For Immediate Release: October 9, 2008
Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov
Iowa Artist Fellowship Program forums set for Des Moines, Storm Lake
Teaching artists and arts educators; application deadline is July 11
Iowa remains nearly last in the United States for per capita investment in the arts
(DES MOINES, Iowa)— The Iowa Arts Council will hold forums next week in Des Moines and Storm Lake to receive comments and suggestions about the creation of an Iowa Artist Fellowship Program.
The forums will be:
Des Moines
Oct. 13, 2008 – 5 p.m.
State Historical Building, Heritage Classroom (Atrium)
600 E Locust Street.
Des Moines,Iowa 50319
Free parking in the parking ramp, north of the building
on Grand Ave
Host: Metro Arts Alliance of Greater Des Moines,
www.metroarts.org,
515-281-4006
Storm Lake
Oct. 14, 2008 – 5 p.m.
Buena Vista University
Social Science and Arts Hall, Room 111
Storm Lake,Iowa 50588
(Bldg. 18 on campus map: www.bvu.edu/only_at_bvu/campus_map.dot)
Visitors can park in parking lot B or D which are accessible on4th Street between
Grand and Early Avenue
Host: Buena Vista
University School
of Communication and Arts, www.bvu.edu
712-749-2143
Thirty-five state arts councils in theUnited States offer artist fellowship programs, which provide direct financial assistance to artists across a range of arts disciplines to recognize exceptional work and support the development of their talents. These competitive awards give artists the financial ability to hone and deepen their craft, and provide recognition and affirmation from their peers and the public.
“Establishing a fellowship program is something the Iowa Arts Council has wanted to do since three artist task forces first met 20 years ago and recommended a fellowship program for Iowa artists,” IAC Arts Programmer Bruce Williams said. “One goal of our current strategic plan is to recognize and support emerging, mid-career and establishedIowa artists. This initiative will help us meet this long-desired goal.”
Whether or not artists attend a forum, IAC encourages artists to complete a survey available on www.iowaartscouncil.org. The results of the survey will be shared with forum participants and included in IAC’s Iowa Arts News e-newsletter.
Some of the issues artists will discuss at the forum include:
- Who should receive a fellowship: an emerging, mid-career or master artist?
- How much support should artists receive to really help them further the development of their talents and career?
- Should there be different levels and types of support for emerging, mid-career and master artists?
- How often should an artist be eligible to receive a fellowship?
A small group of advisors will review information obtained from the survey and the three forums and provide advice and counsel to the Iowa Arts Council regarding program goals, guidelines, and application and review process.
Current advisors include: Mel Andringa,Cedar Rapids; Eloy Barragán,Iowa City; Pieta Brown, Coralville; Lan Samantha Chang, Iowa City; Madai,Fort Dodge; and Cynthia Mercati, Des Moines.
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TheIowa Arts Council is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and works to enrich the quality of life for Iowans through support of the arts. Funding for theIowa Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State ofIowa and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please visit www.iowaartscouncil.org for more information.