March News from Virginians for the Arts
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ARTS ADVOCATES SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ON FUNDING
The House and Senate budget conferees compromised on the questions of arts funding and the continuing existence of the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) by recommending an additional cut of $669,673 -- approximately 16.4% -- to the state general fund appropriation for grants to arts organizations throughout the Commonwealth.
Said VFTA Legislative Counsel Alan Albert, "This cut, while unfortunate in light of the 30% in cuts to arts funding previously made during 2008 and 2009, is a far cry from the proposal in the House budget plan, which would have cut VCA funding by 50% in the fiscal year that begins July 1 and eliminated the Commission, and all arts funding, a year later.
"I am absolutely certain that this relatively small cut -- in the larger context of a $4.2 billion gap between base spending needs and available revenues -- is a direct result of the wonderful outpouring of advocacy efforts from every corner of Virginia since the House plan was unveiled on February 21. Arts advocates rose to the challenge and contacted legislators in unprecedented numbers, making clear the enormous breadth and depth of support for Virginia's rich and diverse arts and cultural resources. But for this heartfelt display of support, this cut could have been far worse -- and the Commission itself might not have survived."
Looking Back on Advocates' Response to Call for Support
Calls for advocate support spread through VFTA news alerts and the Virginians for the Arts Facebook fan page. The Fan Page jumped from 650 fans to 1455 between February 20 and March 15 as advocates tracked and commented on the evolving situation and news coverage. A Help Save the Virginia Commission for the Arts event page (the "event" was to contact local legislators) and Help Save the Arts in Virginia page were generated by advocates independently.
With only two days' notice, nearly 300 Virginians for the Arts advocates gathered at the Capitol to hear House floor debate on its proposed budget on February 26. See television news coverage:
WTVR CBS-6 Richmond
WSET ABC-13 Lynchburg
Virginia Commonwealth University student advocates conducted a letter-writing campaign on campus February 24, generating more than 500 letters to legislators supporting funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts in the span of a few hours, which were delivered to the Capitol on February 25.
Resolutions were adopted by officials in several localities opposing the prospect of large cuts to or elimination of the Virginia Commission for the Arts (Shenandoah Board of Supervisors, February 24; City of Winchester, February 23).
Legislators featured the issue in blog postings, on their websites, and regular columns written for local newspapers.
Senator Ralph Northam
Delegate Charniele Herring
Delegate Scott Surovell
Delegate David Englin
Editorial pages across the state came out in support of public funding for the arts (and published supportive guest editorials):
Virginian-Pilot-February 26
Roanoke Times -March 2
The Gazette Virginian-March 7
Lynchburg News and Advance (Suny Monk)-February 28
Lynchburg advocates conducted a rally to generate support for public arts funding on March 3. See television news coverage:
ABC13, Lynchburg (Keith Lee, Dance Theatre of Lynchburg speaks)
ABC13, Lynchburg
See more than 50 editorials by advocates and news stories about the threat to funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts that appeared in newspapers since February 23, 2010, HERE.
Assuming that the Governor does not choose to suggest amendments to this budget item -- something we consider unlikely -- total state general funds available for arts grants in FY11 will be approximately $3.37 million.
Please take the time to thank your legislators -- all of them -- for preserving arts funding and the Commission. A simple thank you goes a long way. Contact information HERE.
It is essential that advocates reach out to legislators throughout the coming year -- invite them to your facilities, events and educational programs so that they can see, firsthand, what the arts mean to the lives of Virginians.
VFTA thanks Altria for supporting its Arts Build Communities project, which has helped create important advocacy tools for our advocates and has allowed VFTA to expand its public awareness efforts.
NATIONAL ARTS ADVOCACY DAY
April 12 - 13, Omni Shoreham Hotel and Capitol Hill. Join hundreds of advocates from across the U.S. to advocate for public funding for the arts. Virginians for the Arts acts as state captain: Contact Trish Poupore at Vaforarts@aol.com to participate with the Virginia delegation. Register here.
MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts
March 1, 2010, was the first official day of MINDS WIDE OPEN (MWO). More than 4,500 performances, exhibitions and other opportunities to attend over 537 separate events have been registered on the MWO website. These events showcase the outstanding work being produced by 200 different cultural agencies in every area of the state. Events are being added at an average rate of a dozen per day. Register by visiting the Participant Registration page on the website.
First Lady Maureen McDonnell has joined all of her living predecessors as Honorary Chair of the celebration, bringing to ten the number of current and former first ladies who are actively supporting Minds Wide Open efforts.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has awarded a major grant to help promote MINDS WIDE OPEN in neighboring states with spots on National Public Radio stations in North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. A second VTC grant will facilitate insertion of an eight-page promotional piece into 180,000 copies of Richmond Magazine, The Roanoker Magazine, Hampton Roads Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, and The Metro Reader Magazine, which serves the Research Triangle area of North Carolina.
Upcoming regional launch events will take place in Richmond (3/20) and Norfolk (3/21). Launch festivities have been planned in every media market in Virginia. Festivities have already taken place in Staunton (2/27 and 2/28), Orange (3/4), Roanoke (3/5), Abingdon (3/6), Lorton (3/7), Martinsville (3/8), and Alexandria (3/11),
The House of Delegates and the Senate of the Virginia General Assembly have issued joint resolutions honoring MINDS WIDE OPEN (see the website's Government Proclamations section of the Participants Toolkit). Participants are encouraged to approach their local government and request that they issue such a proclamation honoring MINDS WIDE OPEN.
The Steering Committee has announced that the theme for the next celebration of MINDS WIDE OPEN (2012) will be Virginia Celebrates Children and the Arts.
RESOURCES
Workshops/Conferences2010 Mid Atlantic Region American College Dance Festival, March 17-20, 2010The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Dance and Choreography--Approximately 400 participants (students and faculty) from 25 colleges and universities from the Mid-Atlantic region and around the country will participate in classes, workshops, guest artist concerts, adjudicated concerts, panel discussions, and a closing gala concert. A limited number of public tickets will be available to the adjudicated, informal, and gala concerts, at the door only, by cash or check payment ($5). See schedule of performances. Creativity Forum 2010, April 1, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.University of Richmond's Camp Concert Hall at the Modlin Center, featuring Daniel Pink. Sponsored by Visual Arts Center of Richmond, in collaboration with the Robins School of Business, University of Richmond and partnering with Bank of America, Richmond Symphony, CultureWorks, the Valentine Richmond History Center, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. Register here or call the Visual Arts Center at (804)353--0094. Limited tickets available, $25; open to the public.
Arts Integration Schools: What, Why, and How, April 7-10, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.This conference shares a decade of Kennedy Center's experience in 20 Washington, D.C. area schools aimed at building a school-wide philosophy for and practice of arts integration. The program, Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA), is a school reform effort realized through ongoing, in-depth professional learning for teachers. More information here.
Grants
The Virginia Commission for the Arts announces a 5:00 p.m., April 1, 2010, application deadline for the Commission's 2010-2011 Local Government Challenge Grants, 2011-2012 Performing Artist Tour Directory and 2010-2011 Artists in Education Residency Grants. For additional information and to download applications, go here or contact the Virginia Commission for the Arts, 223 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219; Phone: 804/225-3132; email: arts@arts.virginia.gov .
The US Department of Education announced the final guidelines for the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund (i3). See them here. Funds are eligible for local nonprofit/school partnership programs. The grants are large and multi-year. Applications will be due in mid-May and grants will be awarded in September.
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation announces the availability of guidelines for the second grant round of Jazz.NEXT, a national jazz initiative. Funding support available for grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. Guidelines for Jazz.NEXT available online here. Questions concerning the program should be addressed to Sara Donnelly, Program Officer, Jazz at sara@midatlanticarts.org or 410-539-6656 x116. The application deadline for Round II is June 1, 2010.
Opportunities
The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail seeks musicians to populate its Musician's Directory to be launched on its website in the next couple of weeks. The directory is for professional and semi-professional musicians and bands, as well as amateurs, hobbyists, people looking to join or form bands, or to just hook up with other local pickers for informal jamming. The service is offered at no charge, and it is hoped that the directory will be continually updated. The directory is currently limited to participants who live in the following 19 counties of the "Heartwood" region: Dickenson, Wise, Lee, Scott, Washington, Grayson, Carroll, Floyd, Patrick, Franklin, Bland, Buchanan, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Smyth, Tazewell, and Wythe, as well as the cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton and Radford. For more information contact: info@thecrookedroad.org.
Eco-friendly Virginia artisans needed: the Second Annual EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival at Willow Creek Farm in the Broadlands, Sunday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Contact Oya Simpson, Co-Chair, Broadlands Wildlife Habitat Committee, (703)725-8040.
VSA is currently accepting proposals from theater educators to review, evaluate, and update the Playwright Discovery Program Resource Guide for Teachers. Proposals must be submitted to emmiller@vsarts.org by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 2, 2010. For information contact Elizabeth McCloskey Miller, Performing Arts Manager, VSA, The International Organization on Arts and Disability (enmiller@vsarts.org).
Announcements
The Arts Council of Fairfax County is pleased to announce the appointment of Linda S. Sullivan as President and CEO. Ms. Sullivan's appointment was effective March 15, 2010. "Linda's breadth and depth of experience in the arts field will greatly serve the Arts Council and our arts community," states Doug Brammer, Chairman of the Board. Ms. Sullivan has served the greater Washington area as an arts management consultant since 2001 and directed the Mississippi Museum of Art and other arts organizations earlier.
TAX TIME
Virginians can contribute part of their state income tax refund to the Virginia Arts Foundation by checking a box on their return form. The Virginia Arts Foundation, different from Virginians for the Arts Foundation, sends funds received directly to the Virginia Commission for the Arts which is then distributed in grants to artists all across the state!
QUESTIONS
Contact: Trish PouporeExecutive DirectorVirginians for the Arts(804)644-2787Email: VaforArts@aol.com