eNews - January 2011 Edition
From the Executive Director“Music helps transcend the color barriers. Folks coming to the event see the Hispanic community in a different light….as independent business people that are involved in this community.” Michael Fernandez, Hispanic Heritage Festival, Spokane
The arts bring people togetherNew research from the National Endowment for the Arts, Live From Your Neighborhood (PDF), documents the remarkable impact of outdoor arts festivals nationwide, including new data on the artists they employ, the communities they serve, and the role they play in cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
Some highlights: A typical outdoor festival showcases many different kinds of art forms and attracts a diverse audience. 39% of festivals take place in towns with populations under 10,000. Healthy, long-term partnerships with local government are essential in sustaining festivals as part of community life.
WSAC has a long history of supporting festivals and other arts events across the state that provide jobs, promote tourism, enhance economic vitality, and provide opportunities for people to come together. For example:
This year more than ever we need your stories about how the arts make a difference through your organization and in your home town. See below for the latest budget news – and join us on Facebook for ongoing updates.
Keep in touch,
Budget NewsThe Governor has proposed dramatic changes for the Washington State Arts Commission: eliminating WSAC as an independent agency, moving some arts functions to the Department of Commerce, and dramatically reducing funding and staffing.
Heritage CaucusOrganized in 1990, the Washington State Heritage Caucus is a bi-partisan gathering of state legislators and other elected officials; staff from state heritage, arts, and cultural agencies, and nonprofit organizations; and citizens interested in supporting Washington's culture, heritage, and the arts.
The Heritage Caucus is co-chaired by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R), 15th District, and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D), 24th District. Caucus meetings are co-staffed by the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) and the Washington State Arts Commission.
The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2011. All meetings are open to public and everyone interested in arts and heritage is invited to attend.
Arts and Heritage DayFor twenty-eight years the Washington State Arts Alliance (WSAA) has coordinated Arts Day, a gathering of arts advocates in Olympia. This year, in partnership with the Washington Museum Association, they've expanded the event to Arts and Heritage Day, February 2, 2011 in Olympia.
Artwork InstallationRe-Union by Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii was installed last October outside of Union High School in Vancouver.
The etched metal alludes to Union High School’s history using photo-etched panels that depict scenes from the original school; both its architecture and its students. The slate panels are meant to evoke the ubiquitous school blackboard. At the same time, chalk trays running the length of the screens are intended to hold colorful pieces of usable chalk. The chalk is meant to give students a chance to create their own images or text. And located at the heart of the artwork is the original Union High School bell.
View an online gallery of the dedication on our Facebook page.
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.
Articles and InformationArtist (and WSAC Commissioner) Elizabeth Conner has begun a six-month residency on the Tolt River, working with staff in King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Water and Land Resources Division. She will be tracking the changes to the river in its flood season as it is monitored by ecologists, and looking for ways to bring that research forward visually and conceptually to the surrounding community and visitors. You can follow the residency through ongoing blog posts.
“The Importance of Arts In Education”, a Vancouver School of the Arts video, received an honorable mention in the WA State Board of Education’s inaugural student video contest last year. It features students and teachers from the Vancouver, WA school discussing the importance of the arts in education.
Grants / OpportunitiesThe Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting applications for the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP). Funding supports the creation and completion of new artwork, as well as local activities connecting these artists with Tacoma citizens on a deeper level. In the past, funded artists have helped bring about a rich array of public exhibits, readings, film screenings, workshops, performances and more. Deadline: 01/24/11.
The City of Auburn and the Auburn School District are seeking an artist or artist team as part of an artist in residency at Auburn Riverside High School to create a mural on the side of a overpass that is parallel to the popular White River Trail. This project is intended as an education opportunity and to create a sense of ownership and pride of the area. Deadline: 01/24/11.
Storefronts Seattle, in partnership with the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, seeks applicants for temporary art installations, residencies and creative enterprise projects to enliven vacant storefronts in Seattle’s Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods in addition to other locations. Selected artists will have the opportunity to showcase, create or sell their work to a large and diverse audience. Deadline: 01/31/11.
The Sundance Institute's Native American and Indigenous Program has created a fellowship to provide direct support to emerging Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native film artists working in the United States. The Native Film Lab is designed to support filmmakers in strengthening their craft, developing their voice as writers, and advancing their current projects closer to production. All stories are welcome and contemporary stories are encouraged. Stories do not need to be about a specific culture or theme. Deadline: 02/01/11.
Fishtrap is accepting applications for 2011 Fishtrap Fellowships. The Fishtrap Fellowship program brings emerging writers to their flagship event, Summer Fishtrap, held each July at Wallowa Lake. Deadline: 02/01/11.
The First Nations Composer Initiative, a program of the American Composers Forum, is accepting applications for the Common Ground grants program to fund the creation of newly composed work by American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian composers, commissioners, or performing musicians. Deadline: 02/01/11.
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission is seeking applicants for the U.S/Japan Creative Artists' Program. The program provides support for up to five outstanding contemporary and traditional artists from the United States to spend a three-month residency in Japan to pursue their individual artistic goals. Deadline: 02/01/11.
The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is seeking performers for the 21st annual Shoreline Arts Festival to be held June 25 and 26, 2011. Deadline: 02/15/11.
In partnership with the Association of Washington School Principals, ArtsEd Washington is seeking applications from Washington state K-12 public schools that excel in arts education. Principals are encouraged to nominate their school for the Schools of Distinction in Arts Education award, a program of The Kennedy Center.The winning school applications at the state level will be submitted to The Kennedy Center to compete for the national level award. Deadline: 02/28/11.
Employment / Volunteer / InternshipsThe Washington State Arts Commission is seeking a contractor to manage a Creative Vitality Index pilot project.
The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is seeking two full-time communications interns to work closely with its communications team and provide administrative support for the department. Responsibilities include composing blog and enewsletter content, managing social media, researching local and national media, drafting press releases, assisting with events and working on special projects.
EMP is seeking a Creative Services and Production Manager responsible for managing all print collateral projects and for coordinating the design development of creative projects for all departments by compiling and distributing all pertinent project information, controlling and tracking the flow of jobs, and acting as liaison in the production workflow process.
Fishtrap, based in Oregon, is seeking an Executive Director responsible for overall management of Fishtrap, a not-for-profit literary arts organization located in Enterprise, Oregon.
NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth) is seeking a skilled and experienced non-profit manager to fill the organization's newly-formed Managing Director post. The Managing Director will work closely with the Executive Director to oversee operations, fundraising and continued growth and financial stability of NFFTY, with responsibilities that range from administrative work, financial oversight, and editorial tasks.
Events / Workshops / ConferencesTacoma - Tacoma Youth Symphony is presenting a free concert, Classical Tuesdays in Old Town, on January 11 at 7 pm. The Tacoma Weekly recently featured this event.
Mercer Island - Youth Theatre Northwest sets the stage for gangsters and dreamers with an adaptation of a popular 1976 film, a rough and tumble musical production of Bugsy Malone, performing January 28 – February 13, 2011.
Seattle - Northwest Film Forum is presenting an animation master class with its renowned Chinese animator Joe Chang on January 29 from noon to 3 pm. In this small group workshop, he will discuss some of his animation techniques and offer a few demonstrations. Plan to bring clips of your work to show and get personal advice from one of the medium's most accomplished artists.
Seattle - Seattle Center is presenting the Tết Festival - Vietnamese Lunar New Year on January 29 and 30 from 10 am to 6 pm in the Center House. Craft bookmarks, create an apricot blossom boutonniere and express your inner artist through painting workshops. Revisit thousands of years of the Vietnamese history at this festive New Year celebration as you immerse in the dance, traditional music performance, visual and martial arts of Vietnam. |
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