Hip-hop Producer Advocates for the Disadvantaged

I've never thought of a hip-hop music producer as being an advocate for the arts but Russel Simmons, founder of Def Jam records, is doing what he can to promote music to the disdvantaged.

Here's an excerpt from an article on mvwire.com:

"Simmons’ interests extend far beyond the business world, and he spends a great deal of his time and considerable energy working for social, political, and philanthropic causes, pushing hip-hop on to new plateaus of power and relevance. In 1995 he, along with his brothers Danny and Joseph Simmons (Rev. Run of Run-DMC), founded Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. The organization is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, as well as offering exhibition opportunities to underrepresented artists and artists of color. Following the historic Hip-Hop Summit Russell organized in June 2001, he and Minister Benjamin Muhammad founded the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) to harness the cultural relevance of hip-hop music as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well being of at-risk youth throughout the United States."

Florida Bill Attempts to Increase Art in Schools

I'm very happy that this bill passed in Florida. However, how many studies do we need to prove that arts have a positive effect on our lives? (That includes those who think they are artistically challenged!)

This is the story that appeared in the Daytona Beach News Journal:

TALLAHASSEE -- A bill that would require the Department of Education to study the link between arts courses and students' scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test passed the state House on Tuesday, (4/19/05) 114-0.
The bill -- the first sponsored by freshman Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, to pass the House -- requires the department to prepare a report for the governor and the Legislature by Dec. 1. Hukill, a former music teacher, has said arts classes can promote greater academic achievement.
Limited classroom space and greater academic demands have led to a drop in enrollment in arts classes. For example, just 60 percent of elementary students had music classes in 2003, down from 85 percent in 1985. Legislative plans -- including a similar bill sponsored by Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami -- would require school boards to set policies guaranteeing sufficient time for arts courses and access to them.

Support Your Local Arts Group

Here's a three-step way to support your community arts:

1. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce or check out your local phone directory.
2. Make a list of all the organizations in your area that are arts-related.
3. Choose one and join it! Get involved, get your family involved.

Your local theater group, music group or artist group needs members to survive. Try something you haven't tried before and you'll stretch your creative muscles.

Art education part of total school package

From a recent article:

"An informal survey conducted by Phil Shepherd, arts and humanities consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education, found schools that have reached proficiency, including those in Daviess County, partially attribute their overall academic improvement to integrating more arts into the curriculum."

For the whole article, here's the link:
http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2005/04/10/news/news02.txt

When money gets tight

After the defeat of a local school referendum, the school board announced the budget cuts. 75% of the cuts were arts related e.g. jazz band, an art teacher, a music program. Athletics were about 25%-eliminating a freshman wrestling coach and a freshman sport.

Schools make money from sports, witness the Friday night football games at any high school. Until the arts produce as much income as sports, arts will be the first programs cut from the budget.

So, as the title of this blog suggests, get out there and support your local schools' plays, concerts and art exhibitions! Write to your school board and demand equal time for the arts!

Las Vegas Inspiration part 2

More thoughts on Las Vegas:

Each of the monorail trains are painted with different designs-yes they're adverts, but on the other hand they are brightly colored!

Being from England I can truthfully tell you that no castles are or were painted in primary colors. But kudos to the Excalibur resort for their delightful interpretation!

How do you coordinate fountains to O Solo Mio???