While most people spent Friday celebrating their independence, a lack of funds may rob local arts organizations of the ability to expand.

That is mainly due to the 2008 Arts Fund drive failing to reach its financial goal.

Last year’s Arts Fund drive surpassed its $185,000 goal by more than $11,000. The 2008 Arts Fund drive ran from April 6 through April 30, and as of June 30, the campaign fell more than $13,000 short of its goal.

The goal was $207,250. The campaign raised $194,243.

Brad Graves, along with his wife, Jane, co-chaired this year’s Arts Fund drive. Mr. Graves admits that the 12 percent increase in the goal was slightly steep, but the drive organizers didn’t anticipate the economic circumstances that may have kept them from reaching it.

“A lot of this was back before gas started jumping,” Mr. Graves said. “It’s really been kind of a turbulent first six months of the year, and in reality, these goals were set back in December.”

While several businesses increased the amount of their donations, and new businesses got involved in supporting the drive, Ms. Graves said a technical glitch during their Arts Fund telethon may have kept several potential donors from getting through.

“There was probably a good 45 minutes where if people got a call, they dropped it,” Ms. Graves said. “Instead of rolling over, they were getting dropped.”

Now, instead of holding a celebration, the Arts Fund’s allocations committee will meet to decide what to do since the campaign fell short. Programs that may have been developed may have to be postponed, and Mr. Graves said the allocations committee will make financial cuts to the nine local arts programs “as fairly and as productively as they can.”

With organizations lacking necessary funds, they will have to dedicate extra fundraising efforts.

“It means that each organization is going to have to go out and raise additional money to support their programs,” says Dr. Robert Spurgat, member of the Saint Joseph Symphony board of directors. “I’m sure we’re going to have to make up the difference somehow, so we’ll have to work at it.”

Mr. Graves says that additional donations that come in will be put towards the Arts Fund. He thinks that in the future, the Arts Fund may need to start sooner and explore other methods of raising money. As co-chair of the Arts Fund, his attitude right now could be described as optimistic disappointment.

“Our official drive is over and from that, we’ve had a shortfall.” Mr. Graves said. “I do feel bad that we weren’t able to do that for them, but really, given the state of everything, I think we did OK.”

Blake Hannon can be reached at

blakehannon@npgco.com