eNews - May 2010 Edition
From the Executive DirectorThe fan base for Seattle-area musicians Jonathan Kingham and Ryan Shea Smith includes students in some of the state’s most rural schools in northeast Washington – places like Orient, Valley, Summit Valley, and Inchelium - where Jonathan and Ryan lead in-school songwriting workshops that wind up with new local hit songs (“Run Bunny” in 2009) and new skills for students in chord progressions, melody, collaboration, and creative thinking. Besides their arts education work, both Jonathan and Ryan have new CDs this spring, and have booked Benaroya Hall on June 6 for the release party.
Arts education, songwriting, CDs and Benaroya Hall – these linkages offer a quick snapshot of the creative economy. Artists work in schools and in recording studios, on stage and in home offices, and in an infinite variety of settings, roles and opportunities. Artists support local economies when they buy supplies, attract audiences, pay taxes, rent spaces, activate spaces and revitalize neighborhoods.
In the next few weeks, WSAC will release our annual Creative Vitality Index, tracking how the arts contribute to the creative economy of our state. The data shows that Washington state had over 100,000 arts-related jobs in 2008. These jobs span dozens of sectors of our economy, from engineers and designers, to writers and architects.
Some quick highlights include:
And, we need to be clear about the link between the economy, innovation, and arts education in Washington schools. Educating creative thinkers is good for the economy, a recent guest editorial in The Seattle Times, highlights the Washington State Arts Commission’s recently completed report on arts education, K-12 Arts Education: Every Student, Every School, Every Year, and calls for an increased investment in arts education for all Washington students.
Art works for Washington State. Thanks for your creative commitments and your good stories.
Keep in touch,
New Artwork InstallationSigns and Symbols_Symbols and Signs by Barbara Grygutis was recently installed outside the new Humanities and Student Services Building on the campus of Olympic College in Bremerton.
The sculptural installation is composed of two 12-foot columns and 90 glass blocks within each section. The theme ties into ideas and learning, using signs and symbols within language as design
elements. The art represents colors found in the local surroundings. The columns are lit at night and glow, illuminating the main court yard. Photography by Spike Mafford.
Artwork acquired through Washington State’s Art in Public Places program becomes part of the State Art Collection - a collection of over 4,600 works of art located at state agencies, public schools, colleges and universities throughout the state.
Arts Education MonthMay is Arts Education Month in Washington State! What better opportunity to shine a light on the successes in our community and bring attention to the issues facing our schools. Here are some things you can do to highlight the importance of arts education in your community:
Articles and InformationRecently the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras was featured in Symphony Magazine's May/June issue.
Each year, archives, libraries, museums, and arts and historic preservation organizations set aside May 1 to participate in MayDay, an initiative to protect cultural heritage from disasters.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced that 40 nonprofit, professional theater companies, including Seattle Shakespeare Company, will receive grants of $25,000 each to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation.
Important Information for Nonprofits"At midnight on May 15, an estimated one-fifth to one-quarter of some 1.6 million charities, trade associations and membership groups will lose their tax exemptions, thanks to a provision buried in a 2006 federal bill aimed at pension reform." One-Fourth of Nonprofits Are to Lose Tax Breaks, by Stephane Strom, New York Times.
This change affects ONLY 501(c)(3) organizations with budgets below $25,000 who have failed to file their 990s (tax return) for the last three years. These organizations never used to have to file tax returns, but this law changed in 2006. Failure to file tax returns three years in a row will result in a 501(c)(3) losing its tax-exempt status. Organizations with less than $25,000 in annual revenues need to fill out Form 990-N. This is a convenient, easy and electronic form. It asks for eight items of information. The IRS has a comprehensive guide and a link to the form.
Grants / OpportunitiesWSAC's Roster of Teaching Artists is a resource directory of high quality teaching artists who are especially well suited for working with K-12 public schools. Roster of Teaching Artists applications and guidelines are available. Deadline 06/01/09.
The Project Support grants deadline for FY 2011 Round Two is October 4, 2010, for projects taking place between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011.
The Seattle Design Commission wants your ideas for Holding Patterns (PDF), interim uses for stalled project sites. They are seeking concepts to transform the following types of stalled project sites around the city: holes in the ground, surface lots, and ongoing construction above or below street level. Artists, designers, non-profits, businesses, developers, students, astronauts, everyone is invited to contribute ideas. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged. Deadline: 05/24/10.
Building for the Arts awards grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit performing arts, art museums, and cultural organizations to defray up to 20 percent of eligible capital costs for the acquisition, construction, and/or major renovation of capital facilities. This is a reimbursement-style grant, and operating costs are ineligible. The grants are funded by the sale of state bonds (no federal funds are involved). Awardees are selected through a competitive grant application process held every two years. Deadline: 05/27/10.
The Tacoma Arts Commission is still seeking art content for inclusion on the Click! ON Demand channel (PDF). Examples of programming could include, but are not limited to: a music video featuring all original content on DVD; a DVD of a spoken word performance; a visual artist who creates a DVD slideshow of his artwork set to music. Deadline: 05/28/10.
The City of Olympia Arts Commission and the Olympia Downtown Association (ODA) are sponsoring a photography competition. Winning photographs will be used to create banners for display in downtown Olympia. A minimum of four (4) photographs will be chosen and winning photographers will receive an honorarium of $100 each. The first 20 photographers to enter will receive a t-shirt with the "Its Your Olympia" logo. Deadline: 06/01/10.
Issaquah Salmon Days Festival is currently accepting vendor applications for participation in the 2010 Salmon Days Festival, held October 2 and 3, 2010 in downtown Issaquah. Deadline: 06/01/10.
Artist Trust's Grants for Artists Projects (GAP) provide support for artist-generated projects, which can include (but are not limited to) the development, completion or presentation of new work. GAP awards are open to artists of all disciplines and offer a maximum of $1,500 for projects. A panel comprised of artists and arts professionals selected from around Washington State select GAP recipients. Deadline: 06/25/10.
The Arts of Kenmore has issued a call (PDF) for the juried Kenmore Art Show. The show has continued to grow in size and quality each year. Deadline: 08/13/10.
Grumbacher paint is looking to hire acrylic painters to teach two-hour workshops at a major retailer in locations across the United State and Canada. Artists must be capable of demonstrating a still life, landscape, seascape, and floral. Participants will conduct approximately one to four workshops per store, per month and the artist will have flexibility in scheduling. Compensation is $100 per workshop, and teaching materials will be provided to the artist at no cost. Email Katie Blanchard with examples of your work in acrylics, along with a resume and contact information.
Employment / Volunteer / InternshipsStone Soup Theatre is hiring a grant writer with the knowledge of both educational theater and support grants for live theater in a long-term commitment. They are looking for experience specifically with theater and education, knowledge of corporate as well as non-corporate funding. Send resumes to maureen@stonesouptheatre.org.
Events / Workshops / ConferencesWenatchee - The 45th Annual Washington State Fiddlers’ Contest will be held May 14 through 16 at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. Featuring over 100 contestants competing in eight nationally certified divisions.
Seattle - CD Forum's CREATION Project Showcase May 14-15 at 8 pm at Rainier Valley Cultural Center is the culmination of a yearlong new works and professional development program for emerging local Black artists. Don't miss the opportunity to see all of these artists together on one stage!
Seattle - TR(ACTION) - ArtsEd Washington’s Annual Meeting takes place at Experience Music Project from 5 to 7pm on Tuesday, May 25. All are welcome! Come and catch up with What's been happening, what needs to happen, and how you can help make it happen. The evening includes updates from Dr. Alan Burke, Deputy Superintendent, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction & Kris Tucker, Executive Director, Washington State Arts Commission. Reception with light hors d'oeuvres & beverages. Galleries open—stay and enjoy!
Seattle - Seattle Center invites the public to a FREE ICE SKATE at KeyArena, Friday, June 4, from noon to 8 pm. Free admission, free skate use, and 17,000 square feet of ice offer a cool way for families and friends to slide into the weekend. No tickets are required for the Free Ice Skate. Doors open at 11:30 am.
Olympia - The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to attend the third annual Cambodian Cultural Celebration at the Millersylvania State Park near Olympia. The celebration runs from 11 am to 4 pm on June 5, at the Millersylvania State Park Environmental Learning Center. The festival will feature a unique selection of traditional and contemporary Cambodian music and art forms performed by South Puget Sound region's Cambodian community. |
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