eNews - August 2011 Edition

From the Communications Manager

 

Articles and Information

WSAC Grants Update

 

Grants / Employment

Artwork Installation   Events

 

From the Communications Manager

Goodbye and Hello

 

After seven and half years behind the send button of eNews, I'll be leaving the Arts Commission at the end of this week. I'm not going too far: the Board of Directors of the Washington State Arts Alliance, the statewide arts advocacy organization, has selected me as their new executive director.

 

I'm thrilled by the opportunity to lead the Arts Alliance. We have a lot of work ahead of us and I look forward to my new role.Visit the Arts Alliance's website for information and sign up as a fan on the Arts Alliance's Facebook page.

 

I hope you will join me in supporting the good work of the Arts Alliance, and as Kris would say, "Keep in touch."

 

Sincerely,

Mark Gerth

 

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Grants Update

Now that we have a clearer understanding of what our budget looks like for the upcoming year we've revised and posted guidelines for most of our grants programs.

 

Arts in Education

Community Consortium grants guidelines and application - deadline 09/15/11.

First Step grants guidelines and application - deadline 09/15/11.

 

Folk Arts

Fellowship grants guidelines and application - deadline 09/30/11.

Due to the shortened timeframe we are not conducting Apprenticeships this year.

 

Grants to Organizations

We have suspended operating support grants this year. All eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for the appropriate level of Project Support.

 

Project Support grants guidelines and application - deadlines below:

 

  • LEVEL A - For small arts organizations (under $200,000 annual budget OR non-arts organizations) the application deadline is 09/26/11.

 

  • LEVEL B - For midsized arts organizations (from $200,000 to $1 million annual budget OR Local Arts Agencies) the application deadline is 09/07/11.

 

  • LEVEL C - for large arts institutions (over $1 million annual budget) the application deadline is 09/14/11.

 

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Artwork Installation

When students enter Salish Hall on the Green River Community College campus, they are welcomed by an artwork in the State Art Collection painted and carved by Coast Salish artist Susan Point.

"Woven to Place" by Salish artist Susan Point.

"Woven to Place" (detail) by Susan Point.
Photo courtesy the artist.

 

Woven to Place includes painted forest imagery conceptually woven together with carved cedar panels, mimicking the form of Salish basketry in a unique Northwest Coast style.

 

The artist states, "Green River College is a place of learning, and of sharing knowledge. The natural environment is a key element of what makes the location so special. There is a real sense of connection to nature; a reminder of how it should be everywhere on the Northwest Coast."

 

The name Salish Hall was given to Green River’s newest classroom building to honor and celebrate native people of the Pacific Northwest. Salish refers to the Salishan language. All five divisions that will occupy the building integrate Native American culture into the curriculum.

 

View more images, including one that shows the scale of the artwork, in a "Woven to Place" Facebook gallery.

 

Artwork acquired through Washington State’s Art in Public Places program becomes part of the State Art Collection - a collection of over 4,500 works of art located at state agencies, public schools, colleges and universities throughout the state.

 

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Articles and Information

Arts industry meets old garage space along one block of East Cherry Street as described in this article, East Cherry Street: an artistic world on one city block, by J.B. Wogan in the Seattle Times.

 

The Spokane Arts Commission recently announced that the City Council passed Resolution 11-54 at their July 25 meeting. The resolution recognizes action by the Spokane Arts Commission and the Spokane Park Board to extend the geography of the "Spokane Sculpture Walk" from the Monroe Street Bridget to the Sandfur Bridge on the north side of the Spokane River along the Centennial Trail. This will run parallel to the new Kendall Yards development. While it is a long term project, the Spokane Arts Commission expects that over the next 20 to 30 years, additional major works of art will be located along the trail and in the developing neighborhood.

 

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Grants / Opportunities

The Knight Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are accepting applications for an eight-city competition seeking new models for local arts journalism in the digital age. Applications are being accepted for projects that benefit the following cities: Akron, OH; Detroit, MI; Macon, GA; Charlotte, NC; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; San Jose/ Silicon Valley, CA; and St. Paul, MN. The applicant may be from outside these eight cities. Up to $100,000 is available per project. Deadline: 08/18/11.

 

The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications for their new Arts in Media category open to mobile technology, digital games, and other platforms. Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts, and media projects that can be considered works of art. Grants generally will range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on the platform and the complexity and scope of the project. Deadline: 09/01/11.

 

The Mukilteo Arts Guild is seeking musicians for the 4th annual Bluegrass and Folk Festival in Mukilteo on August 20, 2011.Contact Steve Schmalz for details.

 

The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is seeking:

  • Applications for the juried roster of professional artists eligible for consideration for future public art projects at city utility facilities, parks, in the street right-of-way and at other locations. The roster will include pre-qualified artists who can create free-standing or integrated, site-specific artwork. The call is open to professional artists residing in the United States. Deadline: 08/29/11.
  • Applications for an artist-in-residence to highlight Seattle City Light’s conservation projects. The artist will study the utility’s energy conservation programs and develop a series of innovative projects to bring awareness to conservation. 

 

Tacoma Art Museum is accepting entries for the 10th Northwest Biennial. Application to The Biennial is open to current residents of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada. The 10th Northwest Biennial, on view January 21 through May 20, 2012, will examine the vital questions of who we are as residents of the Pacific Northwest region, what we look like, and our aspirations for our communities. Deadline: 08/31/11.

 

4Culture has several grant opportunities with deadlines coming up:

  • The Heritage Cultural Facilities program funds projects from organizations providing strong heritage programming that focuses on the identification, collection, evaluation, preservation, restoration, exhibition, and/or interpretation of the county’s heritage resources. Applicants to this program may also request funding to purchase equipment. Deadline: 09/14/11.
  • The Arts Cultural Facilities program supports the purchase, development and renovation of arts and cultural facility projects. A separate program provides funding for Arts Equipment. Deadline: 09/14/11.

 

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Employment

The Washington State Arts Commission is currently recruiting a full time Communications Manager. We are seeking a creative, energetic and highly organized communications professional for developing, implementing, and managing the agency’s communications activities, including publications, online resources, and projects. The position oversees the agency’s Information Technology services and tools, and supervises one half-time IT staff member. This position also serves as the agency’s legislative liaison with responsibility for tracking bills and advising agency staff and board on key issues. Apply by 08/19/11.

 

The Alaska State Council on the Arts is recruiting for an Executive Director (PDF), based in Anchorage. The Council is a division of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, governed by an 11 member Council appointed by the Governor. The Executive Director works directly for the Council and manages a staff of five in addition to independent contractors. The agency budget for FY 12 is $1.8 million, comprised of State of Alaska General Funds, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private foundation support.

 

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Events / Workshops / Conferences

Statewide - The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk Arts in the Parks Program is hosting events throughout August:

  • The Peace Arch International Concert series has numerous concerts, starting on August 14 with a performance of the MB Orchestra with master Oud player Maurice Sadak Rouman & the Shahrazad Dance Ensemble, traditional music and dance of the Arab cultures and the Middle East.
  • A free performance of the Beijing rod puppet theater at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah at 6 pm on August 26, in the kitchen shelter. Dragon Art Studio is an internationally acclaimed puppet theater, based in Portland, and the only professional Beijing rod puppet theater in North America.

 

Seattle - the Nature Consortium is hosting the 13th annual Arts in Nature Festival next weekend, August 20th & 21. Nestled in the forested arms of Camp Long, this eclectic performance-based festival will bring a weekend of live music, dance troupes, aerial & fire performances, a Museum of Sound, interactive arts activities, and outdoor art installations.

 

Spokane - A panel of media professionals representing broadcast, print and alternative media will address a gathering of arts marketing managers, community volunteers, and artists on Thursday, August 25th from 3 to 5 pm in the Chase Gallery at Spokane City Hall. The Arts-Media Meet & Greet, presented by the Spokane Arts Commission, will address specific, practical promotional tools that can be used to promote performing arts, music, film, or visual art special events.

 

Tieton - The 10 x 10 x 10 x Tieton Juried Art Exhibition runs August 13 through October 2 in the Mighty Tieton warehouse. The August 27 reception takes place during Tieton's Highland Community Days Celebration, August 26-28. Hop a ride on the Tieton Express, a bus that chauffeurs its passengers from South Seattle to Tieton and back the day of the Highland Community Days Parade. The bus and its passengers will be in the parade, then spend the day enjoying Mexican Dancing Horses, Civil War reenactments, and pipe bands, along with exploring the carnival and farmers market in the decadent celebration that is Highland Community Days.

 

Bellingham - The Mount Baker Theatre is expanding its repertory program with a self-produced run of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods. A musical of Broadway proportions, Into the Woods features sumptuous costumes, a dazzling 23-piece professional orchestra, and awe-inspiring sets. The talented lead actors are world-class performers who are staples on Seattle’s Paramount and 5th Avenue Theatre stages. Shows run October 5 through 9.

 

Seattle - The Seattle Art Museum is hosting a Building a Community of Thinkers Summit on Closing the Gap: the Role of the Arts in 21st Century Student Learning on October 14 from 9 am to 5 pm in the Plestcheeff Auditorium. This is a FREE one-day professional development convening for parents, educators, students, teaching artists, cultural organizations and all other community members concerned with student learning in the 21st century.