BIOGRAPHY OF:

Charles Christopher Mark 10/12/27-3/17/98

EDUCATION:

BS; University of Wisconsin; theatre and literature Masters; Social Work (nonprofit administration). Thesis: A Descriptive Analysis of Fundraising Techniques.

HONORS & MEMBERSHIPS:

Acting and playwriting awards; four athletic letters in fencing at U. Wisconsin. Member of Authors' Guild (1960); Dramatists' Guild (1977) Elected to American Theatre Critics Association (1974) Dance Critics Association (1974) Given the John R. Barton Award for "Original and pioneering work for the arts and the nation." (1967) Guest of German and Australian governments to evaluate their national cultural life; 1978. U.S. representative to several UNESCO and international conferences and committees; 1966-1977. Membership on several nonprofit arts boards of directors. Consultant to arts foundations.

SUMMARY OF POSITIONS HELD:

1954-56- Wisconsin Welfare Council; Associate Executive Director.

1956-58 - Beloit, Wis. United Way; Executive Director.

1958-61 - Winston-Salem (NC) Arts Council; Executive Director

1961-64 - St. Louis Arts & Education Council; Founding Executive Director.

1964-65 - Arts Consultant to the White House

1964-69 - National Endowment for the Arts: Appointed by President Johnson (1966) as Director of State and Community Operations: 1968-69 appointed Director of Planning and Analysis.

1969-70 - President, Los Angeles Music Center, Performing Arts Council.

1969-70 - Taught arts management at UCLA

1970-90 - Founder, editor, publisher of the Arts Reporting Service, bi-weekly newsletter; nationally and internationally circulated

1974-83 - Pioneered daily arts news reporting nationally via NPR and APR (1980-83)

1975-76 - Taught U.S. cultural history at George Washington University

1979-80 - Taught U.S. cultural history at American University

DETAILED INFORMATION:

1954-57 - In the health and welfare field: Organized and supervised statewide and local fundraising campaigns for from $200,000 to $300,000. His Beloit campaigns attained one of the highest per capitas in the nation; lobbyist with the state legislature, edited a statewide welfare magazine; administered welfare planning programs locally.

1958-64 - In the local Arts Council field: In 1958, only 15 arts councils existed and only four had professional leadership. He organized the first annual united arts fund in Winston-Salem and St. Louis. Increased support for the arts by an average of 250% in both cities in three years; supervised construction of a performing arts center; established a civic ballet; in St. Louis, 120 arts agencies were organized into a planning council; produced and and presented theatrical and opera attractions.

1964-1969 - In federal service: Commissioner of Education Francis Keppel gave him the national assignment of exploring the possible relationship between the proposed state arts councils and universities, and the general feasibility of the states acting to establish these arts agencies. His report was later entered into Congressional testimony by Keppel. Roger L. Stevens, Special Assistant for the Arts for President Johnson, hired him as Special Consultant on the Arts in the Executive Office of the President (White House). He traveled widely and consulted with cultural leaders on a possible federal program for the arts; when the National Council on the Arts was established, he prepared material on programs within their mandate; organized the administrative structure of both the NEA and NEH; compiled the annual NEA budget and testified before Congressional Committees; organized the establishment of 42 state arts council under the NEA law; supervised all grants, projects, personnel, and administrative policies for the NEA; assisted in providing entertainment for the White House; wrote a history of the NEA at the request of the White House.

1969-70 - L.A. Music Center: Mrs. Dorothy Chandler persuaded him to become President of the Arts Council of the Music Center; the governing and coordinating agency for the constituent members. As president, he was responsible for the annual fund campaign, advising the member arts agencies on management, advising on "outside" rentals; promoting the Center to the public. Misconceptions of responsibility and a personality clash with Mrs. Chandler led to a short tenure.

1970-97 - Self Employment: His national experience with the NEA convinced him of the need for an independent, inclusive, frequent, and concise arts newsletter. The Arts Reporting Service (ARS) began publication in September, 1970, and ceased in March, 1990. It was read by arts managers, artists, patrons, and persons in public office here and abroad. Rising costs and diminishing support of the arts ended the penurious venture.

During the tenure of ARS he was able to transfer much of the flavor and content to a radio series of Monday through Friday broadcasts for National Public Radio (1974-79). These three to four minute news, commentary, and information reports were carried by as many as 180 stations nationwide. When American Public Radio was established in 1980, he was again asked to offer this service (1980-83).

Also, during this period he served as a consultant to the NEA; served as a speech writer for the Chairman of the NEH; conducted evaluation studies and consultations for several state, and national institutions; wrote theatre, dance, visual arts and music criticism, served as a judge for the American College Theater Festival; edited the Kennedy Center and National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies newsletters; and wrote speeches for government officials in the arts and humanities.

See a separate partial list of publications from 1958 to 1997