ArtMail - full text version

ARTMAIL:

Welcome to ArtMail for June 19, 2008! On behalf of the entire staff at the Vermont Arts Council, we want to thank all of you who contributed to our Spring Campaign and helped us to achieve our fundraising goals! We can't emphasize enough how much our members mean to us.

As June winds down, we are preparing to attend several Art Fits Vermont events around the state. We will be on the road nearly every weekend this summer, and we hope to see you there!

We encourage you pay special attention to this week's calls to artists, particularly a new call from Doug Lazarus who is curating a traveling show based on the discovery of Lake Champlain. This exhibit will be an important representation of the arts as part of Vermont's quadricentennial celebration.

There is also important news in this week's ArtMail about NEA appropriations. We are asking all of our arts advocates to take action! Enjoy this edition of ArtMail, and we hope it will help you find one of the many opportunities to participate in the arts in Vermont.

Quotable: "The strange power of art is sometimes it can show that what people have in common is more urgent than what differentiates them. It seems to me it's something that theatre can do, but it's rare; it's very rare." (John Berger, English art critic, novelist, painter & author, b. 1926)

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Like many people I know, I do my most productive thinking while attending to menial tasks like driving, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. The tenor of my thoughts tends to reflect the type of disengaged activity I am doing at the time. My most ambitious thoughts occur when I am mowing the lawn and, with each pass of the mower, my mind expands in orderly progressions until I have cleaned up and straightened out all the problems of the world.

COUNCIL NEWS

ART OF VERMONT: THE STATE COLLECTION - The Vermont Arts Council and the VT Dept. of Buildings and General Services have created a traveling exhibit featuring approximately 50 of the 1,000 pieces of art that State has assembled over the past 170 years. The exhibit includes many works of art that are rarely seen by the general public and the people who own them - the citizens of Vermont. The exhibit is currently at the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville until July 6. Later this year, the exhibit will travel to the Goodrich Library in Newport, the Bennington Museum, and the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland. Additional exhibit are being finalized for 2009-2010. Click here to read more about this project, or to download a free screensaver of the artwork included in this exhibit.

NEW: In addition to the touring exhibit, pieces of the State’s collection can be found in nearly 50 state facilities including the State House and Vermont State Colleges. The Council has added a new feature to our web site—an interactive map with 27 venues that house artwork commissioned through the Art in State Buildings program. Each site includes photos of the art in that location and some include and video interviews with the artists.

ART FITS VERMONT NEWS

ART FITS IS ON THE MOVE – The Arts Council traveled to its first Art Fits Vermont community event—Kids Day in Burlington. The Waterfront Park festival attracted thousands of people with performances and activities for all ages. Hundreds of young artists stopped by the Arts Council’s table to craft paper or mini puzzle pieces or get an Art Fits Vermont tattoo.

Throughout the summer, the Arts Council’s ArtMobile will be traveling the state with a display of puzzle pieces and puzzle craft activities. If you would like the Arts Council to consider attending your community event, let us know. We may not be able to attend every event but we will visit as many communities as possible during the length of the project

STILL WAITING FOR YOUR PUZZLE PIECE? - They are on the way! We’ve begun filling orders for puzzle pieces so if you haven’t received yours, you’ll be hearing from us shortly with a delivery date and location. If you have an event planned in June or July 2008 and have not yet received the paper and wood pieces you ordered, contact us and we’ll expedite delivery. If you haven't yet ordered for puzzle pieces, do it today!

PUZZLE PIECES AT CHITTENDEN BANK BRANCHES – If you are looking for a single puzzle piece, stop by any Chittenden Bank across the state. (One wood puzzle piece per person, while supplies last) If you are looking for a larger number of wood or paper puzzle pieces, use our online order forms.

ART NEWS & ADVOCACY

NEA APPROPRIATIONS: YOUR HELP IS NEEDED - Last week, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which sets the initial funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), approved a $15.3 million increase for the NEA in its FY 2009 spending bill. Currently funded at $144.7 million, this increase will bring the agency's budget to $160 million. The bill is scheduled to be considered next week in the Senate.

As the subcommittee begins consideration of this legislation, we encourage you to write your Senator in support of matching the funding level set by the House. Please take two minutes to visit the Americans for the Arts E-Advocacy Center to send a customizable message.

ARTS EDUCATION NEWS

POETRY OUT LOUD 2009 - The Vermont Arts Council invites you to join the thousands of teachers who have become inspired, had fun and surprising success “making poetry matter” for students!
Poetry Out Loud (POL) National Recitation Contest is an exciting program taking place in high schools nationwide. This program, sponsored by the Vermont Arts Council in collaboration with the Vermont Humanities Council. the Vermont Department of Education, and the Vermont Alliance for Arts Education, is now in its fourth year in Vermont. POL builds on the recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as demonstrated by the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among our youth. The program encourages the nation’s high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, helping them to internalize and perpetuate our rich literary heritage while mastering public speaking skills and building self-confidence.

Joining Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is a great way to teach poetry and help students with written and oral communication skills. Poetry Out Loud was designed so that teachers may easily implement this “poetry bee” contest in the classroom. The contest structure is similar to a spelling bee, with classroom, school-wide, and state level competitions. The state winner travels to Washington DC with a chaperone (all expenses paid) to compete in the National POL Finals.

CONFERENCES – WORKSHOPS – SPECIAL EVENTS

FRANCO-AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL - After a year of planning, numerous fundraisers, public information events and meetings, the main festival is here - St. Albans City will play host to this first annual Franco-American Heritage Festival June 20-21, 2008 at the enchanting Taylor Park in the heart of this historic city. Festivities begin at 5:30pm on Friday, June 20 with free concerts in Taylor Park.
Events continue Saturday, June 21, 2008, with free events in Taylor Park. Alongside the music, will be presentations by traditional crafters, including a rug weaver, a wood worker and a dowser; French-heritage genealogy exhibits; presentations of period artifacts related to French exploration of Vermont; as well as food from local restaurants and vendors. Click here for more information.

American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life: June 20-22 (Philadelphia, PA)
Vermont History Expo: June 21 & 22 (Tunbridge, VT)
Waging Peace, Designing Justice: June 23-28 (Port Townshend, WA)
Sip A Bowl Benefit: June 29 (Burlington, VT)
Vision into Action: Combining Playback Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed for Social Justice Work: July 1-5 (Purchase, NY)
Teen Institute: Move It: Mean It, A Digital Dance Intensive: July 5-11 (Takoma Park, MD)
GRACE Benefit Golf Tournament: July 10 (Greensboro)
All Abilities Movement Institute: July 13-17 (Takoma Park, MD)
Making the Invisible Visible: Revealing the Essence of Learning In, Through and With the Arts: July 14 (Hartford, CT)
Brattleboro Music Center Adult Ensemble Music Making: July 14-18
Crafting Dances Institute: July 18-27 (Takoma Park, MD)
Physically Integrated Dance Summer Intensive: August 3-10 (Oakland, CA)
2008 Arts Assesment Institute: August 5-8 (email to request more information)
Brattleboro Music Center Summer Camps
International Conference - Performing Arts Training Today: October 24-27 (Bovec, Solvenia)
Forum for New Ideas: November 20 (New York, NY)

VIEW JUNE/JULY CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS/LECTURES IN THE VT ARTS CALENDAR: Clicking the links below will direct your browser to display listings as they appear in the Vermont Travel Planner (which is connected directly to the Vermont Arts Calendar):

Conferences & Workshops

Lectures & Readings

RECOGNITION

THE RECOVERED WORKS OF JOEL FISHER - Friends of Joel Fisher and the Vermont Studio Center will host an Exhibition of 30 recovered bronze sculptures that were amongst those stolen from Joel Fisher's home and studio this past winter.This incident was one of the largest art thefts in the history of Vermont.Through the diligence of his friends, the police, and concerned citizens, approximately two thirds of the stolen pieces have been reclaimed. Several pieces, including some of the largest works, are still missing. The Exhibition, entitled, The Recovered Sculptures of Joel Fisher, curated by Meg McDevitt, will be on exhibit at the Kahn Gallery of The Vermont Studio Center, Pearl St. Johnson, from June 23rd through July 23rd, 2008. The gallery will be open to the public daily from 10 to 5. The opening of the show will be Saturday June 28th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Mr. Fisher will be in town for the opening.

VERMONT ARTS CALENDAR

If you would like a shot at being featured in the column of events listings on our web site and in ArtMail, you must start by listing your event in The Vermont Arts Calendar. Both areas are reserved for events that are listed in the Calendar, and you'll have a better chance of getting featured if you have a photo of your event on your web site

AFTER YOU HAVE ENTERED YOUR EVENT in the Calendar, if you would like us to consider it for inclusion in the right hand column, feel free to email us to ask us to consider it; you may also attach a photo for publication.

Events listed in the Arts Calendar also post in the following locations:

the Events calendar at vermontvacation.com,
electronic kiosks in the State's Welcome Centers
system administrators also email event listings to over 40 media outlets in Vermont
selected "featured events" will also post in a sidebar on the Council's web site

We encourage all artists and presenters to use this free tool to help you spread the word about your arts events.

OK, I HAVE AN EVENT TO PUBLICIZE. HOW DO I GET STARTED? Click here and we'll walk you through it.

OPPORTUNITIES

Jobs | Calls to Artists | Funding Opportunities | Residencies

JOBS:

FROG HOLLOW ART GALLERY MANAGER - Frog Hollow VT State Craft Center currently has an opening for an Art Gallery Manager at their Non-Profit Art and Fine Craft Gallery located in Burlington Vermont. This is an exciting opportunity for a fast paced and energetic individual to develop and manage a retail gallery space. It is essential for this role that candidates have all of the following experience:

A strong background in art, and / or a degree in art or similar field will be helpful
Has worked in a gallery or has strong retail experience
Sales experience
Previous management experience
A strong business acumen

The responsibilities of the Art Gallery Manager will include:

Managing Daily Gallery Operations/staff
Arranging projects and shows with artists
Planning and organizing exhibitions
Tracking inventory
Driving sales and growth.

Please respond with resume and cover letter.

LIBRARY ARTS CENTER (LAC) SEEKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - LAC, a nonprofit organization, seeks an executive director. Located in Newport, NH, the LAC serves the greater Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region by offering a diverse and dynamic range of visual and performing arts. A successful and growing, year-round art education program is offered for children and adults. Essential responsibilities and duties of the executive director include, but are not limited to: exhibition, performance and education programming and implementation; managing staff and volunteers; grant writing; assisting board with special fundraising events and membership drives. The ideal candidate will possess strong organization, communication and writing skills and have the ability to motivate and inspire others. Ability to recruit and work with volunteers is essential. Must be computer competent and willing to multitask. Arts/nonprofit/business background preferred. Bachelors degree required. 40 hours per week, salary: low 30's, health benefits. Please send letter, resume, three references and contact information to: Search Committee, Board of Trustees, PO Box 282, Newport, NH 03773. Click here for more information about LAC.

PUTNEY SCHOOL SEEKING VISUAL ARTS TEACHER - The Putney School is looking for a visual arts teacher to teach two academic classes and two evenings per week in drawing and painting at the beginning and advanced levels, during the academic year 2008 - 2009. Applicants should have an MFA in visual arts or equivalent and have experience as a practicing, exhibiting artist. Prior teaching experience at the secondary school or college level is required. Responsibilities in addition to teaching will include all class preparation, ordering of art materials, studio upkeep, supervision of independent projects, student evaluation, preparation of student work for exhibition, field trips, parent meetings, etc. This is a part-time, one-year position. The Putney School is an independent, coeducational boarding and day high school, with a noteworthy and strong program in the arts. Please send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to: Brian D. Cohen, Dean of Faculty.

ARTS JOB LISTINGS - For a list of current job openings in the arts, visit the Jobs page of the Cultural Commons. For arts management positions, see Americans for the Arts' job bank. Other links to arts jobs listings include www.backstagejobs.com, www.playbill.com/jobs/find, New England Theater 411's Call for Production Team, and TCG's ArtSEARCH.

CALLS TO ARTISTS:

LAKE CHAMPLAIN QUAD TRAVELING EXHIBIT - The 400th anniversary of the Lake Champlain's “discovery” by Samuel de Champlain is in 2009, but for event planners that’s just around the corner. One of the visual-art components is a juried, touring exhibit entitled “Champlain’s Lake Rediscovered”. Spearheaded by Doug Lazarus, painter and proprietor of the Great Falls Fine Art Center in Middlebury, the project invites Vermont artists to interpret “this treasured Vermont landmark through their diverse perspectives.” That “landmark” being the lake itself, and “diverse” meaning paintings of any persuasion. Lazarus contends that people will be surprised by the variety and quality of art in the Green Mountain State. “The intent of the project is to announce to the rest of the country that Vermont has a disproportionate number of artists living here,” he declares. “My theory is that there’s been a paradigm shift in culture, in that art used to be incubated in cities, but cities have gotten so expensive that they no longer support it. For the last 25 years,” he says, “artists have been drifting away from cities.” For more information on this project, or to download an application, click here. Application deadline: September 15.

EVOLUTION YOGA CALL TO ARTISTS - If your art somehow reflects the joy and beauty of yoga, eastern philosophy, a healthy body or Buddhism; Evolution Physical Therapy & Yoga invites you to submit your work for the 2008 Art Hop. Five to Seven artists will be selected to be a part of our show along with a community art project, delicious food, inspiring music and yoga workshops. Submissions should include digital images, title, size, medium and a brief description. Deadline for submission July 15. Address submissions to Cara Feldman Hunt, Evolution Physical Therapy & Yoga, 20 Kilburn Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401 or e-mail.

AUDITIONS - Pentangle Presents: " The Music Man". Auditions will be taking place July 1,2,3, 7-9 PM, Town Hall Theatre, Woodstock, VT. Everyone Welcome - Flexible summer rehearsal schedule Directed by: Tom Beck, Production: September 12,13,14,19,20. For more information: 802- 457-3981 or visit the Pentangle web site.

AVA GALLERY CALL FOR ENTRIES - All artists residing in New Hampshire or Vermont are invited to submit work to be considered for inclusion in AVA Gallery and Art Center's fifteenth annual juried summer exhibition, which will be on display form July 18 through August 23. Artists may submit up to two recents works in any medium. Works must be hand delivered to AVA Gallery & Art Center (11 Bank Street, Lebanon, NH) on Monday July 7, Tuesday July 8, Wednesday July 9 or Thursday July 10 during gallery hours (11am-5pm). Submission fee $10 for AVA members, $15 for non-members. Questions? Call 603-448-3117.

INTERPLAY SCULPTURE COMPETITION - The University of Maryland Public Art Project announces a national competition called INTERPLAY. Interplay blends several objectives: to create a dynamic environment for public and social engagement, to serve as a contemplative place for individuals to experience contemporary art, and to embrace the scholarly spirit of a distinguished institution of higher education and research.Requests for Qualifications are invited from experienced artists or artist/design teams, to develop a site-specific public artwork/s for the University of Maryland.
The work will be part of the renovation of a courtyard in proximity to the university’s visual art and humanities buildings. Three individual projects will be considered, or a design that negotiates the entire space as one concept. The total budget for the project is $450,000 including all fees and associated costs. Deadline for completion is February 2010 with a Dedication Ceremony in April 2010. To receive project guidelines and submission requirements, please email Paula Mandelman or visit the University website.

FLETCHER ALLEN ARTISTS' CALENDAR 2009: SEEKING SUBMISSIONS FROM VERMONT ARTISTS - Fletcher Allen’s Department of Marketing & Communications is calling upon artists across Vermont to submit images of paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, crafts and photographs, to be considered for publication in our 2009 Vermont Artists’ Calendar, which is distributed to more than 6,000 employees and more than 1000 community members. Artists whose work is chosen will be paid a fee for one-time publication. Remember: You must live and work in Vermont to be considered. You may submit your work on color 35 mm slides, large-format color transparencies (2 1/4x2/14 inches, 4/5 inches), or on a CD. To assure high-quality reproduction, slides should not be dupes, and should show the complete work. They should be protected in a plastic sleeve and labeled on the front with your name, the title of the work, the medium, production, and an arrow indicating the top. If you send in your submissions on a CD, the minimum resolution of the scans must be 300 dpi at the image’s maximum reproduction of roughly 10 ½” x 8 ½”. Please also include with your submission a brief biography, including your name, address, weekday telephone number, and e-mail address; and an addressed, stamped envelope for the return of your artwork. Please send submissions to: The 2009 Vermont Artists’ Calendar, the Department of Marketing & Communications, Fletcher Allen, 4th floor, UHC Campus, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT, 05401. The deadline for submissions is 5.p.m., Monday, July 7. You will be notified of the final selections by September 1. If you have any questions, please call Eleanor Osborne in the Fletcher Allen Marketing & Communications Department, at (802)847-2870.

SOUTH PARK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT - 4Culture and the King County Department of Transportation Bridge Division are seeking a United States artist as design team member on the South Park Bridge Replacement Project. The qualified applicant will have experience working in design team collaborations for large, transportation infrastructure projects and or specifically bridge projects, with additional experience working with Landmark structures. The selected artist will be asked to realize innovative solutions respectful of local historic context within a culturally and economically diverse community. The selected artist shall receive a Design Contract for $60,000. Upon proposal review and approval the artist shall be awarded a contract for Commissioned Artwork for $240,000 plus applicable construction credits. Deadline: July 14, 2008. Click here for more information.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE DEMOCRACY? - Cinemocracy is an open-source, online film festival that allows anyone to submit a film up to five-minutes in length. The film should answer the question, "How do You Define Democracy?" The top twenty-five vote-getting films, as determined by the online public, will be screened at a free public event during the DNC in August and also during the GOP convention in September. Visit the Cinemocracy web site for more information. Submissions must be made by July 15, 2008. Click on the following links to find out more about the submission process, or to see who has already submitted a film.

CALL TO ARTISTS: EXPRESSIONS OF COURAGE - The sixth annual Expressions of Courage national art contest provides people with epilepsy the opportunity to showcase their talents and perspectives of the world around them through art. Sponsored by the Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, the contest is open to all Americans diagnosed with epilepsy. A panel of epilepsy advocates and art industry representatives will serve as contest judges and will announce the winning artwork in September. Winning entries will be selected based on creativity and the ability to demonstrate feelings of living with epilepsy through art. Contest entries will be categorized into three age groups: children age 12 or younger; teens between the ages of 13 and 17; and adults 18 years of age or older. Artwork may be created in ink, pencil, crayon, paint, or a combination of these materials and must be on paper or board. Winning artwork will be featured on the contest Web site and either in calendars or coffee table books available in local Epilepsy Foundation offices and select physician offices nationwide. In addition, a few winning pieces may be chosen by curators from the Society for the Arts in Healthcare for display in a traveling art exhibition. Complete program information and entry forms are available from the contest Web site. Submissions deadline: July 16, 2008.

ARTSPLASH 2008 - The Rockaway Artists Alliance (RAA) invites all artists to call up their wide artistic vision, talent and imagination to shape ARTSPLASH 2008, a multimedia arts event. ARTSPLASH, a vibrant juried exhibition of original works, is a major showcase for the visual and performing arts which will be exhibited in the sTudio 6 and sTudio 7 galleries, the outdoor sculpture garden and on the indoor and outdoor stages at Fort Tilden, Rockaway, Queens, New York. It is open to all media. ARTSPLASH 2008 is presented in partnership with the National Park Service / Gateway National Recreation Area. Entry deadline: August 15. Click here for more information & to download an entry form.

SULLIVAN FOUNDATION INVITES APPLICATIONS FROM YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SINGERS - The Sullivan Foundation provides support to exceptionally talented young singers who are taking their first steps toward a professional career. The program's goal is to identify talented young singers and help them develop professional careers through a unique program that provides continuing financial support over a period of five years. Following annual auditions in New York, the foundation gives a number of $10,000 cash awards to gifted singers in the early stages of their careers to be used for any career-related purpose. Winners may also receive role preparation assistance for a period of five years to help defray expenses incurred in musical, dramatic, vocal, and language coaching for specific professional engagements. Applicants must be in the early stages of their careers and have completed their academic training. They should have sung at least one engagement with a known opera company, symphony orchestra, or other organization utilizing full orchestral accompaniment, and must submit a copy of a contract or letter of intent for a future professional operatic engagement following the foundation's November auditions. (The 2008 auditions will be held in New York on November 3, 4, and 5.) Eligible performers who wish to apply for an audition, should visit the foundation's web site for application instructions and the current application form. All applications must be received by September 15, 2008.

VT YOUTH ORCHESTRA CALL TO ARTISTS - The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association seeks local artists working in all mediums to submit a “music inspired” chair design for the “Musical Chairs” Exhibit & Silent Auction, scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2008 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at a yet-to-be-determined location in the greater Burlington area (We are working on a few cool location ideas!). The “Musical Chairs” event marks the culmination of an online auction of over one hundred items taking place during the month of October. Artist chairs may be featured within the online auction in order to gain starting bids. All completed chairs will be prominently displayed and sold to the highest bidders during the Exhibit & Silent Auction on November 7. Details for Artists:

Donated chairs for artists to paint or embellish in any medium are available for pick up as of May 16 at the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College, located in Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester. Artists may drop in between 9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday, to select a chair and register to participate in the event.
Artists are asked to be mindful that this event is youth-oriented when executing their designs.
All chairs must be completed no later than October 1.
Please contact the VYOA at 802-655-5030 or info@vyo.org to arrange the drop-off for completed chairs.
Please plan to submit an artist bio and the source of inspiration for your Musical Chair at this time.
All proceeds from the “Musical Chairs” Exhibit & Silent Auction will directly benefit the programs of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association, including orchestras, choruses and summer camps for young musicians.
For more details call 655-5030 or visit the VYO web site

GALLERY SPACE AVAILABLE - Equinox Village, Manchester's Premier Independent Living Community, has recently completed a beautiful gallery space looking over its main entrance. We would like to make this space available to Vermont artists! Our most recent exhibits included "Poetry in Stone", a retrospective of renowned sculptor, Jane Armstrong, and "The Shape of Her Words", a tribute by artist Pat Musick to Maya Angelou's poem "On the Pulse of Morning" read at William Clinton's first inauguration. Equinox Village is centrally located in Manchester. Exhibits in our gallery tend to hang for 6-8 weeks and are open to the public 7-days per week from 9:30am-4:30pm. Each exhibit is opened in style with an evening event. If you are interested in the possibility of exhibiting at Equinox Village, please contact Lisa Fairley at (802) 362-4061.

NYFA CLASSIFIEDS – The New York Foundation for the Arts web site lists opportunities and services for artists in its classified section, one of the best free national online sources for artist opportunities and services. These include calls for entry, services such as photography of art work and accounting, space for rent, and many others.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES:

COLLABORATIONS PRIZE - Why should nonprofits compete when they can do more through collaboration? Introducing The Collaboration Prize, a $250,000 prize that recognizes collaborations among two or more nonprofit organizations that each would otherwise provide the same or similar programs or services and compete for clients, financial resources and staff. If you know about a prize-worthy collaboration, forward this message to the nonprofits involved. Nominations are accepted starting June 1, 2008.

GUITAR CENTER MUSIC FOUNDATION OFFERS SUPPORT FOR MUSIC INSTRUCTION - The Guitar Center Music Foundation's mission is to aid nonprofit music programs across America that offer music instruction so that more people can experience the joys of making music. The Guitar Center Music Foundation accepts grant applications throughout the year from 501(c)(3) organizations. Qualifying applicants are established, ongoing, and sustainable music programs across the United States that provide music instruction to people of any age who would not otherwise have the opportunity to make music. The grant committee reviews all applications three times yearly, and grant awards range from $500 to $5,000 each. Visit the foundation's web site for complete program guidelines, application procedures, and funding restrictions.

AIRBORNE TEACHER TRUST FUND - The Airborne Teacher Trust Fund provides support to elementary and middle school teachers for art and music programs that are in jeopardy of being lost due to budgetary limitations. Selected teachers from public and private schools throughout the United States are eligible to receive grants from $200 to $10,000 to be used to implement their programs. Recipients will be selected on the basis of educational program elements, the teacher’s desire and passion for the program, the educational program’s anticipated results, and the budget request. The next application deadline is July 31, 2008. Visit the web site to submit an online application.

MOCKINGBIRD FOUNDATION - The Foundation, created by the fans of the band Phish, support schools and nonprofits that provide music education for children. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects that encourage creative expression in all musical forms including composition, instrumentation, vocalization, and improvisation. Priority is given to projects earmarked for children ages 18 and younger, but the Foundation will also consider projects that benefit college students, teachers, instructors, or adult students especially from disenfranchised groups. The Foundation accepts online letters of inquiry. Deadlines for these letters are Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 annually. | Grant Range: $50 To $5,000 | Contact Info: MOCKINGBIRD FOUNDATION, Kristen Godard, Send Email, Visit Web site

USARTISTS INTERNATIONAL OFFERS FUNDING FOR U.S. ARTISTS TO PERFORM AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS - USArtists International is committed to ensuring that the impressive range of expression and creativity of the U.S. performing arts is represented at international festivals abroad.The program works to strengthen the creative and professional development of U.S. artists by providing support for their performances at significant international festivals. Grants are available to U.S. dance and music ensembles that have been invited to participate in international festivals in the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Vatican City. Eligible applicants must be a dance or music ensemble, including practitioners of folk and traditional forms, that works at a professional level; consist of members who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States; and be designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, or have a fiscal agent that is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Eligible festivals must take place in one of the countries listed above and be sponsored or organized primarily by a non-U.S. based organization; be international in scope with representation from at least two countries outside the host country, or have a U.S. theme with representation from at least three U.S. performing groups; reach a wide public audience and be open to the general public; and provide the applicant with a letter of invitation to perform at the festival. Visit the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS - The Endowment’s Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth program provides funds for projects that help children and youth acquire knowledge and understanding of and skills in the arts. Funded projects must provide participatory learning and engage students with skilled artists, teachers, and “excellent” art. Funded projects apply national or state arts education standards. All projects submitted must include experience, study, performance, and assessment. Under the experience category, students and their teachers should have the chance to experience exemplary works of art in live form, where possible. In the study category, students will study works of art under the guidance of teachers, teaching artists, and cultural organizations. Where appropriate, the study component should include the acquisition of skills relevant to practicing the art form. In the performance category, projects should have students creating their own art. In the case of literature, the primary creative activities will be writing and/or recitation. Students should be assessed according to national or state arts education standards. School-based projects are for children and youth in grades K-12 and should be directly connected to the school curriculum and instructional program. Activities may take place in or outside of the school building at any time of day. Community-based projects are for children and youth ages 5 to 18. Activities must occur outside of the regular school day and may take place in a variety of settings. Additional information, including contacts for specific media, is available on the Web site. | Avg. Grant: $10,000 | Contact Info: NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington , DC, 20506.

GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP - US deadline September 15, 2008. The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation annually offers fellowships to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions. The foundation provides fellowships for advanced professionals in all fields (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, creative arts) except the performing arts. The fellowships are awarded to men and women who have already demonstrated exception- al capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts. Fellowships are not available for students. The foundation only supports individuals; it does not make grants to institutions or organizations. Fellowships are awarded through two annual competitions: one open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada, and the other open to citizens and permanent residents of Latin America and the Caribbean. In the most recent competitions, the foundation awarded 190 U.S. and Canadian Fellowships for a total of $8.2 million (an average grant of $43,200), and 35 Latin American and Caribbean Fellow- ships for a total of $1.2 million (an average grant of $34,285). The amounts of the grants will be adjusted to the needs of the fellows, considering their other resources and the purpose and scope of their plans. Appointments are ordinarily made for one year and in no instance for a period shorter than six consecutive months. Complete program information and application forms are available at the foundation's Web site.

LANNAN FOUNDATION - This family Foundation is dedicated to cultural freedom, diversity, and creativity supporting projects that aid exceptional contemporary artists and writers, as well as inspired Native activists in rural indigenous communities. Funding priorities include projects that that encourage freedom of inquiry, imagination, and expression. Grants are awarded in the areas of contemporary visual art, indigenous communities, and issue of cultural freedom. Visual arts grants support exceptional contemporary artists, foster serious criticism and discussion of contemporary art, and bring new and experimental works of art to a wide audience. Literature grants support the creation of exceptional poetry and prose written in the English language and seek to increase the audience for contemporary literature. Indigenous grants support Native peoples in renewing their communities through their own institutions and traditions. Native grants are awarded in the areas of education, Native culture, the revival and preservation of languages, legal rights, and environmental protection and advocacy. The Prize for Cultural Freedom is awarded to recognize people whose extraordinary and courageous work celebrates the human right to freedom of imagination, inquiry, and expression. | Grant Range: $100 To $3,000,000 | Contact Info: LANNAN FOUNDATION, 313 Read St., Santa Fe, NM, 87501, Ph: 505-986-8160, Fax: 505-986-8195, Letters of inquiry accepted year-round.

FOUNDATION CENTER RFPS - Philanthropy News Digest, a service of the Foundation Center, hosts a web site listing funding opportunities, requests for proposals, and other listings of interest to artists and arts organizations.

RESIDENCIES:

29 ARTIST RESIDENCY OPPORTUNITIES IN ALASKA - Seattle-based La Familia Gallery is now offering 29 annual artist residency opportunities in Talkeetna, Alaska. Accepting applicants from around the world who concentrate in the visual arts, music, and literature, the residency program aims to encourage a better understanding of what one truly needs live, to create, and to be happy. The La Familia Artist Residency program is designed for emerging and mid-career artists who are seeking direction, inspiration, and reflection. Artists must be actively pursuing their creative careers with passion and integrity. While participating in the program, they are expected to live and volunteer (20 hours/week of community service) in Talkeetna for the full residency period for which they apply. The program has been developed to provide artists with an environment where they can hear their own voices while giving back to the gallery's home community by adding to the creative dialogue. Originally acquired in 2000, the La Familia artist residence is now being opened to the public as a unique opportunity for at least 29 artists and/or art administrators to retreat, reflect, and recover from lives over-run by commercial expectations. It exists as a place for individuals in the arts to live with less: less stress, less noise, less technology, and less expectation. Artists will live in a small village of approximately 600 people. The residence hosts only 3 - 4 guests at any given time with some opportunities for couples. There is no TV, no Internet, no franchise, no box stores, and no pressure to be anything more than what you are. Within the silence and the peace, you discover that what you need to create, what you need to live, and what you need to be truly happy is far less than you ever imagined. To learn more, click here, or apply here.

SQUEAKY WHEEL OFFERS INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL FILMMAKERS RESIDENCY - Squeaky Wheel, a media arts center in Buffalo, New York, is offering a four-week National Endowment for the Arts International Digital Filmmakers Residency. The residency is designed for mid-career experimental filmmakers who are interested in "crossing the digital divide" but lack access and training. The one-month residency provides unlimited access to 16mm production and post-production systems, the G5 Final Cut Pro digital editing system, and digital video cameras. It also includes private lodging, travel, and a $1,000 stipend. The residency requires the artist to complete and exhibit at least one new work, teach a local workshop on any topic related to media art, and curate a screening of films/videos that relate to the resident's own creative investigations. Students are ineligible to apply. For complete program information and an application form, visit the Squeaky Wheel Web site.

RESOURCES NEEDED/OFFERED

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - Do you know an excellent Vermont teacher deserves statewide recognition and a $1,000 prize? The Vermont Humanities Council is seeking nominations for the 2008 Victor R. Swenson Humanities Educator Award. Honoring Dr. Swenson’s twenty-eight years of service to the humanities in Vermont, the award recognizes a Vermont educator in grades 6 through 12 who exemplifies excellence in the teaching of the humanities. Deadline for nominations: July 1, 2008. Click here for more information.

FREE JOB POSTINGS - Idealist.org has a special offer this month! Here is the story. Posting a job on Idealist usually costs $60 (they are a nonprofit, and this small fee keeps us afloat) but through the end of June, all job postings on Idealist are free for any nonprofit organization. Idealist.org is doing this so that any organization can try them at no cost, and their ultimate goal is to bring you every nonprofit job that’s open around the country (as well as internships and volunteer opportunities, which are always free). Here is a video they produced for this month, that describes why Idealist is the best place to post a nonprofit job. Check it out!

WEB WATCH

YOU TUBE FOR INDIE FILMMAKERS - Google Inc.'s YouTube is setting up a virtual screening room to bring the work of independent filmmakers to a global audience.Struggling filmmakers already use YouTube to kick-start viral marketing campaigns. The new feature, which debuts Wednesday, gives them an easy-to-find home and makes them partners in drawing new ad revenue."Hopefully as they see thousands of people watching their films, it's going to be a very eye-opening experience," said Sara Pollack, YouTube's film and animation manager. The screening room will highlight four new films a week, picked by a YouTube editorial panel. Submissions are welcomed. The panel also will scour film festivals and work with partners such as the Sundance Channel to identify prospects.

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