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene classrooms are located at 1031 N. Academic Way.