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West Virginia Division of Culture and History to Offer Grant Aid to Arts, History Organizations Affected by Flooding

Arts Alive http://wvde.state.wv.us/arts-alive/ Arts Alive Mission Statement Arts Alive is West Virginia Department of Education's annual event to showcase outstanding arts education programs and student achievements in public schools. The work included in Arts Alive is selected from state arts conferences and festivals throughout West Virginia, a competitive submission process, and/or by invitation. In its eighth year, Arts Alive 2014 has expanded collaborations and interdisciplinary partnerships to include work from the following areas: Dance, Music, Pre-Kindergarten, Science in the Arts, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Students perform and exhibit work before an audience of students, family members, educators, policy makers, leaders, advocates, and philanthropists. Arts Alive aims to support developing and established arts programs in public schools throughout West Virginia; inspire local education systems to embrace the arts as an essential part of every child's education; and empower the broader learning community to advocate for comprehensive arts education in public schools. Arts Alive is dedicated to arts education in West Virginia and remains committed to providing a venue where the arts are paramount and the work of young artists is celebrated. Renée Margocee Director of Arts West Virginia Division of Culture and History 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, West Virginia 25305 (304) 558-0240

NEW grant appications and guidlines information The National Endowment for the Arts' Office of Research & Analysis announces that grant application guidelines are available for Research: Art Works. This program supports research that investigates the value of the U.S. arts ecosystem and the impact of the arts, either as individual components within the U.S. arts ecology or as they interact with each other and/or with other domains of American life. The NEA encourages applications from diverse research fields (e.g., sociology, economics, anthropology, psychology, medicine and health, education, communications, and urban and regional planning) in addition to projects that address a diverse array of topics concerning the value and/or impact of the arts. Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. This may include, but is not limited to, colleges and universities. The NEA anticipates awarding up to 25 grants in the range of $10,000 to $30,000. The deadline for application submission is Nov. 5, 2013 and projects can begin as early as May 1, 2014. This year, there have been several major changes to the Research: Art Works grant program: • Priority is given to applications that present theory-driven research questions and methodologies that will yield important information about the value and/or impact of the arts. • The 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts and the 2012 General Social Survey's Arts Supplement are cited as secondary data sources of special interest to the NEA. • Primary data collection is now an eligible activity type. Those projects may be of three years in duration. Other projects now may be of two years in duration. • New sections of the guidelines address the responsible conduct of research, and data management and sharing. There is a corresponding review criterion about applicants’ data management plans. • Grants require a match and indirect costs are allowed. The NEA will hold an informational webinar for potential applicants on Sept. 18, 2013. More information is forthcoming. For grant application information and guidelines, please go to http://arts.gov/grants/apply/Research.html To see project descriptions of the grants awarded in previous years of Research: Art Works, click here. To see samples of previous successful applications, please click here, and choose "Sample Application Narratives – Research". If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected].

West Virginia Division of Culture and History Announces New Operating Hours for the Culture Center, Grave Creek Mound, Independence Hall, Museum in the Park and the State Museum

The Artomatic@Jefferson event

An online magazine for nonprofits. Blue Avocado An online magazine for nonprofits. Subscribe for free at www.blueavocado.org

The Sustainable Non Profit The Sustainable Non Profit 8 Trends That Will Shape Fundraising Derrick Feldmann, CEO, Achieve http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/tsn/tsn.jhtml?id=391800007

Give to WV

A Cohort Study of Arts Participation and Academic Performance

Every Leader is an Artist

A Curtain Rises, Gently, on Autism-Friendly Shows on Broadway

For Theater Patrons, the Whispers can be deafening Copyright 2012, The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved "Why are those people annoyed with me?" the older gentleman asked his wife in a loud stage whisper. She wasn't sure, but I was sitting in front of them at the Lansburgh Theatre, and I confess I was one of several people shooting that poor couple dirty looks. They were fiddling with earphones issued by the Shakespeare Theatre Company for "Krapp's Last Tape," performed by British star John Hurt. The theater was full, the show a very quiet solo piece by Samuel Beckett. It lasted a scant hour, and the couple spent nearly all that time trying to get the earphones to function. Several times the earphones actually squeaked at such a high pitch that other earphones around the theater squeaked in sympathy. It was such a tooth-achingly piercing sound that I fully expected stray dogs to wander in. That couple had to have been longtime theater lovers. They weren't the kind of philistines who think it's okay to check e-mails, texts and tweets during a show. Nor were they paper rustlers. And here I must briefly digress: Rustling noises, as when you unwrap hard candies during a show travel forward, driving the people sitting in front of you nuts. The same goes for people who like to roll their playbills into a tube, and then twist them around and tap them on their knees. On the other hand, the glowing light from smartphones drives the people next to and behind you nuts. Those devices pull audience members out of the play against their will. But back to the earphones. What occurred that night at the Lansburgh was an extreme example of a common situation. I've been to matinees at one suburban theater where it was well into the first act before patrons using earphones got them to work. Ten to 20 minutes of loudly whispered, "Can you hear yours? Mine isn't working!" So I have a modest proposal for theater managers: During that pre-show announcement, after you've exhorted people to turn off their cellphones and unwrap their candies, why not take another minute and say, "Now we're going to test the earphones for patrons using them tonight. Please turn them on now, and we will play a recording so that you can set your volume. Raise your hand if your earphones don't seem to work, and an usher will assist you and replace them if necessary. Remember to remove hearing aids and turn them off, so they don't interfere with the earphones. Thank you. The test will start now." Newer technologies may soon make all this fuss unnecessary, but until then ... Can you hear me now? Horwitz is a freelance writer.

BAF Receives Benedum Arts-in-Education Grant The Beckley Area Foundation has received a $50,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. These funds are to be used for a specific arts-in-education initiative. BAF will provide a special grant opportunity for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) projects: teaching and learning that integrates the arts into one or more of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math). The Foundation has enlisted the assistance of the Arts Section of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in administering this exciting opportunity. STEAM education is a cutting edge approach to teaching and learning that fosters innovation, creative problem solving, flexible thinking, and risk taking – necessary skills of leaders in our rapidly changing global economy. On Wednesday, May 9th, 2:00 p.m., in the Conference Center at Tamarack, there will be an informational meeting for teachers, school and organization representatives, and other interested parties who would like to know about the application process. BAF plans to award at least ten $5,000 grants, or more if there are approved requests for less than $5,000. “We are trying to reach area arts organizations, artists and teachers regarding this exciting opportunity,” commented Susan Landis, executive director of BAF, as well as chair of the WV Commission on the Arts. “We know that there are many creative people who can implement wonderful projects with these grants.” Educators in the fields of math, science, technology and engineering as well as those involved in performance and visual arts are encouraged to attend the May 9th meeting. Collaborative applications will be welcomed. Creativity and innovation are expected. Applicants for these grants must be schools or organizations holding a 501-c-3 determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service. Applications will be accepted from the BAF service area including Raleigh, Webster, Wyoming, McDowell and southern Fayette Counties. BAF is branding this initiative as Full STEAM Ahead. Through this special opportunity, schools and organizations can create projects that intersect “A” (the arts) with STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) thus helping West Virginia be a leader in a new economy. Contact the Beckley Area Foundation if you have questions about the informational meeting, 304-253-3806 or [email protected].

Take a Seat Getting tickets for the big game or concert shouldn't be a hassle for wheelchair users. New rules are helping to ease the pain. So, there is a fabulous new stadium in town and the team looks good this year-—you’d best move fast to get good seats. Every year, a new sports season offers new opportunities for fun and (if things go right) a winning team. Are you going to be able to enjoy it? Most new ballparks, arenas, and stadiums are being built according to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and offer accessible seating throughout the facility. A few design and architecture firms specialize in large sport facilities and have learned along the way what works, mostly by including people with disabilities in the planning process. But even the most accessible facility doesn’t mean you’ll be able to enjoy the game or show. Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) members and other wheelchair users have struggled for years to be able to buy accessible seats in theaters, stadiums, arenas, etc. They generally must call a different number and wait for a return call or e-mail, and only rarely is it possible to buy a ticket for an accessible seat online. (Ticketmaster for years didn’t sell accessible seats and changed its policy only when the Department of Justice [DOJ] investigated and settled with them.) When it comes to season tickets, playoff games, or concerts that sell out fast, the problem becomes even more complex. Twenty years after ADA, when DOJ issued its revised final regulations in September 2010, one of the most critical revisions was in the area of ticket sales. DOJ stated its existing regulations required that all ticketing options available to the general public likewise are available to people with disabilities. While this may have been the requirement, many facilities were making up their own rules. For instance, the University of Oklahoma (Norman) wouldn’t allow a season ticket holder who needed wheelchair-accessible seating to purchase a particular seat. He was required to purchase a regular-season ticket to be exchanged on game day for an accessible location. On the member’s behalf, PVA filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education, starting a lengthy investigation that continues more than six years later (OU recently reported to PVA it is working to resolve this problem). DOJ’s regulations apply to Title II and Title III entities such as state, local, and private facilities. These range from neighborhood theaters to 100,000-seat football stadiums; from single-event tickets to season tickets; and from dignified operas to screaming mosh pits. Ticket sales must now be available to patrons with disabilities during the same hours, at the same prices, under the same terms, and by the same methods the general public can buy. If a third party such as Ticketmaster is involved, it must follow the same rules as the venue itself. Even discount or half-price ticket sellers must sell tickets for accessible seats (if any exist at the time of sale). Click the More Info button below to read the full story...

CALL FOR ENTRIES - Pricketts Fort: Through Artists' Eyes 2012 Prospectus PURPOSE Pricketts Fort: Through Artists' Eyes invites entries for a juried art exhibit. This show and sale will benefit the foundation's education, programming and preservation efforts. Any artwork that reflects the period, culture, history, people, or landscape of Pricketts Fort and the West Virginia frontier is welcome. Works need not be representational, but should speak to the past, present or future of this place. ELIGIBILITY Open to artists of all ages and any two-dimensional media. Artwork must be original and professionally framed and ready for hanging. All works must be for sale and available for display throughout the entire exhibit period. Participating artists will receive 60% of the proceeds of any work sold; the remaining 40% will benefit the work of the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation. AWARDS A cash prize of $200 will be awarded for First Place, $100 for Second Place and $50 for Third Place. JUROR Stephen Cassle is an active artist, craftsman, and living historian. He is employed by the Tamarack Foundation as Professional Development Coordinator. For complete prospectus and entry form see: http://www.prickettsfort.org/Pricketts%20Fort%20Art%20Prospectus%202012.pdf Prickett's Fort State Park is located 2 miles off I-79 at exit 139 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation www.prickettsfort.org (304) 363-3030

All-In: Re-imagining Community Participation Check out APAP's - All-in: Reimagining Community Participation which awards one-year grants of up to $25,000 to presenting organizations in support of promising new approaches to community engagement through the performing arts.

Protecting Collections: Disaster Prevention, Planning & Response March 27 & May 15, 2012 Huntington, WV Hosted and co-sponsored by the Huntington Museum of Art Visit: www.ccaha.org/education/program-calendar for more information. Can call 215-545-0613 or email [email protected]

National K-12 Computer Safety Contest The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) is conducting its annual, national K-12 Computer Safety Contest to encourage young people to use the Internet safely and securely. The Office of Information Security and Controls, from the West Virginia Office of Technology, is coordinating the State’s first year of participation in this event. The contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. More information and entry forms may be found at: http://www.technology.wv.gov/security/Pages/Contest.aspx.

The 2012 VSA International Young Soloists Call for Entries is now open! Since 1984, the VSA International Young Soloists Program has been seeking identify talented young musicians who have a disability. The annual award provides an opportunity for up to four emerging musicians to each earn a $5,000 award, professional development opportunities, and a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information on the program and to apply, please visit www.kennedy-center.org/IYS.

$2,000 to $20,000 grants available to help arts organizations, history museums improve, update facilities

The Kennedy Center seeks nominations for The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards Series of Annual $10,000 Awards Named for Broadway Legend (WASHINGTON, D.C.)—The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is seeking nominations for the 2012 Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards – a series of annual grants that recognize inspiring teachers across the United States. The awards were created last year, in honor of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday and were initiated and funded through the generous support of Mr. Sondheim’s friends and education philanthropists Myrna and Freddie Gershon. Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim frequently attributes his success to the teachers from all subjects in his life. The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards are presented each year on Sondheim’s birthday – March 22 – to a handful of teachers, kindergarten through college, who are nominated via the Kennedy Center website (kennedy-center.org/sondheimteacherawards). Last year, 11 teachers were recognized from around the nation for their outstanding influence on students. The recipients each received a $10,000 prize and their stories, as told by the nominating student, were featured on a web site dedicated to inspirational teachers. In many people’s lives there is at least one teacher who inspired them, and helped them become who they are today. These inspirational people are not often recognized for the life changing role they have played. The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards seek to spotlight those teachers and to recognize them publicly for their significant role in society. The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher homepage features leaders and celebrities, including Warren Buffett, Dr. Jill Biden, J. J. Abrams, Bill Bradley and many others describing their favorite teachers and the impact good teachers make on communities and schools. ?"Teachers define us,"? stated Stephen Sondheim "In our early years, when we are still being formed, they often see in us more than we see in ourselves, more even than our families see and, as a result, help us to evolve into what we ultimately become. Good teachers are touchstones to paths of achieving more than we might have otherwise accomplished, in directions we might not have gone."? Winner of the Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, Stephen Sondheim has received more Tonys® than any other composer. Mr. Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park With George (for which he received a Pulitzer Prize), Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion and Road Show, there are five musical revues based entirely on his work). Revues of his work include Sondheim on Sondheim, Side by Side by Sondheim, Marry Me a Little, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow, and Putting It Together. For films and television, he composed the scores of Stavisky and Reds and wrote songs for Dick Tracy, for which he received an Academy Award, and Evening Primrose. He was also the recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors in 1993. Mr. Sondheim is on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, having served as its president from 1973 to 1981 .In 2010, A new Broadway Theater was named the after him . To nominate a teacher for the award in any field , please visit kennedycenter.org/sondheimteacherawards. Nomination deadline is December 16, 2011. Betty Siegel Director of VSA and Accessibility The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, D.C. 20566 (202) 416-8727 [email protected]

Building the business of art

AEI and West Liberty University partner to create new center Morgantown WV (June 2011) The Appalachian Education Initiative and West Liberty University are pleased to announce a new partnership which will result in the creation of an arts and education center on the West Liberty campus. The Center will be a collaboration between AEI and the Colleges of Education and Arts and Communication at the University. The Center will provide programs, resources and services for artists, educators, West Liberty students, and others and focus on the arts, education, and the integration of the disciplines. Funding for the Center and the partnership has been provided through a $166,000 grant to West Liberty University from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with West Liberty University," said AEI Executive Director Lou Karas. "This collaboration will not only provide both AEI and West Liberty University with access to new resources, it will also provide opportunities to expand programs and services to support the arts and arts education in West Virginia schools." Dr. Keely Camden, Dean for the College of Education, and Dr. Bill Baronak, Dean for the College of Arts and Communication at West Liberty University, co-authors with Karas on the grant, are working to involve faculty, staff, students, and the community in this collaborative effort. "We are privileged to be working with Lou Karas and AEI and are most grateful to the Benedum Foundation for their support of this collaboration and center," said Dr. Keely Camden. Many of our faculty, staff, and students are already actively engaged in the planning process, and they are very excited for future projects, grants, and professional development," said Dr. Bill Baronak. The College of Arts and Communication houses programs in Art Education, Music Education, Theater, Digital Media Design, Graphic Design, Broadcasting, Communication Studies, Sports Broadcasting, and Documentary Films. The College of Arts and Communication partners closely with the College of Education on Music and Art Education certification programs. A new proposal for Theater Education with teacher certification is being written for state approval. AEI will move its office from Morgantown to the West Liberty University campus this summer. The organization will continue its statewide work, including its relationships with the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and VSA, the international organization for the arts and disabilities from its new location. Planning for the new Center is already underway and will continue through the summer and fall. For more information about the new partnership, contact Ms. Karas at [email protected] or 304-225-010. About AEI: The Appalachian Education Initiative (AEI) is an arts education intermediary, serving as an information broker and partnership builder throughout West Virginia. The organization was founded by Jennifer Francis Alkire and her father, Michael Francis, in 2001 to promote the importance of quality arts in the public school curriculum and to provide support to teachers, artists, administrators, parents and others who are working to provide quality arts programs to West Virginia students. AEI is the West Virginia affiliate of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and a partner with VSA, the international organization for the arts and disabilities. For more information about AEI, go to www.aeiarts.org. About West Liberty University: West Liberty University, a public coeducational school and West Virginia's oldest institution of higher education, is situated on 290 hilltop acres in a rural West Virginia setting just an hour from Pittsburgh, PA. A satellite campus, located at The Highlands Shopping Complex, sits just off Interstate 70, minutes from the Pennsylvania and Ohio borders in West Virginia's northern panhandle. Established in 1837, more than 2,700 students are enrolled. While elementary education and secondary educationare the most selected majors, WLU also provides a variety of other majors including digital media design, hospitality and tourism management, and dental hygiene. With the opening of the newly-built Media Arts Center, West Liberty students now have access to a television studio, recording studio, and digital media labs. The University consists of five Colleges: Gary E. West College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Education, and the College of Science. WLU also offers a graduate program, Arts in Education. For more information about West Liberty University, go to www.westliberty.edu.

National Endowment for the Arts Announces New Arts in Media Funding Category The National Endowment for the Arts' new Arts in Media funding category is designed to help make the excellence and diversity of the arts widely available to the American public through the national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts and media projects that can be considered works of art. The new Arts in Media guidelines replace the Arts on Radio and Television guidelines. All project types that were previously eligible under Arts on Radio and Television remain eligible. In addition, the expanded category now includes all available media platforms, including the Internet, interactive and mobile technologies, digital games, and arts content delivered via satellite, as well as radio and television. Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts (e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk and traditional arts, and media arts including film, audio, animation, and digital art) and media projects that can be considered works of art. Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives), media created for theatrical release, performance programs, artistic segments for use within an existing series, multi-part webisodes, installations, and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more. The new program guidelines feature an emphasis on innovation as well as strengthening creativity through access to the arts. In order to reach the widest possible audience, priority will be given to projects that include substantive public engagement strategies, including the use of social media. The new program guidelines feature an emphasis on innovation as well as strengthening creativity through access to the arts. In order to reach the widest possible audience, priority will be given to projects that include substantive public engagement strategies, including the use of social media. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, units of state or local government, or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applications through a fiscal agent are not allowed; however, partnerships between artists and eligible nonprofit organizations are encouraged. Any application for a collaborative project representing a partnership between a media organization and an arts, education, or community organization should be submitted by the media organization. Grants generally will range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on the platform and the complexity and scope of the project. Visit the NEA Web site for complete program guidelines, a short video on the new program, and application instructions. Link to Complete RFP

Mockingbird Foundation Invites Applications for Children's Music Education Program Grants The Mockingbird Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization created by fans of the rock band Phish, annually provides competitive grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations and public schools for children's music education programs. The foundation is accepting inquiries for its fifteenth round of competitive grants. The foundation is particularly interested in projects that encourage and foster creative expression in any musical form (including composition, instrumentation, vocalization, or improvisation), but also recognizes broader and more basic needs within conventional instruction. Mockingbird encourages applications associated with diverse or unusual musical styles, genres, forms, and philosophies. The foundation is interested in programs targeting children 18 years of age or younger, but will consider projects that benefit college students, teachers, instructors, and adult students. Mockingbird is particularly (though not exclusively) interested in programs that benefit disenfranchised groups, including those with low skill levels, income, or education; with disabilities or terminal illnesses; and in foster homes, shelters, hospitals, prisons, or other remote or isolated situations. Grants ranging between $100 and $5,000 will be awardedto nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, organizations with an eligible fiscal sponsor, and public schools. In its fourteenth round of funding, the foundation made six new grants totaling $26,300. Visit the foundation's Web site for complete funding guidelines and grant inquiry procedures. Link to Complete RFP

The assistive technology project at New River Click here to read the Press Release.

New and Updated Accessibility Resources on the NEA's Website Maximize your audience potential by ensuring that your facilities and programs are accessible to all! The National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Accessibility is pleased to announce a tip sheet and updated resources to help arts and cultural organizations with accessibility and compliance: • A brand new tip sheet outlining the revised September 2010 regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act that clarify and amend the requirements for ticketing, mobility devices, service animals, and new construction (attached). • Updated resources, Web links, and contact information in our Design for Accessibility Handbook and Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators. These resources are located on the The Artists of The Renaissance Gallery March 21, 2011 This is the propectus and invitation to be in our spring art show. this show is open to all adult artists. Awards are cash and merchandise. If you have any questions, please ask. I am hoping this will go up as a notice for all the state's artists. My home phone number is 304-757-3241. I am Sue Tschantz, the event coordinator for the Renaissance Gallery. The Artists of The Renaissance Gallery

Artist Factory Presents: Tool Box 1.0: Portfolio Development & Resume Fine Tuning March 8, 2011 Performing Groups: • Andy Park • Charleston Stage Company • Colleen Anderson • Marshall University Event Description: Cost $10 Artist Factory presents Tool Box 1.0: Portfolio Development and Resume Fine Tuning. Learn the basics of building a successful portfolio. Please bring materials for the portfolio and resume. Instructors: Music– Andy Park, President of Local 136, American Federation of Musicians, Kanawha County Teacher Visual Art – Anthony Smith, MFA Academic Lab Manager, Instructor Marshall University Theatre– Frieda Forsley, Creative Director of Charleston Stage Company Literary– Colleen Anderson, Creative writer, Designer and Musician Computers and wireless is available. SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTRATION REQUIRED [email protected] More information at www.artskv.org

AEI Begins Partnership with VSA Morgantown WV (February 2011) The Appalachian Education Initiative is pleased to announce a new partnership with VSA, the international organization on arts and disability. This collaboration will provide AEI with greater access to resources, information and funding for including people with disabilities in the arts. Funding is made possible through the national office of VSA, and is supported in large part by the U.S. Department of Education. AEI will now begin the process of re-establishing VSA programs and services in West Virginia. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with VSA," said AEI Executive Director Lou Karas. "Their priority areas of Education Programs, Professional Development, Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services, and Public Awareness and Outreach are complementary to AEI's work to support the arts and arts education in West Virginia schools." Over the coming year, AEI will form a VSA West Virginia Advisory Committee, conduct several needs assessments, and identify potential partners throughout the state. In addition, AEI will integrate VSA information and resources into its existing programs, resources and services. For more information about AEI and VSA, contact Karas at [email protected] or 304-225-0101. Press Release

FY2012 Arts in Education Applicants The following changes have been made to the AIE application process: • Since the WVCA encourages life-long learning for artists, student artists who have an artistic resume outside of their school work and who are not receiving academic credit should be eligible for funding. • Requests for projects occurring outside of school should not require direct connection to CSOs as long as learning objectives are clear. The application available online does not reflect these changes, but your panel will be advised accordingly. If you have any questions about these changes, contact the AIE Coordinator, Cicely Bosley at [email protected] or 304-558-0240

Poetry, Painting to earn an MD The course list for medical students can be brutal, including old standbys like gross anatomy, cell biology and organic chemistry. Now, aspiring doctors can add to that poetry and painting. Medical schools are placing a growing emphasis on the humanities, including courses in writing, art and literature. The programs aim to teach students "right-brain" insights and skills they won't learn dissecting cadavers or studying pathology slides. Schools hope the programs help to turn out a new generation of physicians better able to listen attentively to patients, show emotion and provide sensitive personal care. At Brown University's medical school, a reflective-writing program assesses students' ability to express feelings about experiences such as witnessing their first death or dealing with a difficult patient. A humanities track at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine requires students to submit creative works or review submissions to a new literary journal, "The Examined Life." New York University School of Medicine launched a division of medical humanities last month offering a wide range of arts programs to foster appreciation for the human aspects of medicine. It showcases student works in "Agora," an arts journal. For more Information Click Here.

State gets start on 2012 wildlife calendar January 20, 2011 SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It may seem a bit early, but the state Division of Natural Resources is starting on its 2012 wildlife calendar. The agency's Wildlife Resources Section says the deadline for submissions for 2012 is Feb. 15. The agency wants a high resolution electronic image or a 35-mm color slide of each entry. Artists are allowed to submit more than one entry. The idea is to depict popular game and fish species or the state's diverse array of wildlife. Paintings of snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, bats, songbirds, small mammals as well as non-game fish are also encouraged. The state pays a $100 prize for monthly paintings and $500 for the cover. By The Associated Press

The Accessible Recreation Guide for West Virginia including Arts and Cultural Organizations.

Statewide “Poetry Out Loud” competition announced

West Virginia Division of Culture and History awards 15 Cultural Facilities and Capital Resources grants

New program to recognize student artists Appalachian Education Initiative, Chesapeake Energy partner on project Morgantown WV (October 13, 2010) The Appalachian Education Initiative (www.aeiarts.org) and Chesapeake Energy (www.chk.com) are teaming up to recognize West Virginia public high school juniors and seniors who excel in school arts programs and demonstrate leadership and excellence in other education and community activities. The new Student Artist of the Month program begins this month and continues through the school year. “One of our primary goals at AEI is to increase awareness of the importance and value that arts education brings to our public school students,” said Lou Karas, AEI executive director. “We are pleased that Chesapeake Energy chose to partner with us and help us emphasize that arts programs are a necessary component of public education for all students. Children who participate in the arts learn creativity and self confidence that will enhance their lives no matter what career path they choose.” “It is appropriate that we introduce our program this month because October is National Arts and Humanities Month,” said Jack Thompson, public relations coordinator for Chesapeake Energy. “While our business deals with exacting calculations and science, we know very well that employees who are creative and skilled in the critical thinking processes that they learn through the arts are some of our very best.” Each month AEI and Chesapeake Energy will select one student from those who are nominated. That student will be featured on the AEI web site along with photos and an interview. All of the students will be recognized in the spring at a special awards luncheon, hosted by Chesapeake Energy. To be nominated for the recognition, a student must meet five criteria, according to Karas. A student must: • Be a junior or senior attending a West Virginia public school • Participate on an ongoing basis in a visual or performing arts program and have mastered that art or progressed in the field as a result of school-related activities • Be in good academic standing • Participate in other extracurricular activities or community activities that do not have to be arts related • Demonstrate leadership skills Students may be nominated by school personnel and community members by completing the nomination form on the AEI web site, www.aeiarts.org or via www.surveymonkey.com/s/student-artist. Print copies of the nomination form are available by contacting Karas via Email or calling 304-225-0101. Lou Karas Executive Director Appalachian Education Initiative 111 High Street Morgantown, WV 26505 304/225-0101 Email www.aeiarts.org

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Beth Bienvenu as the New Director of the Office of Accessibility Washington, D.C. - The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced today that Beth Bienvenu will join the NEA as the new director of the Office of Accessibility. Dr. Bienvenu will manage the NEA’s technical assistance and advocacy work devoted to making the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults including veterans, and people living in institutions. This includes initiatives related to universal design, arts and aging, arts in healthcare, and careers in the arts for people with disabilities. She will begin her work today. Prior to coming to the NEA, Ms. Bienvenu worked for five years as a policy advisor with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy. In that capacity, she analyzed federal laws and regulations, as well as public and private sector policies and practices related to all elements of employment for persons with disabilities. She created and delivered training sessions on recruiting, hiring, accommodating, and retaining individuals with disabilities and developed partnerships with other federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and business on behalf on those constituents. In addition, since August 2005, Ms. Bienvenu was an adjunct professor at George Mason University teaching arts policy in the Master of Arts Management program. “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Bienvenu to the NEA,” said Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Her achievements and commitment on behalf of people with disabilities are significant and the relationships she has developed with other federal agencies and organizations will be particularly important as we forge ahead with this work.” Ms. Bienvenu said, “I look forward to working with the NEA staff and constituents in the field to ensure that everyone can participate in arts programs as audience members, participants, artists, or performers. I am honored to continue the Accessibility Office’s excellent work in helping arts organizations become fully accessible, bringing the arts to underrepresented groups, and ensuring that these groups are served by NEA programs.” From 2000-2005, Ms. Bienvenu was a senior associate with TATC Consulting, a Washington DC-based firm providing management consulting services. One of her projects with TATC was to work with the Institute for Museum and Library Services, DOL, and the NEA on youth employment programs with arts organizations and libraries. Also, she has been a consultant with the Center for Nonprofit Management in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and program coordinator with the University of Oklahoma’s Advanced Programs, Europe. Ms. Bienvenu has a B.A. in Sociology and Music from Alma College in Alma, Michigan; M.A. in Sociology from Indiana University; M.A. in Arts Administration from Indiana University; and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Ms. Bienvenu replaces Paula Terry who has served at the NEA since 1979 on behalf of populations often isolated from full participation in the arts. Ms. Terry has established leadership initiatives in Creativity and Aging, Universal Design, Careers in the Arts for Individuals with Disabilities, Arts in Healthcare, and Arts in Corrections. Under her leadership the Accessibility Office has helped form a nationwide network of accessibility coordinators in state and regional arts agencies and has produced a variety of reports and technical assistance materials for the field. In recognition of her accomplishments, the NEA has garnered national honors including the 1998 Universal Design Award, a 2002 award from the National Business & Disability Council. In 2006, the NEA was recognized for excellence in accessibility leadership by the Christopher Reeve Foundation and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information on the NEA’s accessibility programs and publications, please visit arts.gov

Professional Development for Teachers The Kennedy Center offers professional development resources for teachers. Available on DVD or VHS: Living Pictures: A Theatrical Technique for Learning Across the Curriculum, which explores how tableau can be integrated with history, literature, or visual art; and Words Alive: Building Vocabulary and Stimulating Writing, which demonstrates multi-sensory activities to help students improve both their vocabularies and their writing skills. Visit: www.kennedy-center.org/education/pdot/livingpictures and www.kennedy-center.org/education/ceta/wordsalive.html

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman Announces $300,000 for 20 Literature Translation Fellowships September 8, 2010 Since 1981, the NEA has awarded 323 Fellowships for works in 61 languages from 71 countries. Washington, DC — NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman today announced $300,000 in 20 literary fellowships to support the translation of works into English. Available to previously published literary translators for specific projects, many of these fellowships will result in the first English translation of outstanding works of international literature. This year’s projects vary from the ancient to the contemporary, involving works in 13 different languages from 17 countries ranging from novels and poetry to memoirs and myths: Esther Allen (Spanish) for Zama, a 1956 novel by Argentine writer Antonio Di Benedetto Robert Bononno (French) for The Mysteries of Paris by novelist Eugène Sue Sean Cotter (Romanian) for Belgrade in Five Friends and Other Poems by Nichita Stanescu Bill Coyle (Swedish) for a collection of contemporary poetry by Håkan Sandell Anne O. Fisher (Russian) for The Joyous Science: The Selected Poetry of Maxim Amelin Dick Gerdes (Spanish) for the Mexican novel Península, Península by Hernán Lara Zavala,br> Jason Grunebaum (Hindi) for Manzoor Ahtesham’s novel The Tale of the Missing Man Joshua Halberstam (Yiddish) for Chassidim Re-tell, a collection of Chassidic tales by Rabbi Tovia Halberstam Yasmeen S. Hanoosh (Arabic) for Closing His Eyes, a collection of short stories by Iraqi writer and critic Luay Hamza Abbas Deborah Hoffman (Russian) for Eufrosinia Kersnovskaia’s memoir How Much Is a Person Worth? Edward Gauvin (French) for Fear of the First Line, selected stories from Belgian writer Bernard Quiriny Tsipi Keller (Hebrew) for Reality Crumbs, a collection of Raquel Chalfi’s poetry Myung-Hee Kim (Korean) for Steel and Flesh: Korean Stories 1945-48, an anthology of prose from North and South Korea Elizabeth Novickas (Lithuanian) for Petras Cvirka’s 1934 novel Frank Kruk Aaron Poochigian (Ancient Greek) for the epic 6,000-line poem “Argonautika” by Apollonius of Rhodes Jessica Powell (Spanish) for Woman in Battle Dress, a historical novel by Cuban writer Antonio Benítez Rojo John Galbraith Simmons (French) for Marquis de Sade’s novel Aline and Valcour Clare Sullivan (Spanish/Zapotec) for Black Olive Tree and Other Zapotec Poems by Mexican poet Natalia Toledo John Taylor (French) for Paper Collage, a collection of essays by Georges Perros Kelly Washbourne (Spanish) for Legends of Guatemala, a collection of eight tales and myths by Nobel Laureate Miguel Ángel Asturias Complete descriptions of each funded project are available at arts.gov. “Translation brings works of literature to new audiences, and translation is, itself, an art,” said NEA Chairman Landesman. “These 20 projects will bring new words and the worlds they describe to American audiences. We are proud of the NEA’s 30-year history of investing in literary translation.” Former NEA Translation Fellow (2009) Charlotte Mandell said, “My translation of Mathias Énard’s French novel Zone would never have been possible without the grant I received from the NEA, since that was my sole source of income when I was working on Zone. Imagine our literary canon without Proust or Flaubert or Balzac in English—how much poorer we would be culturally and intellectually. Without the NEA, many of the books that could become classics in the future—Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 comes to mind—would not be published at all in English.” The recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships will receive either $12,500 or $25,000 depending on the scope and merit of their projects. (The amount of the awards is pending Congressional approval of the NEA’s fiscal year 2011 budget.) The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established, bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the nation's largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov. Contact: Liz Stark, 202-682-5744, [email protected].

Embracing Our Differences July 13, 2010 *Embracing Our Differences* invites artists, photographers, professionals, amateurs, teachers and students to participate in its 8th annual visual art exhibit celebrating diversity. National and international submissions are encouraged. 45 artists will be selected for the exhibit. The *Embracing Our Differences* exhibit will be displayed throughout the months of April and May 2011 at Island Park along Sarasota’s beautiful bayfront. Since 2004, the exhibit has been viewed by more than 850,000 visitors. The exhibit will contain 39 billboard-sized (16 feet wide by 12 1/2 feet high) images of the selected artworks. In the judges’ discretion, an additional six “honorable mention” selections may be made. Final selections will be chosen based on artistic excellence in reflection of the theme “Embracing Our Differences”. The art-work will also be evaluated on how effectively it will read outdoors when enlarged to billboard size – 16 feet wide by 12 1/2 feet high. Artists are encouraged to use bold saturated colors and strong lines. Final selections will be made by a 3-judge panel of professional artists, curators and art professionals. A total of $3,000.00 in awards will be presented. Deadline for submission is January 10, 2011. There is no submission fee nor limit on the number of entries. Submission forms and more information concerning past winning submissions are available at www.EmbracingOurDifferences.org or by emailing [email protected].

The Ford Foudation is calling for proposals for “Space for Change” planning and pre-development grants

Kennedy Center president gives advice to W.Va. arts groups

West Virginia Division of Culture and History announces Poetry Out Loud contest winner

State legislative leadership award winners announced at Governor’s Arts Awards

Lynn Boggess receives Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, Seven artists and arts organizations receive Governor’s Arts Awards for 2010

West Virginia Division of Culture and History posts new Artist Roster on-line

PHOTO, POETRY, ILLUSTRATIONS AND SHORT STORY CONTEST BY FERR-MAR PRODUCTIONS For information: Stephanie Ferrell, FerrMar Productions, (304) 205-5327 PHOTO, POETRY, ILLUSTRATIONS AND SHORT STORY CONTEST BY FERR-MAR PRODUCTIONS January 28, 2010 – Charleston, WV -- FerrMar Productions is publishing an anthology called Return to Rural America by Stephanie Rene Ferrell of Charleston, West Virginia. After having been born and raised in Appalachia, then spending nearly 16 years in New York City and other big city life, she returned to live in rural America. This visual story will highlight the culture, the people and the aesthetic qualities of rural America. FerrMar is holding a competition to anyone who has photographs, poetry, illustrations and short stories to enter, which could possibly result in being published in this anthology or subsequent ones. The cost to enter is $5.00 per entry. There is no limit to the amount of entries one person can submit. Checks or money orders should be made payable to: Steph F Enterprises, LLC, d/b/a FerrMar Productions, and mailed to: 343 Campbells Creek Drive, Charleston, WV 25306. For inquiries, e-mail [email protected]. Currently, Stephanie has 121 photos of her own in this collection; each photo has its own story. Poetry, recipes, illustrations, quotes, and other elements will be part of the anthology, but the focus will be the photography and respective short stories telling about that particular photography and the cultural history and beauty behind it. Even in distressed towns and counties there are always some beauty or some wonderful cultural history or landmarks that deserve their own stories. Some of these places may never have been documented before. This Return to Rural America project began in 1995 and is not purely dedicated to Appalachia, because it has rural pictures and aspects from other areas, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, the Carolinas, Florida and other rural places. The initiative here is to dedicate this anthology to those rural communities and people so that they can gain the attention and appreciation that they so well deserve. Typically in rural America there are financially distressed people who are amongst state and national poverty levels. But that does not mean that they aren’t rich in other ways and proud of their homeland. Their life is simple and they do not have the money for luxuries but they make do. They are crafty, hardworking and very important people that should be recognized. Most of these people refuse to allow the collapse of rural America because in the beginning of America, that was all that people had – the rural American tools that some of them still use today. The following verse from the New Testament of the Holy Bible states: "The husbandman that laboreth must be the first partaker of the fruits." 1 Timothy 5:18. Rural American people are the “husbandry” of our nation. That’s the story this publication plans to tell.

Peoples Bancorp Foundation Offers Community Grants in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky

President Obama announces opportunities for arts participation in 2009 through his United We Serve program

Listening for a Change: Oral History and Appalachian Heritage

West Virginia Division of Culture and History announces Poetry Out Loud contest winner for 2009

News from the National Endowment for the Arts

Help us help you! The Arts Section is looking for feedback to help us be better responsive to the needs of our constituents. Please take a few moments to fill out the HELP US HELP YOU! survey. Candid responses are appreciated.

William Davis honored with Governor's Arts Award for lifetime achievement

Accessibility Mini-Grants from Ohio River Border Initiative The Ohio River Border Initiative now has Accessibility Mini-Grants available at www.orbi.org. Applications will be accepted beginning April 1, 2008. Grants up to $1000 for counties that border Ohio. For more information visit www.orbi.org or email Bill Howley at [email protected]. Phone 304-655-8255.

Arts section of Division of Culture and History offers new e-mail service 2/20/2007 The arts section of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History is offering a new e-mail service available through its office. The new service is designed to provide periodic e-mail messages with deadline dates for all its grants and regional information that may be of interest. In addition, the service will allow the arts section to send information and announcements about specific grants as well as resource advice to assist applicants. Anyone interested in being placed on this arts database should send an e-mail message to [email protected], including name, mailing address, position/discipline, organization, grants of specific interest to you or your organization, grants you have applied for in the past, and any additional pertinent information indicating your interest in the arts. E-mail addresses will not be shared with any other database service, including spam, mass marketing campaigns or other organizations. Specific questions about grants and applications should continue to be directed to the individual grant coordinators: Barbie Anderson, grants coordinator; Debbie Rainey Haught, community arts coordinator; Gregg McAllister, arts in education and mini grant coordinator; Rose McDonough, cultural facilities and accessibility coordinator; and Jeff Pierson, individual arts coordinator. For more information or to reach the arts section, call (304) 558-0240. The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the state capitol complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. - 30 -

We are always looking for professional teaching artists

Literary map of WV featuring 138 authors and original art.

Poets & Writers Magazine announces state and national prizes in writing

Local Writers' Groups in West Virginia

Arts and Crafts Industry contributes $54.5 million to West Virginia economy ARTS & CRAFTS INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES $54.5 MILLION ANNUALLY TO STATE ECONOMY Results of Ground-breaking Study Demonstrate Significance of Industry Charleston, W.Va. – The results of a recent study into the economic impact of the arts and crafts industry show that more than $54 million is contributed to the state economy each year through the sale of arts and crafts in West Virginia. The study, sponsored by six state arts and crafts organizations and the Small Business Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office, is the first of its kind to measure the arts and crafts industry in West Virginia. (study highlights) Modeled on the 2001 CODA Survey: The Impact of Crafts on the National Economy, the West Virginia study queried some 2,539 artists and craftspeople in the state about their overall sales, income, studio situations and needs. The findings will be used to demonstrate the significance of the industry as a means of earning a living for thousands of West Virignia residents and lend

www.artsaction.org - Take action for a quality arts education.

CERF+ relief assistance

West Virginia Division of Culture and History to Offer Grant Aid to Arts, History Organizations Affected by Flooding

Arts Alive

http://wvde.state.wv.us/arts-alive/

Arts Alive Mission Statement

Arts Alive is West Virginia Department of Education's annual event to showcase outstanding arts education programs and student achievements in public schools. The work included in Arts Alive is selected from state arts conferences and festivals throughout West Virginia, a competitive submission process, and/or by invitation. In its eighth year, Arts Alive 2014 has expanded collaborations and interdisciplinary partnerships to include work from the following areas: Dance, Music, Pre-Kindergarten, Science in the Arts, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Students perform and exhibit work before an audience of students, family members, educators, policy makers, leaders, advocates, and philanthropists.
Arts Alive aims to support developing and established arts programs in public schools throughout West Virginia; inspire local education systems to embrace the arts as an essential part of every child's education; and empower the broader learning community to advocate for comprehensive arts education in public schools.
Arts Alive is dedicated to arts education in West Virginia and remains committed to providing a venue where the arts are paramount and the work of young artists is celebrated.

Renée Margocee
Director of Arts
West Virginia Division of Culture and History
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
(304) 558-0240

NEW grant appications and guidlines information

The National Endowment for the Arts' Office of Research & Analysis announces that grant application guidelines are available for Research: Art Works. This program supports research that investigates the value of the U.S. arts ecosystem and the impact of the arts, either as individual components within the U.S. arts ecology or as they interact with each other and/or with other domains of American life.

The NEA encourages applications from diverse research fields (e.g., sociology, economics, anthropology, psychology, medicine and health, education, communications, and urban and regional planning) in addition to projects that address a diverse array of topics concerning the value and/or impact of the arts. Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. This may include, but is not limited to, colleges and universities.

The NEA anticipates awarding up to 25 grants in the range of $10,000 to $30,000. The deadline for application submission is Nov. 5, 2013 and projects can begin as early as May 1, 2014.

This year, there have been several major changes to the Research: Art Works grant program:

•     Priority is given to applications that present theory-driven research questions and methodologies that will yield important information about the value and/or impact of the arts.
•     The 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts and the 2012 General Social Survey's Arts Supplement are cited as secondary data sources of special interest to the NEA.
•     Primary data collection is now an eligible activity type. Those projects may be of three years in duration. Other projects now may be of two years in duration.
•     New sections of the guidelines address the responsible conduct of research, and data management and sharing. There is a corresponding review criterion about applicants’ data management plans.
•     Grants require a match and indirect costs are allowed.

The NEA will hold an informational webinar for potential applicants on Sept. 18, 2013. More information is forthcoming.

For grant application information and guidelines, please go to http://arts.gov/grants/apply/Research.html

To see project descriptions of the grants awarded in previous years of Research: Art Works, click here.

To see samples of previous successful applications, please click here, and choose "Sample Application Narratives – Research".

If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected].

West Virginia Division of Culture and History Announces New Operating Hours for the Culture Center, Grave Creek Mound, Independence Hall, Museum in the Park and the State Museum

The Artomatic@Jefferson event

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A Cohort Study of Arts Participation and Academic Performance

Every Leader is an Artist

A Curtain Rises, Gently, on Autism-Friendly Shows on Broadway

For Theater Patrons, the Whispers can be deafening Copyright 2012, The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved

"Why are those people annoyed with me?" the older gentleman asked his wife in a loud stage whisper.

She wasn't sure, but I was sitting in front of them at the Lansburgh Theatre, and I confess I was one of several people shooting that poor couple dirty looks. They were fiddling with earphones issued by the Shakespeare Theatre Company for "Krapp's Last Tape," performed by British star John Hurt. The theater was full, the show a very quiet solo piece by Samuel Beckett.

It lasted a scant hour, and the couple spent nearly all that time trying to get the earphones to function. Several times the earphones actually squeaked at such a high pitch that other earphones around the theater squeaked in sympathy. It was such a tooth-achingly piercing sound that I fully expected stray dogs to wander in.

That couple had to have been longtime theater lovers. They weren't the kind of philistines who think it's okay to check e-mails, texts and tweets during a show. Nor were they paper rustlers.

And here I must briefly digress: Rustling noises, as when you unwrap hard candies during a show travel forward, driving the people sitting in front of you nuts. The same goes for people who like to roll their playbills into a tube, and then twist them around and tap them on their knees. On the other hand, the glowing light from smartphones drives the people next to and behind you nuts. Those devices pull audience members out of the play against their will.

But back to the earphones. What occurred that night at the Lansburgh was an extreme example of a common situation. I've been to matinees at one suburban theater where it was well into the first act before patrons using earphones got them to work. Ten to 20 minutes of loudly whispered, "Can you hear yours? Mine isn't working!"

So I have a modest proposal for theater managers: During that pre-show announcement, after you've exhorted people to turn off their cellphones and unwrap their candies, why not take another minute and say, "Now we're going to test the earphones for patrons using them tonight. Please turn them on now, and we will play a recording so that you can set your volume. Raise your hand if your earphones don't seem to work, and an usher will assist you and replace them if necessary. Remember to remove hearing aids and turn them off, so they don't interfere with the earphones. Thank you. The test will start now."

Newer technologies may soon make all this fuss unnecessary, but until then ... Can you hear me now?

Horwitz is a freelance writer.

BAF Receives Benedum Arts-in-Education Grant

The Beckley Area Foundation has received a $50,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. These funds are to be used for a specific arts-in-education initiative.
BAF will provide a special grant opportunity for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) projects: teaching and learning that integrates the arts into one or more of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math).
The Foundation has enlisted the assistance of the Arts Section of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in administering this exciting opportunity. STEAM education is a cutting edge approach to teaching and learning that fosters innovation, creative problem solving, flexible thinking, and risk taking – necessary skills of leaders in our rapidly changing global economy.
On Wednesday, May 9th, 2:00 p.m., in the Conference Center at Tamarack, there will be an informational meeting for teachers, school and organization representatives, and other interested parties who would like to know about the application process. BAF plans to award at least ten $5,000 grants, or more if there are approved requests for less than $5,000.
“We are trying to reach area arts organizations, artists and teachers regarding this exciting opportunity,” commented Susan Landis, executive director of BAF, as well as chair of the WV Commission on the Arts. “We know that there are many creative people who can implement wonderful projects with these grants.”
Educators in the fields of math, science, technology and engineering as well as those involved in performance and visual arts are encouraged to attend the May 9th meeting. Collaborative applications will be welcomed. Creativity and innovation are expected.
Applicants for these grants must be schools or organizations holding a 501-c-3 determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service. Applications will be accepted from the BAF service area including Raleigh, Webster, Wyoming, McDowell and southern Fayette Counties.
BAF is branding this initiative as Full STEAM Ahead. Through this special opportunity, schools and organizations can create projects that intersect “A” (the arts) with STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) thus helping West Virginia be a leader in a new economy.

Contact the Beckley Area Foundation if you have questions about the informational meeting, 304-253-3806 or [email protected].

Take a Seat

Getting tickets for the big game or concert shouldn't be a hassle for wheelchair users. New rules are helping to ease the pain.

So, there is a fabulous new stadium in town and the team looks good this year-—you’d best move fast to get good seats. Every year, a new sports season offers new opportunities for fun and (if things go right) a winning team. Are you going to be able to enjoy it?

Most new ballparks, arenas, and stadiums are being built according to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and offer accessible seating throughout the facility. A few design and architecture firms specialize in large sport facilities and have learned along the way what works, mostly by including people with disabilities in the planning process. But even the most accessible facility doesn’t mean you’ll be able to enjoy the game or show.

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) members and other wheelchair users have struggled for years to be able to buy accessible seats in theaters, stadiums, arenas, etc. They generally must call a different number and wait for a return call or e-mail, and only rarely is it possible to buy a ticket for an accessible seat online. (Ticketmaster for years didn’t sell accessible seats and changed its policy only when the Department of Justice [DOJ] investigated and settled with them.) When it comes to season tickets, playoff games, or concerts that sell out fast, the problem becomes even more complex.

Twenty years after ADA, when DOJ issued its revised final regulations in September 2010, one of the most critical revisions was in the area of ticket sales. DOJ stated its existing regulations required that all ticketing options available to the general public likewise are available to people with disabilities. While this may have been the requirement, many facilities were making up their own rules.

For instance, the University of Oklahoma (Norman) wouldn’t allow a season ticket holder who needed wheelchair-accessible seating to purchase a particular seat. He was required to purchase a regular-season ticket to be exchanged on game day for an accessible location. On the member’s behalf, PVA filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education, starting a lengthy investigation that continues more than six years later (OU recently reported to PVA it is working to resolve this problem).

DOJ’s regulations apply to Title II and Title III entities such as state, local, and private facilities. These range from neighborhood theaters to 100,000-seat football stadiums; from single-event tickets to season tickets; and from dignified operas to screaming mosh pits.

Ticket sales must now be available to patrons with disabilities during the same hours, at the same prices, under the same terms, and by the same methods the general public can buy. If a third party such as Ticketmaster is involved, it must follow the same rules as the venue itself. Even discount or half-price ticket sellers must sell tickets for accessible seats (if any exist at the time of sale).

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CALL FOR ENTRIES - Pricketts Fort: Through Artists' Eyes 2012 Prospectus

PURPOSE
Pricketts Fort: Through Artists' Eyes invites entries for a juried art exhibit. This show and sale will benefit the foundation's education, programming and preservation efforts. Any artwork that reflects the period, culture, history, people, or landscape of Pricketts Fort and the West Virginia frontier is welcome. Works need not be representational, but should speak to the past, present or future of this place.

ELIGIBILITY
Open to artists of all ages and any two-dimensional media. Artwork must be original and professionally framed and ready for hanging. All works must be for sale and available for display throughout the entire exhibit period. Participating artists will receive 60% of the proceeds of any work sold; the remaining 40% will benefit the work of the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation.

AWARDS
A cash prize of $200 will be awarded for First Place, $100 for Second Place and $50 for Third Place.

JUROR Stephen Cassle is an active artist, craftsman, and living historian. He is employed by the Tamarack Foundation as Professional Development Coordinator.

For complete prospectus and entry form see:
http://www.prickettsfort.org/Pricketts%20Fort%20Art%20Prospectus%202012.pdf
Prickett's Fort State Park is located 2 miles off I-79 at exit 139 in Fairmont, West Virginia.
Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation www.prickettsfort.org (304) 363-3030

All-In: Re-imagining Community Participation Check out APAP's - All-in: Reimagining Community Participation which awards one-year grants of up to $25,000 to presenting organizations in support of promising new approaches to community engagement through the performing arts.

Protecting Collections: Disaster Prevention, Planning & Response

March 27 & May 15, 2012
Huntington, WV
Hosted and co-sponsored by the Huntington Museum of Art

Visit: www.ccaha.org/education/program-calendar for more information.
Can call 215-545-0613 or email [email protected]

National K-12 Computer Safety Contest

The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) is conducting its annual, national K-12 Computer Safety Contest to encourage young people to use the Internet safely and securely. The Office of Information Security and Controls, from the West Virginia Office of Technology, is coordinating the State’s first year of participation in this event.

The contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

More information and entry forms may be found at: http://www.technology.wv.gov/security/Pages/Contest.aspx.

The 2012 VSA International Young Soloists Call for Entries is now open!

Since 1984, the VSA International Young Soloists Program has been seeking identify talented young musicians who have a disability. The annual award provides an opportunity for up to four emerging musicians to each earn a $5,000 award, professional development opportunities, and a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

For more information on the program and to apply, please visit www.kennedy-center.org/IYS.

$2,000 to $20,000 grants available to help arts organizations, history museums improve, update facilities

The Kennedy Center seeks nominations for The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards Series of Annual $10,000 Awards Named for Broadway Legend

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is seeking nominations for the 2012 Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards – a series of annual grants that recognize inspiring teachers across the United States. The awards were created last year, in honor of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday and were initiated and funded through the generous support of Mr. Sondheim’s friends and education philanthropists Myrna and Freddie Gershon.

Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim frequently attributes his success to the teachers from all subjects in his life. The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards are presented each year on Sondheim’s birthday – March 22 – to a handful of teachers, kindergarten through college, who are nominated via the Kennedy Center website (kennedy-center.org/sondheimteacherawards).

Last year, 11 teachers were recognized from around the nation for their outstanding influence on students. The recipients each received a $10,000 prize and their stories, as told by the nominating student, were featured on a web site dedicated to inspirational teachers.

In many people’s lives there is at least one teacher who inspired them, and helped them become who they are today. These inspirational people are not often recognized for the life changing role they have played. The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards seek to spotlight those teachers and to recognize them publicly for their significant role in society. The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher homepage features leaders and celebrities, including Warren Buffett, Dr. Jill Biden, J. J. Abrams, Bill Bradley and many others describing their favorite teachers and the impact good teachers make on communities and schools.

?"Teachers define us,"? stated Stephen Sondheim "In our early years, when we are still being formed, they often see in us more than we see in ourselves, more even than our families see and, as a result, help us to evolve into what we ultimately become. Good teachers are touchstones to paths of achieving more than we might have otherwise accomplished, in directions we might not have gone."?

Winner of the Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, Stephen Sondheim has received more Tonys® than any other composer. Mr. Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park With George (for which he received a Pulitzer Prize), Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion and Road Show, there are five musical revues based entirely on his work). Revues of his work include Sondheim on Sondheim, Side by Side by Sondheim, Marry Me a Little, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow, and Putting It Together. For films and television, he composed the scores of Stavisky and Reds and wrote songs for Dick Tracy, for which he received an Academy Award, and Evening Primrose. He was also the recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors in 1993. Mr. Sondheim is on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, having served as its president from 1973 to 1981 .In 2010, A new Broadway Theater was named the after him .

To nominate a teacher for the award in any field , please visit kennedycenter.org/sondheimteacherawards. Nomination deadline is December 16, 2011.

Betty Siegel
Director of VSA and Accessibility
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, D.C. 20566
(202) 416-8727
[email protected]

Building the business of art

AEI and West Liberty University partner to create new center

Morgantown WV (June 2011) The Appalachian Education Initiative and West Liberty University are pleased to announce a new partnership which will result in the creation of an arts and education center on the West Liberty campus. The Center will be a collaboration between AEI and the Colleges of Education and Arts and Communication at the University. The Center will provide programs, resources and services for artists, educators, West Liberty students, and others and focus on the arts, education, and the integration of the disciplines. Funding for the Center and the partnership has been provided through a $166,000 grant to West Liberty University from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with West Liberty University," said AEI Executive Director Lou Karas. "This collaboration will not only provide both AEI and West Liberty University with access to new resources, it will also provide opportunities to expand programs and services to support the arts and arts education in West Virginia schools."

Dr. Keely Camden, Dean for the College of Education, and Dr. Bill Baronak, Dean for the College of Arts and Communication at West Liberty University, co-authors with Karas on the grant, are working to involve faculty, staff, students, and the community in this collaborative effort. "We are privileged to be working with Lou Karas and AEI and are most grateful to the Benedum Foundation for their support of this collaboration and center," said Dr. Keely Camden. Many of our faculty, staff, and students are already actively engaged in the planning process, and they are very excited for future projects, grants, and professional development," said Dr. Bill Baronak. The College of Arts and Communication houses programs in Art Education, Music Education, Theater, Digital Media Design, Graphic Design, Broadcasting, Communication Studies, Sports Broadcasting, and Documentary Films. The College of Arts and Communication partners closely with the College of Education on Music and Art Education certification programs. A new proposal for Theater Education with teacher certification is being written for state approval.

AEI will move its office from Morgantown to the West Liberty University campus this summer. The organization will continue its statewide work, including its relationships with the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and VSA, the international organization for the arts and disabilities from its new location.

Planning for the new Center is already underway and will continue through the summer and fall. For more information about the new partnership, contact Ms. Karas at [email protected] or 304-225-010.

About AEI:
The Appalachian Education Initiative (AEI) is an arts education intermediary, serving as an information broker and partnership builder throughout West Virginia. The organization was founded by Jennifer Francis Alkire and her father, Michael Francis, in 2001 to promote the importance of quality arts in the public school curriculum and to provide support to teachers, artists, administrators, parents and others who are working to provide quality arts programs to West Virginia students.

AEI is the West Virginia affiliate of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and a partner with VSA, the international organization for the arts and disabilities. For more information about AEI, go to www.aeiarts.org.

About West Liberty University:
West Liberty University, a public coeducational school and West Virginia's oldest institution of higher education, is situated on 290 hilltop acres in a rural West Virginia setting just an hour from Pittsburgh, PA. A satellite campus, located at The Highlands Shopping Complex, sits just off Interstate 70, minutes from the Pennsylvania and Ohio borders in West Virginia's northern panhandle.

Established in 1837, more than 2,700 students are enrolled. While elementary education and secondary educationare the most selected majors, WLU also provides a variety of other majors including digital media design, hospitality and tourism management, and dental hygiene. With the opening of the newly-built Media Arts Center, West Liberty students now have access to a television studio, recording studio, and digital media labs.

The University consists of five Colleges: Gary E. West College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Education, and the College of Science. WLU also offers a graduate program, Arts in Education. For more information about West Liberty University, go to www.westliberty.edu.

National Endowment for the Arts Announces New Arts in Media Funding Category

The National Endowment for the Arts' new Arts in Media funding category is designed to help make the excellence and diversity of the arts widely available to the American public through the national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts and media projects that can be considered works of art.

The new Arts in Media guidelines replace the Arts on Radio and Television guidelines. All project types that were previously eligible under Arts on Radio and Television remain eligible. In addition, the expanded category now includes all available media platforms, including the Internet, interactive and mobile technologies, digital games, and arts content delivered via satellite, as well as radio and television.

Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts (e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk and traditional arts, and media arts including film, audio, animation, and digital art) and media projects that can be considered works of art.

Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives), media created for theatrical release, performance programs, artistic segments for use within an existing series, multi-part webisodes, installations, and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more.

The new program guidelines feature an emphasis on innovation as well as strengthening creativity through access to the arts. In order to reach the widest possible audience, priority will be given to projects that include substantive public engagement strategies, including the use of social media.

To be eligible, applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, units of state or local government, or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applications through a fiscal agent are not allowed; however, partnerships between artists and eligible nonprofit organizations are encouraged. Any application for a collaborative project representing a partnership between a media organization and an arts, education, or community organization should be submitted by the media organization.

Grants generally will range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on the platform and the complexity and scope of the project.

Visit the NEA Web site for complete program guidelines, a short video on the new program, and application instructions.

Link to Complete RFP

Mockingbird Foundation Invites Applications for Children's Music Education Program Grants

The Mockingbird Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization created by fans of the rock band Phish, annually provides competitive grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations and public schools for children's music education programs.

The foundation is accepting inquiries for its fifteenth round of competitive grants.

The foundation is particularly interested in projects that encourage and foster creative expression in any musical form (including composition, instrumentation, vocalization, or improvisation), but also recognizes broader and more basic needs within conventional instruction. Mockingbird encourages applications associated with diverse or unusual musical styles, genres, forms, and philosophies.

The foundation is interested in programs targeting children 18 years of age or younger, but will consider projects that benefit college students, teachers, instructors, and adult students. Mockingbird is particularly (though not exclusively) interested in programs that benefit disenfranchised groups, including those with low skill levels, income, or education; with disabilities or terminal illnesses; and in foster homes, shelters, hospitals, prisons, or other remote or isolated situations.

Grants ranging between $100 and $5,000 will be awardedto nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, organizations with an eligible fiscal sponsor, and public schools. In its fourteenth round of funding, the foundation made six new grants totaling $26,300.

Visit the foundation's Web site for complete funding guidelines and grant inquiry procedures.

Link to Complete RFP

The assistive technology project at New River Click here to read the Press Release.

New and Updated Accessibility Resources on the NEA's Website

Maximize your audience potential by ensuring that your facilities and programs are accessible to all!

The National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Accessibility is pleased to announce a tip sheet and updated resources to help arts and cultural organizations with accessibility and compliance:

• A brand new tip sheet outlining the revised September 2010 regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act that clarify and amend the requirements for ticketing, mobility devices, service animals, and new construction (attached).
• Updated resources, Web links, and contact information in our Design for Accessibility Handbook and Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators.

These resources are located on the The Artists of The Renaissance Gallery

March 21, 2011

This is the propectus and invitation to be in our spring art show. this show is open to all adult artists. Awards are cash and merchandise. If you have any questions, please ask.
I am hoping this will go up as a notice for all the state's artists.
My home phone number is 304-757-3241. I am Sue Tschantz, the event coordinator for the Renaissance Gallery.
The Artists of The Renaissance Gallery

Artist Factory Presents: Tool Box 1.0: Portfolio Development & Resume Fine Tuning

March 8, 2011

Performing Groups:
• Andy Park
• Charleston Stage Company
• Colleen Anderson
• Marshall University

Event Description:
Cost $10
Artist Factory presents Tool Box 1.0: Portfolio Development and Resume Fine Tuning.
Learn the basics of building a successful portfolio. Please bring materials for the portfolio and resume.

Instructors:
Music– Andy Park, President of Local 136, American Federation of Musicians, Kanawha County Teacher
Visual Art – Anthony Smith, MFA Academic Lab Manager, Instructor Marshall University
Theatre– Frieda Forsley, Creative Director of Charleston Stage Company
Literary– Colleen Anderson, Creative writer, Designer and Musician

Computers and wireless is available.
SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTRATION REQUIRED [email protected]

More information at www.artskv.org

AEI Begins Partnership with VSA

Morgantown WV (February 2011) The Appalachian Education Initiative is pleased to announce a new partnership with VSA, the international organization on arts and disability. This collaboration will provide AEI with greater access to resources, information and funding for including people with disabilities in the arts. Funding is made possible through the national office of VSA, and is supported in large part by the U.S. Department of Education. AEI will now begin the process of re-establishing VSA programs and services in West Virginia.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with VSA," said AEI Executive Director Lou Karas. "Their priority areas of Education Programs, Professional Development, Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services, and Public Awareness and Outreach are complementary to AEI's work to support the arts and arts education in West Virginia schools."

Over the coming year, AEI will form a VSA West Virginia Advisory Committee, conduct several needs assessments, and identify potential partners throughout the state. In addition, AEI will integrate VSA information and resources into its existing programs, resources and services.

For more information about AEI and VSA, contact Karas at [email protected] or 304-225-0101.

Press Release

FY2012 Arts in Education Applicants

The following changes have been made to the AIE application process:

• Since the WVCA encourages life-long learning for artists, student artists who have an artistic resume outside of their school work and who are not receiving academic credit should be eligible for funding.
• Requests for projects occurring outside of school should not require direct connection to CSOs as long as learning objectives are clear.

The application available online does not reflect these changes, but your panel will be advised accordingly.

If you have any questions about these changes, contact the AIE Coordinator, Cicely Bosley at [email protected] or 304-558-0240

Poetry, Painting to earn an MD

The course list for medical students can be brutal, including old standbys like gross anatomy, cell biology and organic chemistry. Now, aspiring doctors can add to that poetry and painting.

Medical schools are placing a growing emphasis on the humanities, including courses in writing, art and literature. The programs aim to teach students "right-brain" insights and skills they won't learn dissecting cadavers or studying pathology slides. Schools hope the programs help to turn out a new generation of physicians better able to listen attentively to patients, show emotion and provide sensitive personal care.

At Brown University's medical school, a reflective-writing program assesses students' ability to express feelings about experiences such as witnessing their first death or dealing with a difficult patient. A humanities track at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine requires students to submit creative works or review submissions to a new literary journal, "The Examined Life." New York University School of Medicine launched a division of medical humanities last month offering a wide range of arts programs to foster appreciation for the human aspects of medicine. It showcases student works in "Agora," an arts journal.

For more Information Click Here.

State gets start on 2012 wildlife calendar

January 20, 2011

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It may seem a bit early, but the state Division of Natural Resources is starting on its 2012 wildlife calendar. The agency's Wildlife Resources Section says the deadline for submissions for 2012 is Feb. 15. The agency wants a high resolution electronic image or a 35-mm color slide of each entry. Artists are allowed to submit more than one entry. The idea is to depict popular game and fish species or the state's diverse array of wildlife. Paintings of snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, bats, songbirds, small mammals as well as non-game fish are also encouraged.

The state pays a $100 prize for monthly paintings and $500 for the cover.

By The Associated Press

The Accessible Recreation Guide for West Virginia including Arts and Cultural Organizations.

Statewide “Poetry Out Loud” competition announced

West Virginia Division of Culture and History awards 15 Cultural Facilities and Capital Resources grants

New program to recognize student artists Appalachian Education Initiative, Chesapeake Energy partner on project

Morgantown WV (October 13, 2010) The Appalachian Education Initiative (www.aeiarts.org) and Chesapeake Energy (www.chk.com) are teaming up to recognize West Virginia public high school juniors and seniors who excel in school arts programs and demonstrate leadership and excellence in other education and community activities. The new Student Artist of the Month program begins this month and continues through the school year.

“One of our primary goals at AEI is to increase awareness of the importance and value that arts education brings to our public school students,” said Lou Karas, AEI executive director. “We are pleased that Chesapeake Energy chose to partner with us and help us emphasize that arts programs are a necessary component of public education for all students. Children who participate in the arts learn creativity and self confidence that will enhance their lives no matter what career path they choose.”

“It is appropriate that we introduce our program this month because October is National Arts and Humanities Month,” said Jack Thompson, public relations coordinator for Chesapeake Energy. “While our business deals with exacting calculations and science, we know very well that employees who are creative and skilled in the critical thinking processes that they learn through the arts are some of our very best.”

Each month AEI and Chesapeake Energy will select one student from those who are nominated. That student will be featured on the AEI web site along with photos and an interview. All of the students will be recognized in the spring at a special awards luncheon, hosted by Chesapeake Energy.

To be nominated for the recognition, a student must meet five criteria, according to Karas. A student must: • Be a junior or senior attending a West Virginia public school
• Participate on an ongoing basis in a visual or performing arts program and have mastered that art or progressed in the field as a result of school-related activities
• Be in good academic standing
• Participate in other extracurricular activities or community activities that do not have to be arts related
• Demonstrate leadership skills
Students may be nominated by school personnel and community members by completing the nomination form on the AEI web site, www.aeiarts.org or via www.surveymonkey.com/s/student-artist. Print copies of the nomination form are available by contacting Karas via Email or calling 304-225-0101.

Lou Karas
Executive Director
Appalachian Education Initiative
111 High Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
304/225-0101
Email
www.aeiarts.org

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Beth Bienvenu as the New Director of the Office of Accessibility

Washington, D.C. - The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced today that Beth Bienvenu will join the NEA as the new director of the Office of Accessibility. Dr. Bienvenu will manage the NEA’s technical assistance and advocacy work devoted to making the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults including veterans, and people living in institutions. This includes initiatives related to universal design, arts and aging, arts in healthcare, and careers in the arts for people with disabilities. She will begin her work today.

Prior to coming to the NEA, Ms. Bienvenu worked for five years as a policy advisor with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy. In that capacity, she analyzed federal laws and regulations, as well as public and private sector policies and practices related to all elements of employment for persons with disabilities. She created and delivered training sessions on recruiting, hiring, accommodating, and retaining individuals with disabilities and developed partnerships with other federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and business on behalf on those constituents.

In addition, since August 2005, Ms. Bienvenu was an adjunct professor at George Mason University teaching arts policy in the Master of Arts Management program.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Bienvenu to the NEA,” said Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Her achievements and commitment on behalf of people with disabilities are significant and the relationships she has developed with other federal agencies and organizations will be particularly important as we forge ahead with this work.”

Ms. Bienvenu said, “I look forward to working with the NEA staff and constituents in the field to ensure that everyone can participate in arts programs as audience members, participants, artists, or performers. I am honored to continue the Accessibility Office’s excellent work in helping arts organizations become fully accessible, bringing the arts to underrepresented groups, and ensuring that these groups are served by NEA programs.”

From 2000-2005, Ms. Bienvenu was a senior associate with TATC Consulting, a Washington DC-based firm providing management consulting services. One of her projects with TATC was to work with the Institute for Museum and Library Services, DOL, and the NEA on youth employment programs with arts organizations and libraries. Also, she has been a consultant with the Center for Nonprofit Management in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and program coordinator with the University of Oklahoma’s Advanced Programs, Europe.

Ms. Bienvenu has a B.A. in Sociology and Music from Alma College in Alma, Michigan; M.A. in Sociology from Indiana University; M.A. in Arts Administration from Indiana University; and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of Oklahoma, Norman.

Ms. Bienvenu replaces Paula Terry who has served at the NEA since 1979 on behalf of populations often isolated from full participation in the arts. Ms. Terry has established leadership initiatives in Creativity and Aging, Universal Design, Careers in the Arts for Individuals with Disabilities, Arts in Healthcare, and Arts in Corrections. Under her leadership the Accessibility Office has helped form a nationwide network of accessibility coordinators in state and regional arts agencies and has produced a variety of reports and technical assistance materials for the field. In recognition of her accomplishments, the NEA has garnered national honors including the 1998 Universal Design Award, a 2002 award from the National Business & Disability Council. In 2006, the NEA was recognized for excellence in accessibility leadership by the Christopher Reeve Foundation and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

For more information on the NEA’s accessibility programs and publications, please visit arts.gov

Professional Development for Teachers

The Kennedy Center offers professional development resources for teachers. Available on DVD or VHS: Living Pictures: A Theatrical Technique for Learning Across the Curriculum, which explores how tableau can be integrated with history, literature, or visual art; and Words Alive: Building Vocabulary and Stimulating Writing, which demonstrates multi-sensory activities to help students improve both their vocabularies and their writing skills.

Visit: www.kennedy-center.org/education/pdot/livingpictures and www.kennedy-center.org/education/ceta/wordsalive.html

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman Announces $300,000 for 20 Literature Translation Fellowships

September 8, 2010

Since 1981, the NEA has awarded 323 Fellowships for works in 61 languages from 71 countries.
Washington, DC — NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman today announced $300,000 in 20 literary fellowships to support the translation of works into English. Available to previously published literary translators for specific projects, many of these fellowships will result in the first English translation of outstanding works of international literature. This year’s projects vary from the ancient to the contemporary, involving works in 13 different languages from 17 countries ranging from novels and poetry to memoirs and myths:

Esther Allen (Spanish) for Zama, a 1956 novel by Argentine writer Antonio Di Benedetto
Robert Bononno (French) for The Mysteries of Paris by novelist Eugène Sue Sean Cotter (Romanian) for Belgrade in Five Friends and Other Poems by Nichita Stanescu
Bill Coyle (Swedish) for a collection of contemporary poetry by Håkan Sandell
Anne O. Fisher (Russian) for The Joyous Science: The Selected Poetry of Maxim Amelin
Dick Gerdes (Spanish) for the Mexican novel Península, Península by Hernán Lara Zavala,br> Jason Grunebaum (Hindi) for Manzoor Ahtesham’s novel The Tale of the Missing Man
Joshua Halberstam (Yiddish) for Chassidim Re-tell, a collection of Chassidic tales by Rabbi Tovia Halberstam
Yasmeen S. Hanoosh (Arabic) for Closing His Eyes, a collection of short stories by Iraqi writer and critic Luay Hamza Abbas
Deborah Hoffman (Russian) for Eufrosinia Kersnovskaia’s memoir How Much Is a Person Worth?
Edward Gauvin (French) for Fear of the First Line, selected stories from Belgian writer Bernard Quiriny
Tsipi Keller (Hebrew) for Reality Crumbs, a collection of Raquel Chalfi’s poetry
Myung-Hee Kim (Korean) for Steel and Flesh: Korean Stories 1945-48, an anthology of prose from North and South Korea
Elizabeth Novickas (Lithuanian) for Petras Cvirka’s 1934 novel Frank Kruk
Aaron Poochigian (Ancient Greek) for the epic 6,000-line poem “Argonautika” by Apollonius of Rhodes
Jessica Powell (Spanish) for Woman in Battle Dress, a historical novel by Cuban writer Antonio Benítez Rojo
John Galbraith Simmons (French) for Marquis de Sade’s novel Aline and Valcour
Clare Sullivan (Spanish/Zapotec) for Black Olive Tree and Other Zapotec Poems by Mexican poet Natalia Toledo
John Taylor (French) for Paper Collage, a collection of essays by Georges Perros
Kelly Washbourne (Spanish) for Legends of Guatemala, a collection of eight tales and myths by Nobel Laureate Miguel Ángel Asturias

Complete descriptions of each funded project are available at arts.gov.

“Translation brings works of literature to new audiences, and translation is, itself, an art,” said NEA Chairman Landesman. “These 20 projects will bring new words and the worlds they describe to American audiences. We are proud of the NEA’s 30-year history of investing in literary translation.”

Former NEA Translation Fellow (2009) Charlotte Mandell said, “My translation of Mathias Énard’s French novel Zone would never have been possible without the grant I received from the NEA, since that was my sole source of income when I was working on Zone. Imagine our literary canon without Proust or Flaubert or Balzac in English—how much poorer we would be culturally and intellectually. Without the NEA, many of the books that could become classics in the future—Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 comes to mind—would not be published at all in English.” The recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships will receive either $12,500 or $25,000 depending on the scope and merit of their projects. (The amount of the awards is pending Congressional approval of the NEA’s fiscal year 2011 budget.)

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established, bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the nation's largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

Contact: Liz Stark, 202-682-5744, [email protected].

Embracing Our Differences

July 13, 2010

Embracing Our Differences invites artists, photographers, professionals, amateurs, teachers and students to participate in its 8th annual visual art exhibit celebrating diversity. National and international submissions are encouraged. 45 artists will be selected for the exhibit. The Embracing Our Differences exhibit will be displayed throughout the months of April and May 2011 at Island Park along Sarasota’s beautiful bayfront. Since 2004, the exhibit has been viewed by more than 850,000 visitors. The exhibit will contain 39 billboard-sized (16 feet wide by 12 1/2 feet high) images of the selected artworks. In the judges’ discretion, an additional six “honorable mention” selections may be made.

Final selections will be chosen based on artistic excellence in reflection of the theme “Embracing Our Differences”. The art-work will also be evaluated on how effectively it will read outdoors when enlarged to billboard size – 16 feet wide by 12 1/2 feet high. Artists are encouraged to use bold saturated colors and strong lines. Final selections will be made by a 3-judge panel of professional artists, curators and art professionals. A total of $3,000.00 in awards will be presented.

Deadline for submission is January 10, 2011. There is no submission fee nor limit on the number of entries.

Submission forms and more information concerning past winning submissions are available at www.EmbracingOurDifferences.org or by emailing [email protected].

The Ford Foudation is calling for proposals for “Space for Change” planning and pre-development grants

Kennedy Center president gives advice to W.Va. arts groups

West Virginia Division of Culture and History announces Poetry Out Loud contest winner

State legislative leadership award winners announced at Governor’s Arts Awards

Lynn Boggess receives Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, Seven artists and arts organizations receive Governor’s Arts Awards for 2010

West Virginia Division of Culture and History posts new Artist Roster on-line

PHOTO, POETRY, ILLUSTRATIONS AND SHORT STORY CONTEST BY FERR-MAR PRODUCTIONS

For information: Stephanie Ferrell, FerrMar Productions, (304) 205-5327

PHOTO, POETRY, ILLUSTRATIONS AND SHORT STORY CONTEST BY FERR-MAR PRODUCTIONS

January 28, 2010 – Charleston, WV -- FerrMar Productions is publishing an anthology called Return to Rural America by Stephanie Rene Ferrell of Charleston, West Virginia. After having been born and raised in Appalachia, then spending nearly 16 years in New York City and other big city life, she returned to live in rural America. This visual story will highlight the culture, the people and the aesthetic qualities of rural America. FerrMar is holding a competition to anyone who has photographs, poetry, illustrations and short stories to enter, which could possibly result in being published in this anthology or subsequent ones. The cost to enter is $5.00 per entry. There is no limit to the amount of entries one person can submit. Checks or money orders should be made payable to: Steph F Enterprises, LLC, d/b/a FerrMar Productions, and mailed to: 343 Campbells Creek Drive, Charleston, WV 25306. For inquiries, e-mail [email protected].

Currently, Stephanie has 121 photos of her own in this collection; each photo has its own story. Poetry, recipes, illustrations, quotes, and other elements will be part of the anthology, but the focus will be the photography and respective short stories telling about that particular photography and the cultural history and beauty behind it.

Even in distressed towns and counties there are always some beauty or some wonderful cultural history or landmarks that deserve their own stories. Some of these places may never have been documented before. This Return to Rural America project began in 1995 and is not purely dedicated to Appalachia, because it has rural pictures and aspects from other areas, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, the Carolinas, Florida and other rural places. The initiative here is to dedicate this anthology to those rural communities and people so that they can gain the attention and appreciation that they so well deserve.

Typically in rural America there are financially distressed people who are amongst state and national poverty levels. But that does not mean that they aren’t rich in other ways and proud of their homeland. Their life is simple and they do not have the money for luxuries but they make do. They are crafty, hardworking and very important people that should be recognized. Most of these people refuse to allow the collapse of rural America because in the beginning of America, that was all that people had – the rural American tools that some of them still use today.

The following verse from the New Testament of the Holy Bible states: "The husbandman that laboreth must be the first partaker of the fruits." 1 Timothy 5:18. Rural American people are the “husbandry” of our nation. That’s the story this publication plans to tell.

Peoples Bancorp Foundation Offers Community Grants in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky

President Obama announces opportunities for arts participation in 2009 through his United We Serve program

Listening for a Change: Oral History and Appalachian Heritage

West Virginia Division of Culture and History announces Poetry Out Loud contest winner for 2009

News from the National Endowment for the Arts

Help us help you! The Arts Section is looking for feedback to help us be better responsive to the needs of our constituents. Please take a few moments to fill out the HELP US HELP YOU! survey. Candid responses are appreciated.

William Davis honored with Governor's Arts Award for lifetime achievement

Accessibility Mini-Grants from Ohio River Border Initiative The Ohio River Border Initiative now has Accessibility Mini-Grants available at www.orbi.org. Applications will be accepted beginning April 1, 2008. Grants up to $1000 for counties that border Ohio.

For more information visit www.orbi.org or email Bill Howley at [email protected]. Phone 304-655-8255.

Arts section of Division of Culture and History offers new e-mail service 2/20/2007

The arts section of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History is offering a new e-mail service available through its office. The new service is designed to provide periodic e-mail messages with deadline dates for all its grants and regional information that may be of interest. In addition, the service will allow the arts section to send information and announcements about specific grants as well as resource advice to assist applicants.

Anyone interested in being placed on this arts database should send an e-mail message to [email protected], including name, mailing address, position/discipline, organization, grants of specific interest to you or your organization, grants you have applied for in the past, and any additional pertinent information indicating your interest in the arts. E-mail addresses will not be shared with any other database service, including spam, mass marketing campaigns or other organizations.

Specific questions about grants and applications should continue to be directed to the individual grant coordinators: Barbie Anderson, grants coordinator; Debbie Rainey Haught, community arts coordinator; Gregg McAllister, arts in education and mini grant coordinator; Rose McDonough, cultural facilities and accessibility coordinator; and Jeff Pierson, individual arts coordinator.

For more information or to reach the arts section, call (304) 558-0240.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the state capitol complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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