Team members wanted/needed

The desire is for this blog to be used as a journal and a discussion place to provide information re: how all of us can make Westerville an arts centered community. This is not necessarily a site to complain or to ask for stuff for yourself but instead to start a dialog to discuss what we can do as local (and non-local) artists and supporters of the arts. Suggestions are always welcomed, plausible solutions are preferred.! Those who wish to volunteer, offer business services, have in-kind donations, connect other communities etc. are encouraged to become a team member.

The goal is to make the blog a team approach - that anyone on the "team" can post a message to this one blog. Non-team members may only make comments to any blog posting.

I would to invite any interested artists/patron or business to become a team blog member. I will be asking those who have provided our local community with arts direction to sign up as well. Please send me your name/email as a reply and you will receive an blogger invite. It will say something like – You have been invited by the Arts Advocacy Blog...... Follow all the information and set up your own profile. That is important to be able to post.

If you just want to answer comments, then click on the comment section of any entry and try your response. However, because it is a comment, it will not appear only under a post and may be missed by other viewers.

So please become a team member - go to http://www.artsconnect.info to see the blog. Some of you will be receiving an invite shortly, so look for them and please join.

Email me at Renee@gallery202online.com with any questions.

Any medium, any media........visual, performing, writing ......

Thanks

House approves arts funding increase

go to http://www.nasaa-arts.org/nasaanews/arts_funding_approved.shtml to read about the increase in the NEA funding for this year.

excerpt:

Against limited opposition, the House of Representatives on May 19 agreed by voice vote to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by $10 million. For the first time since the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Arts Caucus has proposed floor amendments to raise the appropriations for the federal arts agency, opponents of the arts spending increase backed away from demanding a recorded vote, apparently reluctant to force legislators to go on record against the NEA.

Want to help with the arts advocacy of our own community.... here is a checklist form the NASSA -

http://www.nasaa-arts.org/publications/public_adv_checklist.htm -

R

art awards/scholarships

Here is a list from Westerville South's Evening of Excellance re: art awards and scholarships. (in additonal to the Erin McKenzie awards listed in the last post).

Trustee's Award, Columbus College of Art & Design - Amanda Barham
Presidents' Award, Columbus College of Art & Design - Brian Bjulovuk
Talent Award, Otterbein - Ellen Crandall
Music participation Award, Otterbein College - Sherri Downey
Faculty Award Scholarship, Columbus College of Art & Design - Catherine Fastenau
Theatre Arts Talent Scholarship, Wright State University - Michelle George
Portfolio Award, Savannah College of Art & Design - Andrew Goh
Fine Art & Talent Award , Ohio Univeresity - Bradley Hoffman
Founders Award and Fine Arts Talent Award, Ohio University, Heather Kufchak
Music Performance Scholarship, University of Cincinnati - Corby Lane
President's Award, Columbus College of Art & Design - Stacey Mclean
President's Award, Columbus college of Art & Design - Kathryn Robinette
Talent Award, Otterbein College, Laura Wetzel
Talent Award, Savannah College of Art & Design - Jessica Ziegenfuss

I apologize if I have missed anyone but this is a great group of talented young artists ( in many mediums/medias) in our community just from one high school. Anyone able to give us a list for North High School and or for any dancers!?

Renee

erin's scholarships

The arts council has been trying to get a list of arts scholarships of the current seniors. Tonight, as I was watching my son's final theatre event, three Westerville South Seniors were offered a very special scholarhsip - the Erin McKenzie Scholarship. Erin was a very special young lady who was very actively involved in theatre - she lived theatre and loved her theatre family. She graduated in 2004 but died unexcectedly in the fall of that same year. Through fundraising effort, the theatre dept and the McKenzie family were able to present three students with $1000 scholarships - Sarah Boatright, Doug Hollins and David Reedy.

If any one else knows of any scholarships in any of the arts (and for any age) that any of our local students have received, would you please click on comments and let us know.

thanks


Renee

Anne Gonzales

I have a good informational talk with Council woman Anne Gonzales tonight on a variety of subjects. One in particular was the need for public art in this community ------ and one of her favorite questions is to ask in any new building construction if there will be public art? Contact her with your questions/concerns.

She is running for re-elect for the city council.... her site is www.annegonzales.com

Arts Council of Westerville

The Arts Council of Westerville is almost finished with their web site www.artscouncilwesterville.com. They will be asking for directory listing soon. Keep them in mind.

R

Action Alert from Ohio citizens for the arts

Go to www.ohiocitizensforthearts.org and help support the need for the Ohio Arts Council Budget - there is a severe possibility that it will be reduced to the 1992 level. When you go to this site, click on the action alert and there is a detailed letter and a list of all the senators for ohio.

thanks

Arts Advocacy

We would like to use this site to discuss the art needs of our local community, to have indepth discussions, pass on new and urgent materials and make our community aware on the local/state and national level of the needs /benefits of the arts.

thanks