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Artists to Work “Au Naturel”
Iowa City is known as a hub of artistic activity, and that will continue this September will be no different when Arts Iowa City, Arts Focus and Iowa Arts Council host the second annual “Plein Air Event,” Sept. 10-17.
“Plein Air,” literally meaning “open air” is a method by which artists produce their works outdoors. For those seven days in September, visual painters will inhabit sidewalks in a 63 square block area of downtown Iowa City’s business district. This allows the public to be able to watch the artists at work, and gives the artists a public venue in which to showcase their talents.
“All artists are welcome to participate in this event,” said Jim Schoenfelder, event coordinator. “The paintings they produce during this time will be displayed and sold at participating galleries through mid-October. It’s an excellent opportunity for a visual artist to gain significant public exposure.”
As a competition, the event offers prizes in each of three categories: high school student, college student and adult professional/amateur enthusiast. Monetary prizes range from $400 to $50.
Artists are still being sought to participate in the Plein Air Event. Artist members of Arts Focus and Arts Iowa City may participate free, all others pay a $15 entry fee.
For more information or to register, contact Jim Schoenfelder at 319.354.5271 or jimscho@avalon.net.
more funding and professional development opportunities
For more artist opportunities visit the "In-Box."
National Storytelling Network Annual Conference July 13-17
The National Storytelling Network will present its annual conference, “Movin’
On…Stories of Heart…Stories of Hope,” July 13-17 in Oklahoma
City. This is an excellent professional development opportunity for those interested
in the storytelling arts. The conference will feature workshops, general sessions,
presentations, showcases, concerts and more. For more information or to register,
visit www.storynet.org/Conf/2005
or contact the National Storytelling Network at 1.800.525.4514.
The conference is sponsored by: National Storytelling Network, Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, August House, and the Metropolitan Library System.
ASCAP Foundation Invites Grant Applications for
Music Education Programs
The ASCAP Foundation is accepting applications for its 2006 grants program. ASCAP
Foundation is a publicly supported charitable organization dedicated to supporting
American music creators and encouraging their development through music education
and talent development programs.
The foundation will consider grant proposals from other 501(c)(3) organizations engaging in music education and talent development programs that are consistent with the ASCAP mission and objectives to support music education programs for aspiring songwriters and composers. The average grant awarded by the foundation is $5,000. Deadline is Oct. 1, 2005.
See the ASCAP Foundation Web site (www.ascapfoundation.org) for complete grant application guidelines.
Request For Proposal Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/1879/ascap
For additional RFPs in arts and culture, visit: http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml
The U.S./Japan Creative Artists' Program
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission works cooperatively with the National Endowment
for the Arts to sponsor The U.S./Japan Creative Artists' Program that supports
up to five outstanding contemporary and traditional artists from the United States
to spend a six-month residency in Japan to pursue creative work. The next deadline
for this program is June 27, 2005.
The U.S./Japan program is extremely competitive; applicants should have regional or national recognition and anticipate a highly rigorous review of their work. Artists should have compelling reasons for wanting to work in Japan.
Selected artists will receive:
•A monthly stipend for living expenses and a housing supplement, as well
as an allowance for professional support services
•Up to $6,000 for round trip transportation for the artist, domestic partner
and/or dependent children, and a baggage/storage allowance
•A stipend for pre-departure Japanese language study in the United States
For more detailed information, and to access the guidelines and application, visit www.jusfc.gov, click on "JUSFC Homepage," then click on the link to "US-Japan Creative Artists Program." From there, click on the "US/Japan Creative Artists' Program Guidelines and Application" link.

