I've noticed flyers starting to advertise back to school sales so as your kids go back to school ask yourself - do your kids have art classes?
When budgets are tight one of the first things school boards will cut is your child's art class. Followed closely by your child's music time. Too often, these are thought of as "extras" and the current feeling is that not enough kids are doing well in English and Math so let's cut the "extras" and get down to "basics."
This the wrong thing to do. Children who have art and music routinely do better in school than those who don't and this has been proven time and time again.
What will you do if your child's arts classes are cut?
1. Write to your school board. Don't get nasty, just state the facts. If you need statistics and case studies to back up your arguments Google search arts advocacy or go straight to the Americans for the Arts site and start there by following their links. (See my hot links at the right.)
2. Convince others to write letters and write to your local newspaper. School boards hate bad publicity so keep pushing until you get coverage.
3. Volunteer. There are art programs out there that can be taught in the classroom. They just need the volunteers. The program is furnished, all you have to do is present it to individual classes. The teacher will stay in the classroom with you while you teach (they have to if you're not a trained teacher.) Try it, you'll like it.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Walmart Supports the Arts
In general, I hate Walmart. I hate its vendor policies where suppliers are supposed to cut prices to the point where they go out of business. I hate their policy of undercutting the local stores until they go out of business. I hate that they treat their own employees like slaves, paying them minimum wage and expecting them to work overtime for nothing.
Despite all that irritates me about that company, (and I didn't cover all my grievances) I came across this article and thought it worth sharing. If you have made money off the backs of others then you should, at the very least, give something back.
Alice Walton, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, unveiled plans in May for a $50 million art museum and cultural center to be built within walking distance of downtown Bentonville, Ark., long-time home of the mega-retailer.
Situated on 100 acres donated by the Walton family, the 100,000-sf museum will house galleries, a library, a 250-seat lecture hall, classrooms, and administrative offices. Sculpture gardens, walking trails, and outdoor areas for concerts and public events will interweave the museum buildings, which will showcase Alice Walton's collection of paintings and sculptures by American artists from the American Revolution to the modern era.
Despite all that irritates me about that company, (and I didn't cover all my grievances) I came across this article and thought it worth sharing. If you have made money off the backs of others then you should, at the very least, give something back.
Alice Walton, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, unveiled plans in May for a $50 million art museum and cultural center to be built within walking distance of downtown Bentonville, Ark., long-time home of the mega-retailer.
Situated on 100 acres donated by the Walton family, the 100,000-sf museum will house galleries, a library, a 250-seat lecture hall, classrooms, and administrative offices. Sculpture gardens, walking trails, and outdoor areas for concerts and public events will interweave the museum buildings, which will showcase Alice Walton's collection of paintings and sculptures by American artists from the American Revolution to the modern era.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Nude Brits
Nothing like a good laugh, and here's one that's art related. (And to my relatives in Newcastle, I apologize...)
About 1,700 men and women have appeared naked in Tyneside in the name of art.
Starting at a chilly 0400 BST, they posed at four locations in Newcastle and Gateshead, donning plastic white ponchos to cross the River Tyne.
New York photographer Spencer Tunick enlisted the volunteers for Naked City, his first large-scale UK installation.
It follows his nude photo shoots in New York, Barcelona, Belgium and Brazil. "There is a sensual element to it, but it's not a sexual experience," he said.
For the whole story, click here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4689421.stm
About 1,700 men and women have appeared naked in Tyneside in the name of art.
Starting at a chilly 0400 BST, they posed at four locations in Newcastle and Gateshead, donning plastic white ponchos to cross the River Tyne.
New York photographer Spencer Tunick enlisted the volunteers for Naked City, his first large-scale UK installation.
It follows his nude photo shoots in New York, Barcelona, Belgium and Brazil. "There is a sensual element to it, but it's not a sexual experience," he said.
For the whole story, click here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4689421.stm
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
The Show Must Go On
Difficult to even think of posting anything in view of what's happened in my home country--until I came across this article. I think I should paste this phrase above my computer to remind me to keep the proverbial stiff upper lip and carry on. Because to alter my behavior because of misguided, to say the least, terrorists, would be to acknowledge they have won.
LONDON -- Thursday's terrorist attacks that struck at the heart of London -- causing over 50 deaths and numerous casualties in three bombs on subway trains on the Piccadilly and Circle Lines, plus a city center bus that was entirely destroyed -- inevitably had a knock-on effect on the theatre industry.For the first time since the Blitz during the Second World War, every West End theatre cancelled its performances that day. Several shows that were due to perform matinee performances cancelled those first; then, as the police urged everyone to stay away from central London, evening performances were cancelled, too. All public subway and bus transport in central London was suspended in the immediate wake of the attacks, making it impossible for performers or audiences alike to get to the theatres in any case. Some theatres, like the Royal Court, automatically refunded all patrons who had booked. Others are seeking to exchange tickets for future performances.There were reports of shows outside the West End making an attempt at going ahead as usual, but sometimes in unusual circumstances. At the Arcola, a fringe theatre in North London, for instance, a preview performance of their new production of an adaptation of Raymond Carver short stories entitled "Carver" went ahead, but one actor couldn't get there -- so had to be replaced by someone reading from a script. But the show(s) must go on. On Friday, Richard Pulford -- chief executive of the Society of London Theatre (the West End equivalent of the League of American Theatres and Producers in New York) -- announced, "Like the rest of London, theatre people will not be intimidated by terrorism. They are absolutely determined that life shall go on as normal. Tonight they will take to our stages, man our box offices and care for our audiences as they always have. London is the theatre capital of the world and will remain so despite yesterday's atrocities."
http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000976775
LONDON -- Thursday's terrorist attacks that struck at the heart of London -- causing over 50 deaths and numerous casualties in three bombs on subway trains on the Piccadilly and Circle Lines, plus a city center bus that was entirely destroyed -- inevitably had a knock-on effect on the theatre industry.For the first time since the Blitz during the Second World War, every West End theatre cancelled its performances that day. Several shows that were due to perform matinee performances cancelled those first; then, as the police urged everyone to stay away from central London, evening performances were cancelled, too. All public subway and bus transport in central London was suspended in the immediate wake of the attacks, making it impossible for performers or audiences alike to get to the theatres in any case. Some theatres, like the Royal Court, automatically refunded all patrons who had booked. Others are seeking to exchange tickets for future performances.There were reports of shows outside the West End making an attempt at going ahead as usual, but sometimes in unusual circumstances. At the Arcola, a fringe theatre in North London, for instance, a preview performance of their new production of an adaptation of Raymond Carver short stories entitled "Carver" went ahead, but one actor couldn't get there -- so had to be replaced by someone reading from a script. But the show(s) must go on. On Friday, Richard Pulford -- chief executive of the Society of London Theatre (the West End equivalent of the League of American Theatres and Producers in New York) -- announced, "Like the rest of London, theatre people will not be intimidated by terrorism. They are absolutely determined that life shall go on as normal. Tonight they will take to our stages, man our box offices and care for our audiences as they always have. London is the theatre capital of the world and will remain so despite yesterday's atrocities."
http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000976775
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Percentage for Art Programs
While the requirements vary in communities that support public art displays, a typical financial commitment is about 1 percent. Sarasota County allocates .85 percent from its capital improvement budget for public art at new and existing government facilities.
I took this from an article discussing Sarasota County, Florida's, requirement that developers pay a percentage of their fees to fund public art.
Some may feel government is forcing culture down people's throats. Others, like me, feel that why not make our public surroundings as beautiful and as interesting as possible? If you live in a suburb of a major metropolitan area like I do where developers are down at the bottom of the popularity list as those that desecrate farm land for cookie-cutter houses, then why not force them to donate a percentage of their huge profits for the public good?
Some areas call this type of deal a "Percentage for Art" program. If you have a program like this in your area, please let me know how it works for your community.
For the rest of the article, click here:
http://www.venicegondolier.com/NewsArchive3/070305/vn4.htm
I took this from an article discussing Sarasota County, Florida's, requirement that developers pay a percentage of their fees to fund public art.
Some may feel government is forcing culture down people's throats. Others, like me, feel that why not make our public surroundings as beautiful and as interesting as possible? If you live in a suburb of a major metropolitan area like I do where developers are down at the bottom of the popularity list as those that desecrate farm land for cookie-cutter houses, then why not force them to donate a percentage of their huge profits for the public good?
Some areas call this type of deal a "Percentage for Art" program. If you have a program like this in your area, please let me know how it works for your community.
For the rest of the article, click here:
http://www.venicegondolier.com/NewsArchive3/070305/vn4.htm
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Live 8 Concerts
I just couldn't let this weekend pass without commenting on the Live 8 concerts.
Marketing departments and non-profit organizations have long known the power of celebrity endorsements to bring recognition to their product or cause. The trick is to choose the right celebrity, the one whose personal life doesn't eclipse what you're trying to promote.
So, as an arts advocate, a baby boomer, and a transplanted Brit, I say, "you rock!" to Sir Elton, Sir Paul, Bono and Geldoff.
Happy Fourth of July to all my friends and family on both sides of the Atlantic.
Marketing departments and non-profit organizations have long known the power of celebrity endorsements to bring recognition to their product or cause. The trick is to choose the right celebrity, the one whose personal life doesn't eclipse what you're trying to promote.
So, as an arts advocate, a baby boomer, and a transplanted Brit, I say, "you rock!" to Sir Elton, Sir Paul, Bono and Geldoff.
Happy Fourth of July to all my friends and family on both sides of the Atlantic.
Friday, July 01, 2005
The Price of Theater Tickets
We have two honest-to-goodness theaters within 15 miles of my house, both historic places. The Woodstock Opera house is partially city-owned and most of the attractions are local theater groups. The Raue Theater attracts more national acts but at Chicago prices. I would love to go to the theater more, but prices make it a rare occasion.
Contrast that with Northern Illinois University’s Orchestra, Jazz Band and, of all things, an internationally respected Steel Drums Band. During the school year you can often get into shows for free or at nominal rates. Just 45 minutes from my house I would rather go there than Chicago.
On the other hand, maybe theaters would get more of an audience if they did what the Signature Theater is doing:
The Signature Theater Company, the Off Broadway troupe known for devoting entire seasons to a single playwright, has laid out its plans for its 15th-anniversary season. It will include a new play by August Wilson, old plays by August Wilson and a one-man show by August Wilson, starring August Wilson.
But perhaps its most interesting element - besides Mr. Wilson, of course - is its other constant: a $15 ticket for each and every seat.
The deal, announced yesterday by the company's artistic director, James Houghton, is a result of a three-year courtship between the Signature and Time Warner, which is underwriting the tickets.
"Time Warner's major philanthropic goal is to make arts accessible," Mr. Houghton said. "And we have always felt there's a kind of civic responsibility to make theater affordable."
At $15 the Signature tickets will run about the price of a movie and soda. (And a small soda at that.) Most Off Broadway companies, looking at declines in corporate, public and private giving, have steadily raised prices in recent years, with seats now regularly going for $50 or more. (The Signature generally charges $55.) On Broadway, orchestra seats commonly go for $100, while premium tickets can reach nearly $500.
The deal was met with admiration among other nonprofit leaders, who usually rely on ticket sales to provide at least half of their yearly budgets.
For the rest of the article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/theater/newsandfeatures/23sign.html?
Contrast that with Northern Illinois University’s Orchestra, Jazz Band and, of all things, an internationally respected Steel Drums Band. During the school year you can often get into shows for free or at nominal rates. Just 45 minutes from my house I would rather go there than Chicago.
On the other hand, maybe theaters would get more of an audience if they did what the Signature Theater is doing:
The Signature Theater Company, the Off Broadway troupe known for devoting entire seasons to a single playwright, has laid out its plans for its 15th-anniversary season. It will include a new play by August Wilson, old plays by August Wilson and a one-man show by August Wilson, starring August Wilson.
But perhaps its most interesting element - besides Mr. Wilson, of course - is its other constant: a $15 ticket for each and every seat.
The deal, announced yesterday by the company's artistic director, James Houghton, is a result of a three-year courtship between the Signature and Time Warner, which is underwriting the tickets.
"Time Warner's major philanthropic goal is to make arts accessible," Mr. Houghton said. "And we have always felt there's a kind of civic responsibility to make theater affordable."
At $15 the Signature tickets will run about the price of a movie and soda. (And a small soda at that.) Most Off Broadway companies, looking at declines in corporate, public and private giving, have steadily raised prices in recent years, with seats now regularly going for $50 or more. (The Signature generally charges $55.) On Broadway, orchestra seats commonly go for $100, while premium tickets can reach nearly $500.
The deal was met with admiration among other nonprofit leaders, who usually rely on ticket sales to provide at least half of their yearly budgets.
For the rest of the article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/theater/newsandfeatures/23sign.html?
Saturday, June 25, 2005
More on Naked Statues...
About bloody time! (Excuse my English)
John Ashcroft had the naked statues at the Justice Department covered at a cost of $8000 because he was embarassed by a bronzed breast.
The new Attorney General Alberto Gonzales let them be removed because he had "more important" things to consider. Gonzales is obviously someone with common sense.
WASHINGTON (June 24) - With barely a word about it, workers at the Justice Department Friday removed the blue drapes that have famously covered two scantily clad statues for the past 3 1/2 years.
Spirit of Justice, with her one breast exposed and her arms raised, and the bare-chested male Majesty of Law basked in the late afternoon light of Justice's ceremonial Great Hall.
The drapes, installed in 2002 at a cost of $8,000, allowed then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to speak in the Great Hall without fear of a breast showing up behind him in television or newspaper pictures. They also provoked jokes about and criticism of the deeply religious Ashcroft.
The 12-foot, 6-inch aluminum statues were installed shortly after the building opened in the 1930s.
With a change in leadership at Justice, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced the question: Would they stay or would they go?
He regularly deflected the question, saying he had weightier issues before him.
Paul R. Corts, the assistant attorney general for administration, recommended the drapes be removed and Gonzales signed off on it, spokesman Kevin Madden said, while refusing to allow The Associated Press to photograph the statues Friday.
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050624185809990004&ncid=NWS00010000000001
John Ashcroft had the naked statues at the Justice Department covered at a cost of $8000 because he was embarassed by a bronzed breast.
The new Attorney General Alberto Gonzales let them be removed because he had "more important" things to consider. Gonzales is obviously someone with common sense.
WASHINGTON (June 24) - With barely a word about it, workers at the Justice Department Friday removed the blue drapes that have famously covered two scantily clad statues for the past 3 1/2 years.
Spirit of Justice, with her one breast exposed and her arms raised, and the bare-chested male Majesty of Law basked in the late afternoon light of Justice's ceremonial Great Hall.
The drapes, installed in 2002 at a cost of $8,000, allowed then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to speak in the Great Hall without fear of a breast showing up behind him in television or newspaper pictures. They also provoked jokes about and criticism of the deeply religious Ashcroft.
The 12-foot, 6-inch aluminum statues were installed shortly after the building opened in the 1930s.
With a change in leadership at Justice, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced the question: Would they stay or would they go?
He regularly deflected the question, saying he had weightier issues before him.
Paul R. Corts, the assistant attorney general for administration, recommended the drapes be removed and Gonzales signed off on it, spokesman Kevin Madden said, while refusing to allow The Associated Press to photograph the statues Friday.
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050624185809990004&ncid=NWS00010000000001
Friday, June 24, 2005
Art Museum Visits-I See Naked People
In an earlier post, I mentioned changing Michelangelo's art in order to "protect" children from nakedness.
Read this article for a sane viewpoint:
Art museums are often full of nudity. Why? Because artists love to create representations of people.
"The human figure has always been one of the most studied aspects of art," said Danielle Rice, executive director of the Delaware Art Museum.
"It's the measure of all things."
So if you go to a museum or art gallery where there will be depictions of art, how do you explain it to your kids?
Naturally, of course.
When children notice a nude figure, Rice who headed the education department at the Philadelphia Museum of Art before coming to Delaware, uses the moment as an opportunity to start a conversation about the subject. Does the image make them feel uncomfortable or embarrassed? Why is that?, she asks. She then leads the conversation toward the difference between nudity in art -- an ideal, or symbol of nature -- and nakedness, which is less ideal. "It gets them thinking," she said.
Milton Downing, who teaches art at Brandywood Elementary School in Brandywine Hundred and and Maple Lane Elementary School in Claymont and at the Christina Cultural Arts Center in Wilmington, explains how artists see the drawing of the human body as an artistic challenge and an important form of expression. He then points out what makes the image artistic. "Oh, course, I get some oohs and ahs," he says.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050621/LIFE/506210305/1005
Read this article for a sane viewpoint:
Art museums are often full of nudity. Why? Because artists love to create representations of people.
"The human figure has always been one of the most studied aspects of art," said Danielle Rice, executive director of the Delaware Art Museum.
"It's the measure of all things."
So if you go to a museum or art gallery where there will be depictions of art, how do you explain it to your kids?
Naturally, of course.
When children notice a nude figure, Rice who headed the education department at the Philadelphia Museum of Art before coming to Delaware, uses the moment as an opportunity to start a conversation about the subject. Does the image make them feel uncomfortable or embarrassed? Why is that?, she asks. She then leads the conversation toward the difference between nudity in art -- an ideal, or symbol of nature -- and nakedness, which is less ideal. "It gets them thinking," she said.
Milton Downing, who teaches art at Brandywood Elementary School in Brandywine Hundred and and Maple Lane Elementary School in Claymont and at the Christina Cultural Arts Center in Wilmington, explains how artists see the drawing of the human body as an artistic challenge and an important form of expression. He then points out what makes the image artistic. "Oh, course, I get some oohs and ahs," he says.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050621/LIFE/506210305/1005
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Legal Help for Artists
I had a request from someone looking for legal help on an art issue.
I recommend any artist looking for help to start at their local Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. There are several offices around the country and this link should take you to a national list:
http://dwij.org/matrix/vla_list.html
Here in Illinois the local office is in Chicago:
William E. Rattner, Esq.
Executive Director Lawyers for the Creative Arts
213 W. Institute Place, Suite 401
Chicago, IL 60610
312 649-4111 Ph
312 944-2195 Fax
eMail: wrattner@law-arts.com http://www.law-arts.org/
I recommend any artist looking for help to start at their local Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. There are several offices around the country and this link should take you to a national list:
http://dwij.org/matrix/vla_list.html
Here in Illinois the local office is in Chicago:
William E. Rattner, Esq.
Executive Director Lawyers for the Creative Arts
213 W. Institute Place, Suite 401
Chicago, IL 60610
312 649-4111 Ph
312 944-2195 Fax
eMail: wrattner@law-arts.com http://www.law-arts.org/
And The Survey Said...
If the following article proves anything, is that parents are the ones who need to get involved with making sure that their children receive arts education. This is a hurry-up, stressed-out, don't bother me society but if we don't take action, who will?
Americans for the Arts, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the arts in America, conducted a survey focusing on the attitudes and opinions that Americans feel about art education.
·86 percent of Americans agree that an arts education encourages and assists in the improvement of a child’s attitudes toward school.
·83 percent of Americans believe that arts education helps teach children to communicate effectively with adults and peers.
·79 percent of Americans agree that incorporating arts into education is the first step in adding back what’s missing in public education today.
·79 percent of Americans believe that it’s important enough for them to get personally involved in increasing the amount and quality of arts education.
However, the survey also revealed that those “involved with a child” are uncertain when it comes to how to become involved in “advocating for arts education”.
·62 percent believe that there are other people or organizations in the community who are better suited to take action (than they are).
·40 percent say that they do not know how to get involved in arts education.
Americans for the Arts, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the arts in America, conducted a survey focusing on the attitudes and opinions that Americans feel about art education.
·86 percent of Americans agree that an arts education encourages and assists in the improvement of a child’s attitudes toward school.
·83 percent of Americans believe that arts education helps teach children to communicate effectively with adults and peers.
·79 percent of Americans agree that incorporating arts into education is the first step in adding back what’s missing in public education today.
·79 percent of Americans believe that it’s important enough for them to get personally involved in increasing the amount and quality of arts education.
However, the survey also revealed that those “involved with a child” are uncertain when it comes to how to become involved in “advocating for arts education”.
·62 percent believe that there are other people or organizations in the community who are better suited to take action (than they are).
·40 percent say that they do not know how to get involved in arts education.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Art Advocacy Links
If you surfed here looking for art advocacy links, these are some of my favorites:
Americans for the Arts
www.artsusa.org
ArtsEdge
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/
Arts Journal Online newsletter
www.artsjournal.com
In addition, you can google search "Art Council" along with your state. If you live in Illinois, this is the link:
www.state.il.us/agency/iac/
I will continue to post links to sites that promote the arts and if you have a favorite, please post it here in the comments or send me an e-mail. Larger organizations like the Americans for the Arts have membership fees, but not all groups do. I prefer a grass-roots approach meaning I want to encourage people to support their local community artists, theaters, and music organizations. And when local schools want to cut art programs for whatever reason, stop them. The arts are a vital part of education and benefits are across all subjects.
Good luck!
Americans for the Arts
www.artsusa.org
ArtsEdge
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/
Arts Journal Online newsletter
www.artsjournal.com
In addition, you can google search "Art Council" along with your state. If you live in Illinois, this is the link:
www.state.il.us/agency/iac/
I will continue to post links to sites that promote the arts and if you have a favorite, please post it here in the comments or send me an e-mail. Larger organizations like the Americans for the Arts have membership fees, but not all groups do. I prefer a grass-roots approach meaning I want to encourage people to support their local community artists, theaters, and music organizations. And when local schools want to cut art programs for whatever reason, stop them. The arts are a vital part of education and benefits are across all subjects.
Good luck!
Exhibition space-in space...
I know finding exhibition space is hard for the self-employed artist but imagine the logistics involved in this:
The International Space Station (ISS) - currently in orbit around the Earth - is our only permanent human habitation in space. It is a great achievement of human ingenuity and international cooperation, as well as a cutting-edge research facility. The European Space Agency is interested to open the International Space Station to a new community of artistic and cultural users. This new study sets out to investigate and focus the interest of the cultural world in the International Space Station, to generate a policy for involving cultural users in the International Space Station programme in the longer term and to develop a representative set of ready-to-implement demonstrator projects in arts, culture and media.
For the full article see the Arts Catalyst page here:
http://www.artscatalyst.org/projects/space/ISS.html
The International Space Station (ISS) - currently in orbit around the Earth - is our only permanent human habitation in space. It is a great achievement of human ingenuity and international cooperation, as well as a cutting-edge research facility. The European Space Agency is interested to open the International Space Station to a new community of artistic and cultural users. This new study sets out to investigate and focus the interest of the cultural world in the International Space Station, to generate a policy for involving cultural users in the International Space Station programme in the longer term and to develop a representative set of ready-to-implement demonstrator projects in arts, culture and media.
For the full article see the Arts Catalyst page here:
http://www.artscatalyst.org/projects/space/ISS.html
Friday, June 10, 2005
Art Museums Flourish
Depressed by all the bad news concerning art programs being cut, lack of funding, etc. etc., I came across this gem from the Seattle Times. About time for some positive news! Being a Cubs fan, the point about admissionto Wrigley Field is a bitter pill to swallow...
Art museums have learned the lessons of successful retailers in that they allow people to visit at all times of day, including evenings and weekends, not at a prearranged time. And a visitor can go at his or her own pace in a museum, looking, reading, thinking and enjoying. Plus, a concert, dance, performance or film is often included in the price of admission.
Speaking of admission, some museums, including all the great museums on the Mall in Washington, D.C., are free. Even the newly expanded Museum of Modern Art in New York, which charges the highest admission of any art museum in this country, is still a bargain at $20, compared with typical ticket prices of $40 at the New York Philharmonic and $32 to see the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002320703&zsection_id=268883724&slug=artmuseums08&date=20050608
Art museums have learned the lessons of successful retailers in that they allow people to visit at all times of day, including evenings and weekends, not at a prearranged time. And a visitor can go at his or her own pace in a museum, looking, reading, thinking and enjoying. Plus, a concert, dance, performance or film is often included in the price of admission.
Speaking of admission, some museums, including all the great museums on the Mall in Washington, D.C., are free. Even the newly expanded Museum of Modern Art in New York, which charges the highest admission of any art museum in this country, is still a bargain at $20, compared with typical ticket prices of $40 at the New York Philharmonic and $32 to see the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002320703&zsection_id=268883724&slug=artmuseums08&date=20050608
Monday, June 06, 2005
Celebrities and their Causes
Star power can bring atttention to a cause, there's no doubt about that. In this article the discussion was, does a celebrity hurt or help? Strangely enough, I'm all for celebrities who promote the causes I like, but when they go out and stump for a presidential candidate I don't agree with, it makes me mad... hmmm.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/05/ING9QD1FIE1.DTL
Why would anyone object to these efforts? Two big reasons: Suspicion of the celebrities' motives and a sense that the celebrities don't really understand the problems about which they speak.
Case in point: The lead singer for rock group Coldplay, Chris Martin, has visited Ghana in his campaign against Western trade practices that he says undermine farmers in the West African country. Get rid of unfair tariffs imposed on Ghana, and those farmers would thrive, he believes.
Martin, who's married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, may be well-intentioned, but he's ignoring structural problems in Ghana that have far more impact than outside tariffs, says Franklin Cudjoe, a development director in Ghana's capital, Accra. Cudjoe derides what he calls rock-star economics -- the practice of musician-activists and others to focus predominantly on the West's perceived responsibility for Africa's economic woes.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/05/ING9QD1FIE1.DTL
Why would anyone object to these efforts? Two big reasons: Suspicion of the celebrities' motives and a sense that the celebrities don't really understand the problems about which they speak.
Case in point: The lead singer for rock group Coldplay, Chris Martin, has visited Ghana in his campaign against Western trade practices that he says undermine farmers in the West African country. Get rid of unfair tariffs imposed on Ghana, and those farmers would thrive, he believes.
Martin, who's married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, may be well-intentioned, but he's ignoring structural problems in Ghana that have far more impact than outside tariffs, says Franklin Cudjoe, a development director in Ghana's capital, Accra. Cudjoe derides what he calls rock-star economics -- the practice of musician-activists and others to focus predominantly on the West's perceived responsibility for Africa's economic woes.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
IRS and the Arts Business
One of the biggest pains to being self-employed in a creative industry is trying to predict how much I’ll make during a given quarter so that I can let the IRS know. If I get it wrong, I get penalties or the IRS keeps more of my money than it should. So when I read this article I thought “so what?” Why shouldn’t an arts business pay its employees and its taxes like any other business?
When I gave it more thought, I realized many arts businesses operate with wildly uncertain income just like the artists they hire. Depending on grants or admittance fees isn’t like selling a product where sales can be predicted more easily.
On third thought, maybe the IRS regulations are at fault…
Here’s a part of the article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Shakespeare won't be on the playbill when Kent Phillips finishes plans for his theater group's next season. Instead of a 15-player production of the Bard's "Richard II," he is looking into a two-man show by Noel Coward.
Phillips, interim director of the Tacoma Actors Guild and managing director of Bellevue Civic Theater, didn't pull his Shakespeare plans for artistic purposes. He was reacting to news that the state has been auditing other theater companies and fining them for paying actors honorariums and stipends rather than treating them as full-fledged employees.
At issue is the practice among small and midsize theaters to treat some actors, technicians and designers as independent contractors rather than as employees. Theater directors say paying a fixed payment or weekly stipend is a way to honor and at least slightly subsidize their creative work -- and provide a stepping stone to higher-paid Equity jobs -- without completely breaking the bank for community non-profits.
Now, they say, the state is telling them that workers should be classified as employees, meaning they should pay an hourly salary of at least minimum wage, plus contribute to the state's unemployment and workers' compensation funds.
For the complete article follow this link:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/theater/226100_theatertax27.html
When I gave it more thought, I realized many arts businesses operate with wildly uncertain income just like the artists they hire. Depending on grants or admittance fees isn’t like selling a product where sales can be predicted more easily.
On third thought, maybe the IRS regulations are at fault…
Here’s a part of the article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Shakespeare won't be on the playbill when Kent Phillips finishes plans for his theater group's next season. Instead of a 15-player production of the Bard's "Richard II," he is looking into a two-man show by Noel Coward.
Phillips, interim director of the Tacoma Actors Guild and managing director of Bellevue Civic Theater, didn't pull his Shakespeare plans for artistic purposes. He was reacting to news that the state has been auditing other theater companies and fining them for paying actors honorariums and stipends rather than treating them as full-fledged employees.
At issue is the practice among small and midsize theaters to treat some actors, technicians and designers as independent contractors rather than as employees. Theater directors say paying a fixed payment or weekly stipend is a way to honor and at least slightly subsidize their creative work -- and provide a stepping stone to higher-paid Equity jobs -- without completely breaking the bank for community non-profits.
Now, they say, the state is telling them that workers should be classified as employees, meaning they should pay an hourly salary of at least minimum wage, plus contribute to the state's unemployment and workers' compensation funds.
For the complete article follow this link:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/theater/226100_theatertax27.html
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
No Child Left Behind Act-Good or Bad?
Something that sounds good in theory does not always work out in actuality. Take the No Child Left Behind Act which was intended to bring all students up to a basic standard in reading and math. Although the arts are considered a "core subject" by this act, strained resources are being redirected to bringing up scores in reading and math because the school district will lose money if this is not done.
I came across this article and in it was this nugget of information:
In California, the act's emphasis on reading and mathematics contributed to a 50 percent drop in the number of students in music education courses, according to a study by that state's Department of Education, which looked at data from 1999 through 2004.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050523/NEWS/505230321/1001/COMMUNITY
Yes there should be accountability in the education system but this act has problems as far as evaluation. The bottom line is that not all students learn by the same method or at the same age. Special education students are included in the evaluation numbers and obviously that skews the results. Some kids are just never going to reach the levels required-they just aren't capable.
So who is evaluating the No Child Left Behind Act?
I came across this article and in it was this nugget of information:
In California, the act's emphasis on reading and mathematics contributed to a 50 percent drop in the number of students in music education courses, according to a study by that state's Department of Education, which looked at data from 1999 through 2004.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050523/NEWS/505230321/1001/COMMUNITY
Yes there should be accountability in the education system but this act has problems as far as evaluation. The bottom line is that not all students learn by the same method or at the same age. Special education students are included in the evaluation numbers and obviously that skews the results. Some kids are just never going to reach the levels required-they just aren't capable.
So who is evaluating the No Child Left Behind Act?
Sunday, May 22, 2005
The Arts Are Good Business!
A similar story to the last post-the arts are responsible for bringing in some money to a city or community. Maybe this is the line we should take when telling school districts not to cut the arts because they represent future income for the community. Take a look at this story from Tampa Bay Online:
TAMPA - All those concert tickets and Salvador Dali museum souvenirs really add up.
An arts advocacy group said Friday that local arts and cultural institutions pumped more than half a billion dollars into the Tampa Bay area's economy last year, up 30 percent from 1999.
The group, the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, said the increase reflects the growing role arts institutions play in hiring and spending. Members also stressed that a growing, healthy arts environment is crucial for attracting and retaining businesses and workers.
The study found:
* Museums, arts centers and cultural institutions employed 7,800 people last year, compared with 7,000 in 1999, when the last study was done. The total payroll was $202.7 million in 2004, up from $146.7 million five years ago.
* Direct spending for the arts, which includes ticket sales and souvenirs purchased by patrons as well as day-to- day spending and capital expenditures by arts institutions, came to $270.3 million in 2004, up from $208.3 million in 1999.
* Total spending on the arts - that is, direct spending by arts institutions and patrons, plus the spending by those organization's clients and employees - was $521.3 million, up from $402.2 million in 1999.
TAMPA - All those concert tickets and Salvador Dali museum souvenirs really add up.
An arts advocacy group said Friday that local arts and cultural institutions pumped more than half a billion dollars into the Tampa Bay area's economy last year, up 30 percent from 1999.
The group, the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, said the increase reflects the growing role arts institutions play in hiring and spending. Members also stressed that a growing, healthy arts environment is crucial for attracting and retaining businesses and workers.
The study found:
* Museums, arts centers and cultural institutions employed 7,800 people last year, compared with 7,000 in 1999, when the last study was done. The total payroll was $202.7 million in 2004, up from $146.7 million five years ago.
* Direct spending for the arts, which includes ticket sales and souvenirs purchased by patrons as well as day-to- day spending and capital expenditures by arts institutions, came to $270.3 million in 2004, up from $208.3 million in 1999.
* Total spending on the arts - that is, direct spending by arts institutions and patrons, plus the spending by those organization's clients and employees - was $521.3 million, up from $402.2 million in 1999.
Friday, May 20, 2005
House of Representatives Pass Funding for the Arts
Yes, I know this is a long post...
Remarks from Illinois representative Davis in support of increasing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the National Endowment for the Humanities:
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of Slaughter/Shays/Dicks/Leach amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, NEH.
The arts are crucial for the flourishing and development of societies. As our economy continues to grow it is important that the arts remain a priority in our communities. As former President Kennedy stated, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battles or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” Though some would consider our economy hard pressed for such funding as this, I implore my colleagues to consider the profound influence of arts-centric businesses.
While some of the country's concerns only affect a minority of people, the involvement in the arts spans all walks of life. Indeed, it weaves together all communities and crosses racial, gender, and religious boundaries. In my district, the arts create a sense of nationalism for the State and the rest of the country. For, what would Chicago be without the architecture of the Sears Tower, the flourishing talent in Second City, or the abundant museums? Indeed, the beating pulse of America lives and thrives through the arts.
Not only do the arts enrich societies, but the arts is also an industry. In my district there are 2,989 art related businesses and 44,709 people that make their daily living working in the arts. It is obvious that support of arts, also is support of the economy. Arts-Centric businesses supply 578,000 businesses in the United States and employ 2.97 million people. Even more, it is a growing institution, exceeding the total United States business growth rate by 1.7 percent. Not only do the arts help sustain the economy by supplying jobs and generating revenue, it helps to fuel future creative industries and workers.
These future creative workers come in the form of our children. The arts help in a child's brain development and their creative skills. A country without a full expression of the arts would truly create a void in a child's development. They too deserve the right to blossom and flourish their imagination from the various artistic resources.
We cannot disregard the contributions and growing trends of the arts. The arts and humanities support our culture, it supports our economy, and most importantly it supports our future. In my district there is a wealth of diversity. This diversity is preserved through the arts. The arts promote respect for diversity, and appreciation of other cultures. It seems to me, that these elements are necessary for building stable healthy communities. Madam Chairman, if we minimize these possibilities in the arts, we will be limiting the liberty of our imagination. I request my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment.
Two weakening floor amendments to cut NEA funding were defeated by overwhelming margins.
Remarks from Illinois representative Davis in support of increasing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the National Endowment for the Humanities:
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of Slaughter/Shays/Dicks/Leach amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, NEH.
The arts are crucial for the flourishing and development of societies. As our economy continues to grow it is important that the arts remain a priority in our communities. As former President Kennedy stated, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battles or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” Though some would consider our economy hard pressed for such funding as this, I implore my colleagues to consider the profound influence of arts-centric businesses.
While some of the country's concerns only affect a minority of people, the involvement in the arts spans all walks of life. Indeed, it weaves together all communities and crosses racial, gender, and religious boundaries. In my district, the arts create a sense of nationalism for the State and the rest of the country. For, what would Chicago be without the architecture of the Sears Tower, the flourishing talent in Second City, or the abundant museums? Indeed, the beating pulse of America lives and thrives through the arts.
Not only do the arts enrich societies, but the arts is also an industry. In my district there are 2,989 art related businesses and 44,709 people that make their daily living working in the arts. It is obvious that support of arts, also is support of the economy. Arts-Centric businesses supply 578,000 businesses in the United States and employ 2.97 million people. Even more, it is a growing institution, exceeding the total United States business growth rate by 1.7 percent. Not only do the arts help sustain the economy by supplying jobs and generating revenue, it helps to fuel future creative industries and workers.
These future creative workers come in the form of our children. The arts help in a child's brain development and their creative skills. A country without a full expression of the arts would truly create a void in a child's development. They too deserve the right to blossom and flourish their imagination from the various artistic resources.
We cannot disregard the contributions and growing trends of the arts. The arts and humanities support our culture, it supports our economy, and most importantly it supports our future. In my district there is a wealth of diversity. This diversity is preserved through the arts. The arts promote respect for diversity, and appreciation of other cultures. It seems to me, that these elements are necessary for building stable healthy communities. Madam Chairman, if we minimize these possibilities in the arts, we will be limiting the liberty of our imagination. I request my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment.
Two weakening floor amendments to cut NEA funding were defeated by overwhelming margins.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Illinois Arts Education Initiative
Take a minute to look through this site:
http://www.artsalliance.org/al_arts.shtml
This is the Illinois Arts Education site which is detailed below. If you live in another state, please try to find a similar initiative. Arts education needs help!
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative is a statewide coalition of education, business and arts advocates led by the Illinois Arts Alliance and the Chicago Community Trust dedicated to implementing a comprehensive, standards-based arts education program for Illinois public school students.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative was created in response to diminishing arts education offerings in Illinois public schools and broad disparities in the number of arts education offerings found among school districts and among schools within the same school districts.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative will increase public awareness of the impact of arts education on overall student achievement and broaden our knowledge of the status of arts education in public schools throughout Illinois. The coalition will make recommendations based on the findings of statewide research that is underway, lessons learned from Chicago Community Trust demonstration projects, examples of successful arts education programs in Illinois schools districts and from innovative solutions that have been implemented in other states.
http://www.artsalliance.org/al_arts.shtml
This is the Illinois Arts Education site which is detailed below. If you live in another state, please try to find a similar initiative. Arts education needs help!
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative is a statewide coalition of education, business and arts advocates led by the Illinois Arts Alliance and the Chicago Community Trust dedicated to implementing a comprehensive, standards-based arts education program for Illinois public school students.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative was created in response to diminishing arts education offerings in Illinois public schools and broad disparities in the number of arts education offerings found among school districts and among schools within the same school districts.
The Illinois Arts Education Initiative will increase public awareness of the impact of arts education on overall student achievement and broaden our knowledge of the status of arts education in public schools throughout Illinois. The coalition will make recommendations based on the findings of statewide research that is underway, lessons learned from Chicago Community Trust demonstration projects, examples of successful arts education programs in Illinois schools districts and from innovative solutions that have been implemented in other states.
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