eNews - June 2011 Edition
From the Executive DirectorI was in Chelan last month for the Nonprofit Practices Institute – the spring summit of the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, where I spent part of an afternoon talking with more than 30 energetic leaders from small towns about “trends, research data and hot topics” related to the arts. To prepare, I pulled together a page of resources and messages (PDF) about the impact of the arts, with quick links to some of the top sources for good information and support.
Our lively discussion touched on numerous topics, but I was especially impressed by the interest in talking about collaborations, partnerships and alliances – to connect the arts with local issues (tourism, health care, senior activities), to work well with local businesses, even initiating partnerships across the Canadian border. How smart this is! Partnerships are essential for nearly all arts efforts. Most of the conference participants work in small nonprofit organizations in small, often isolated communities. They shared story after story about how things get done through some combination of individual effort and collective vision, unusual partnerships or like-minded alliances – plus talent, hard work, and determination.
Kudos to the Community Foundation of North Central Washington for convening such a great event, and for recognizing that the arts have an important role in the quality of life of our communities.
Keep in touch,
Legislative UpdateThe special session ended on May 25th just after 10:30 pm. In Legislative terms, that’s Sine Die – or adjournment.
The operating budget (2ESHB 1087) passed both the House and Senate with approximately $1.1 million dollars per year in state funding for the Washington State Arts Commission and retains us as an independent agency.
The state's operating budget also provides approximately:
The funding above comes from the Washington State Heritage Center Account; this account was established several years ago to fund the construction of a Heritage Center on the Olympia capital campus. There is also funding ($150,000) to study the potential of using the General Administration building for the Heritage Center.
In the capital budget there were no changes to the Arts Commission’s public art program (ESHB 1497).
Other budgets and bills
As with all bills, after passage in the Legislature, the Governor has three weeks to review and decide to sign, veto, or partially veto a bill (June 15).
Artwork InstallationArtist Terry Furchgott's Wings Around the World was installed this Spring at Chief Umtuch Middle School in Battle Ground.
From Terry’s artist statement, "As well as providing imagery spectacular enough to attract and interest children, adolescents and adults, the connection with their ongoing studies ensures that students will come to understand the imagery in greater depth as they move up in age and grade."
Wings Around the World facts:
The seven main figures of the mobile illustrate key units taken from the History Curriculum of grades 5-8 including the Native American tribes who first settled the Battle Ground area, the Western movement of European explorers and the early pioneers, mediaeval Europe, and the more ancient cultures of Asia (Japan), Meso-America (Mexico, Peru Guatemala), Africa (Egypt), and the Middle East (Babylon, Assyria, Mesopotamia).
More pictures in an online Wings Around the World 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.
Articles and InformationThe Blue Star Museums initiative is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 1,000 museums across America. Participating museums are offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families over the summer.
Grants / OpportunitiesMighty Tieton is seeking entries for 10 x 10 x 10 x Tieton juried exhibition (PDF). Professional artists, crafts people, print artists, and photographers, are invited to submit entries for this exhibition. No geographic limits. All entries must be of original design and personal execution. Deadline: 06/20/11.
National Arts Strategies is presenting their Managing People seminar in Seattle in September 8-9 and providing fellowships to cover the full cost of tuition for teams of 3-6. This retreat-like working session is designed to help leaders shed “best practices” and develop solutions that fit for specific missions and situations. Expert faculty – from Stanford and Cornell – will lead participants through a process to align an organization’s culture and infrastructure with their mission and strategy. Deadline: 06/24/11.
Seattle World’s Fair 50th Anniversary (The Next 50) is seeking applications for up to twenty temporary projects to highlight arts, culture and design. National and international individuals, curators, and institutions as well as youth-led projects (24 years old and under) are encouraged to submit proposals of new and original temporary visual, performing, literary and media art projects that could range in duration between one day and six months. Letter of Intent deadline: 07/22/11.
Visual artists working in Washington, Oregon or Idaho are invited to apply for the Seattle Art Museum’s (SAM’s) annual Betty Bowen Award. Applications are available now at www.callforentry.org. Deadline: 08/01/11.
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.
EmploymentThe Seattle Art Museum is recruiting for a number of positions. The Museum of Glass is recruiting for a number of positions.
Events / Workshops / ConferencesOnline - We are hosting an online webinar on Engaging Your Young Adult Audiences, 21-35 on Monday, June 27, 2011 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm to review and further discuss the recent Arts Participation Leadership Initiative forum and workshop. Learn how arts organization leaders are using new techniques and new technology to cultivate younger adult participants. Participation is free!
Seattle / Kirkland - The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra is collaborating with the Seattle Art Museum for Jazz of the Harlem Renaissance on June 18 at Benaroya Hall and June 19 at the Kirkland Performance Center. The show will treat audiences to a selection of images from significant paintings by Jacob Lawrence that reflect his unique views of the Harlem Renaissance period (ca. 1920-35), interspersed with classic jazz pieces from the same period by jazz composers Fletcher Henderson, Jimmie Lunceford, Duke Ellington and others. As a special highlight, guest soloists from award-winning high school jazz programs in the Seattle area will be featured.
Port Townsend - The 12th season of Art Outside, the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center’s program of art in nature, will premier on Saturday, June 18 with an artists’ opening reception from 1 to 4 pm. New works by fifteen artists, many of whom will be in attendance, join more than 100 artworks still on-site from previous seasons in the Center’s charming Webster Woods Art Park.
A Theater Near You - Conductor and Music Director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Gustavo Dudamel explores the impact of music education on youth during the movie Let the Children Play, an inspirational evening showcasing how music can play a critical role in shaping a young person’s life. This exclusive one-night event will take place in U.S. movie theaters nationwide on Thursday, June 23 at 7:00 pm (local time). |
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