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Monday, November 19, 2012

NEWS: Americans for the Arts, Various updates across country


Minnesota: Concerts Canceled as Orchestra Dispute WorsensStar Tribune, 11/8/12
"The dispute between musicians and the board of the Minnesota Orchestra deepened as the orchestra canceled all concerts through the end of the year. The 21 canceled shows include holiday and pops concerts that routinely draw large crowds and produce sizable revenues. The next scheduled concerts would be January 11. The announcement means the orchestra has canceled the first 2 1/2 months of its season—longer than any of the other large U.S. orchestras struggling with contract disputes this fall
and rhetoric between the two sides has become hotter. For Twin Cities music lovers, it means that both the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra will be silent during the holiday season. Musicians of both orchestras are locked out...Orchestra management has said it wants to cut $5 million from labor expenses (about 33 percent of current costs) via cuts in base and overscale salaries as well as in benefits and through a pay cut for substitute and extra musicians."
http://bit.ly/ZvJx6t
New Jersey: Hurricane Sandy Spares New Public Art ProjectThe New York Times, 11/4/12
"As devastating a hit as New Jersey took from Hurricane Sandy, the blow was softer than had been feared for this seaside gambling mecca directly in the storm’s path. None of the waterfront casinos, for instance, reported major damage. The hurricane even spared the first phase of a planned five-year, $13 million public art project here called 'Artlantic,' scheduled to make its debut on [November 9], that is attempting to transform a city that has never offered much in the way of public space beyond the famous Boardwalk. 'Artlantic: wonder,' as the first phase is called, cost $3 million and encompasses two sites, including what was, until a month ago a barren, seven-acre expanse of grass and gravel right off the Boardwalk in the center of town. This prime real estate, where a casino once stood, was a highly visible eyesore.
"
http://nyti.ms/RYhCru
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Arts in Education 


Louisiana: Partnerships Increase Arts Education in Local SchoolsThe Daily Advertiser, 11/13/12
"If you walk into a Lafayette Parish classroom these days, there's a good chance that a teacher will be using a song, painting or other form of art with the lesson plan. Often, the teacher will be joined by a local artist sharing expertise and telling students that, no matter their skill level, they are also artists. A combination of district funding, local partnerships and grants is allowing the Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) to use arts in its curriculum more than ever, making sure to match up fun activities with the common core curriculum and state standards and benchmarks. Paget Guidry, who joined LPSS this year as its art and music academic specialist, said the district's program includes Primary Academic Creative Experiences, a partnership with the Acadiana Center for the Arts; a pilot program with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra called 'ABC's Do Re Me'; and visits from national musicians and storytellers throughout the year."
http://bit.ly/T22niH
Fine Arts Deans Convene to Discuss Role in 'Art for the Public Good'
ARTSblog
, 11/8/12
"The International Council of Fine Arts Deans‘ (ICFAD) meeting in Minneapolis (October 24–27) for their annual conference talked about 'Art as a Public Good'—meeting the demands for creativity and innovation, and serving the communities they represent, socially and economically. Nurturing the talented performer, musician, or sculptor is of utmost importance to the fine arts deans and their universities. However, knowing that the arts, broadly defined, are being called on to shape the larger economic discussion—a national discussion, really—to change the way the whole country thinks about education, economic prowess in the global economy, and preparing our students for the new innovation sector, cries out for their leadership...Lucinda Lavelli, dean of University of Florida and incoming President of ICFAD, kicked off the conference by talking about the concept of 'the creative campus,' now adopted by several universities, 'to establish educational settings that infuse the academy with the arts, foster creativity in all disciplines, promote interdisciplinary projects and encourage new ways of solving problems and expressing ideas.'"
http://bit.ly/RmhRMP 
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Public Investment in the Arts 


South Carolina: Myrtle Beach May Put Arts Center Funding to VoteWPDE-TV, 11/13/12
"Proponents of the Myrtle Beach Performing Arts Center are thrilled following a meeting [November 13]. The Myrtle Beach City Council is one step closer to a referendum asking the public to fund the development. The plans for the proposed performing arts center include an 832 seat theater, a black box performance space, a rehearsal hall, a lobby art gallery, dual dressing rooms, back-of-house scenery and construction space, bathrooms, a concession stand, and a box office. The project is expected to cost about $10 million [and] the council has decided to ask voters through a referendum if they want to fund the project through a tax increase...'[The Council] do seem to be of one mind, let's make it a general election referendum next November. And talk about $10 million dollars worth of funding for a performing arts center,' Myrtle Beach spokesman Mark Kruea said. The performing arts center has been a work in progress for more than a decade."
http://bit.ly/QeiviE
Michigan: Officials Dismayed by Rejection of Public Art MillageThe Michigan Daily, 11/11/12
"City officials said they were disappointed in the wake of the rejection by Ann Arbor voters of a tax for a more comprehensive public art program on Election Day. Public art administrator Aaron Seagraves said he was surprised the millage was rejected, and though he could not speculate on voter sentiment, he supposed the new model of funding could have driven voters away...The millage was an alternative to the current public arts funding program Percent for Art, which has encountered difficulty in providing public arts projects under heavy restrictions that limit displays to permanent art installations on specified government properties. Following rejection of the proposal, Ann Arbor will return to the previous model, which utilizes city funding rather than tax money from residents. The tax would have cost the average homeowner about $11 a month and was expected to bring in about $450,000 annually."
http://bit.ly/XGocYG
Oregon: City Passes Measure to Fund Arts Teachers, Organizations
The Oregonian
, 11/6/12
"Portland voters have overwhelmingly approved a proposed tax that would fund arts teachers and organizations...Measure 26-146 has garnered 58 percent of voters' support to 42 percent opposed. The tax would charge Portlanders $35 a year for all residents who are at least 18 years old and earn an income. Only those living below the federal poverty level would be exempt, and those individuals would be required to submit documentation to the city annually. The proposal would pay for about 70 teachers among six Portland districts: Centennial, David Douglas, Parkrose, Portland Public Schools, Reynolds and Riverdale. But of the roughly $12 million the measure would raise annually, only about half of that money would go toward teachers. About $4 million would go toward arts organizations through grants."
http://bit.ly/ZvVzwL
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The Creative Economy & The Private Sector 


New York: Toyota Partners to Empower Youth via Hip-Hop, TechnologyPR Newswire, 11/12/12
"Toyota and New York City's World Up have come together in a new fundraising effort to empower youth in New York City and beyond through the power of hip-hop, technology, and education. From November 12–18, World Up and Toyota invite everyone to take to Twitter and Instagram to lend their voice to the #ToyotaGiving movement and help raise funds to support World Up's programs. How to help: 1) Post to Twitter or Instagram how you have been inspired by music to make a difference in the world or your community, using the hashtag #ToyotaGiving. 2) For every tagged #ToyotaGiving tweet or Instagram photo, Toyota will donate $2 to World Up, up to $5,000...World Up uses hip-hop as a way to talk to youth about global issues, bringing hip-hop artists, such as Lupe Fiasco and Young Guru, into the classroom to tell their stories. Over the past eight years World Up has developed a curriculum that goes beyond global issues to teach youth literacy, leadership, and music production skills."
http://bit.ly/SWhIyU
Virginia: State Film, TV Industry Continues GrowthAssociated Press, 11/8/12
"Lights, camera, economic impact! Virginia's reputation as a great place to shoot TV programs and scenes for such major films as Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is having a bigger impact on the state's bottom line, according to data released in concert with the screening of the new epic by the award-winning filmmaker. Last year, Virginia became a living soundstage to several major films and television programs, driving the industry's total economic impact up 14.5 percent to more than $394 million in 2011. The industry also contributed nearly $60 million in state and local tax revenue. State figures also show more than 3,815 jobs were attributed to the industry in 2011, up from about 2,650 jobs in the previous year...Lincoln had direct expenditures of $32.4 million and for a total economic impact of $64.1 million, the governor's office said. The film company also hired nearly 1,200 Virginia-based actors and extras and 380 crew members. It also used 23,580 room nights in local hotels and apartments."
http://cbsn.ws/T3EuIk
Arkansas: Northwest Counties Feel Economic Impact of the ArtsThe Free Weekly, 11/8/12
"Arts and cultural organizations bring more than live music, gallery openings, and theatrical performances to Northwest Arkansas. They also provide hundreds of jobs and generate millions of dollars in spending, according to an Americans for the Arts study. The study, released in October, indicated 25 nonprofit organizations employed 1,091 people and generated $30.9 million in spending in Washington and Benton counties in fiscal 2010. Coupled with $14.6 million arts patrons spent outside of admission costs, $45.5 million rippled through the regional economy in the form of employees’ salaries, supply purchases and dinners in restaurants, according to the study. The spending generated nearly $4 million for the state and local governments...Arts related jobs and expenditures have nearly tripled in Northwest Arkansas since the last study in 2005."
http://bit.ly/RUE06x
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Philanthropy & Fundraising in the Arts 


Mixed Results in Latest 2012 Giving Report
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
, 11/13/12
"The slow economy continued to cause fundraising challenges for most charities in the first half of this year, according to a study released by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative, a coalition of five organizations that collect and study information on giving and fundraising. Giving dropped at 29 percent of the 770 groups in the study when compared to the first half of 2011 and was flat for another 25 percent. About 46 percent chalked up increases...Charities that increased donations were more likely than others to reach out to supporters in multiple ways such as e-mail or in-person events, to show donors results of their contributions, and to publicly acknowledge donors by listing their names or taking other steps. The study also examined whether charities are doing a good job of keeping donors year after year. Nearly half said that 60 percent or more of donors who gave to their organizations in 2011 have made one or more gifts in 2012."
http://bit.ly/UE2dB2
Nevada: Foundation Pledges $2M to University's School of Arts
Daily Sparks Tribune
, 11/7/12
"The Nell J. Redfield Foundation has pledged a $2 million lead gift toward a $4 million renovation of the School of the Arts Church Fine Arts Building at the University of Nevada, Reno. 'The arts are a uniting force, not just at the University, but beyond our campus borders,' said University President Marc Johnson. 'The generosity of the Redfield Foundation will enhance the educational experience for our students, expand the spectrum of theatrical experiences for our patrons and continue to contribute to quality of life in our region.' The Redfield Foundation’s gift supports the first phase of the renovation project, known as 'Act One.' The cornerstone of Act One is the renovation of the 25-year-old Nell J. Redfield Proscenium Theatre, with upgrades to lighting, sound, and electrical rigging systems, modernization of the stage and seating venue, introduction of raked seating and hydraulic stage lifts, creation of an interior control booth and a 6,000 square-foot expansion of the scene shop...The estimated completion date for 'Act One' is late 2013."
http://bit.ly/PV1hWd
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Announcements 


Americans for the Arts Joins Vans as Custom Culture Contest Partner
As its national charity partner, Americans for the Arts is proud to announce the fourth annualVans Custom Culture contest inspiring high school students across the United States to embrace their creativity while drawing attention to the importance of art as an integral part of a well-rounded education. The first 1,500 U.S.-based public or private high schools that register will receive four pairs of blank canvas Vans shoes to make their own creations around four themes: Action Sports, Music, Art, and Local Flavor. Students submit photos of their shoes via the Vans Custom Culture website, then an internal selection and external public vote whittle the entries down to a group of five finalists who will travel to New York City for the Vans Custom Culture final event in June 2013. The top school will receive $50,000 for their visual arts program. We'll have more information about this exciting opportunity as the registration period begins in January 2013!
Virtual Leadership Development Program Accepting Applications
Americans for the Arts' Local Arts Classroom, a five-month virtual leadership development series running January–May 2013, provides an opportunity for emerging local arts leaders to master foundational concepts and build skills through exposure to current practice in the core areas of local arts development. The program is designed to serve arts professionals with less than 10 years of experience in the arts field, including current undergraduate or graduate students and those who are transitioning into the field from another sector. Visit the website for a schedule and application details. The deadline to apply is November 16.
Upcoming Americans for the Arts Webinars
Understanding Parents' Role in Arts Education 
November 15, 2012 at 3:00 PM EST
Arts education and advocacy starts at home. A parent's strongest role supporting arts education should be as a local advocate. Parents levy expectations onto school boards and their child's principal and teachers, which can translate into a better environment for arts education. This kind of parental advocacy takes the form of votes, public opinion, volunteerism, fundraising, and donations. Participate in this webinar to learn from our panel of experts how you can involve parents in your programs.
2012 Post-Election Impact on the Arts
November 16, 2012 at 2:00 PM EST
Americans for the Arts staff will provide a comprehensive post-election analysis of federal, state, and local election results and ballot initiatives, and will describe the anticipated impact that those results will have on the future of the arts and arts education in America.

Remember that all webinars are free to members or they can be purchased by non-members for $35 per session. Visit our website to register and find out about upcoming sessions.
Arts Watch Info
Arts Watch is published every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
 You can also receive news in between issues by following our Twitter account (@artswatch). We post news items viaTwitter as they happen every day and then collect the most relevant news for our newsletter in hopes of serving all of our 9,300 subscribers and the field at-large.

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