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February 2007 |
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In This Issue ·
New Year Brings Changes to IAC,
Cultural Affairs ·
Cultural
Advocacy Days Feb. 26-27 ·
Iowa Youth
Chorus Offers Enrichment Opportunities ·
Iowa Women
Receive Prestigious NEA Fellowship ·
“Iowa
Roots” Back on Iowa Public Radio ·
Inaugural
Ball Art Exhibition ·
Advertise
Your Internships with IAC
·
2007
Iowa Culture and Language Conference ·
Poetry
Out Loud State Competition March 10 ·
Coming
in March: Youth Art Month! ·
Iowa’s
Art Educator of the Year: Rebecca Kobos IAC
Calendar
Links In-Box of Artist
Opportunities Contact
Us 600 E. Locust (515) 242-6194 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Newsletter Editor: |
New Year Brings Changes to IAC, Cultural AffairsBy Mary Sundet
Jones, interim IAC Executive Director Iowans owe a debt of gratitude to the tremendous
leadership and vision that Anita’s passion for forging new connections and reducing
bureaucracy lit the fire under so many initiatives that have shaped the way
the arts and culture are perceived in · The Iowa Cultural Trust legislation · The Imagine Iowa 2010 Cultural Plan · The 2003 Creative Economy Unconference ·
·
·
The IAC’s Operating Support Partnership (now
Cultural Leadership Partners) program, with its emphasis on
relationship-building among · The Big Yellow School Bus grant program · An emphasis on constituent-focused improvements that resulted in the IAC’s eGRANT application process and expedited major grant reviews As we move forward to deepen and broaden our work in these and all program areas, Anita’s legacy as director will be best honored if we remain committed to what she was most adamant about: the work we do must be good and right for Iowans, must support artistic excellence, and must be constituent-driven and results-oriented. Anita’s resignation was accepted by Governor Culver effective January 12. During this transition, her major duties will be divided among several people. Cyndi Pederson has been appointed interim director of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Cyndi joined the department in 2005 as coordinator of the Great Places initiative, and has been serving as acting deputy director of the department since June, 2006. Gordon Hendrickson will serve as interim state historic preservation officer, and I will serve as interim director of the Iowa Arts Council. Join fellow creatives Feb. 26 and 27 for two days of
rallying support for cultural funding in Schedule Feb. 26: · 2 p.m. (State Historical Building): MetLife Foundation National Arts Forum Series, “Arts and the Iowa Workforce: Planting and Cultivating Creative Workers” presented by the Iowa Arts Council. Includes two concurrent sessions: “Creative Minds, Creative Processes: How Can the Arts Impact Today’s Workforce,” and “Finding the Balance: Arts Education’s Role in Workforce Development,” and one large group session, “Making Sense of it All.” This event is free, but seating is limited. To pre-register, send an email to mary.sundetjones@iowa.gov. ·
6 p.m.: Feb. 27: · 7:30 a.m.(State Historical Building): Check in & advocacy day training · 8:30 a.m.: Rally and march to State Capitol · 10 a.m. (State Capitol): One-on-one meetings with legislators · Noon (State Historical Building): Lunch · 1:00 p.m. Panel (Historical Building Auditorium) Story Time: Culture Builds Communities · 2:00-4:00 p.m. Quick-Talk Resource Sessions and Open Resource Forum (Historical Building Atrium) All Cultural Advocacy Days activities are free and open
to the public. Please keep checking www.culturalaffairs.org for
more information and to register so we can count you. Those wishing to order
lunch are encouraged to contact Café Baratta’s in the A block of rooms has been reserved for February 26 at
the discounted rate of $68 at the Quality Inn and Suites, Support for the ICC Legislative Reception has been provided by the Iowa Motion Picture Association and the Iowa Gaming Association. This just in! The average · Likes numerous kinds of music, from hip-hop to opera to camp songs, but may tend to prefer rock music or oldies (although a substantial number like jazz or classical orchestral music, too)Has attended a theatrical production, art exhibition, or musical concert at least once or twice in the past six months — and saw a film or sang a song (in the shower or the car) even more often May very well also have played a musical instrument, gone dancing, or played a game that required drawing, singing or acting (like Charades, or Pictionary) more than once in the past six months · Prefers to attend an arts event presented by others, rather than participating in the arts him/herself (but nearly 1/3 say the opposite: they prefer to participate rather than observe) · Cites either a school or a church experience as his or her first memory of an arts experience A light-hearted, 12-question anonymous survey from the Iowa Arts Council greeted state legislators as they returned to the Statehouse in January. Twenty-five state representatives and seven state senators responded to the online survey, and their answers show a broad range of arts interests and involvement. In their everyday lives, legislators find all kinds of ways to use and enjoy the arts, both as self-expression and as a means of connection to others: · “I doodle all the time, which is a form of art and expression for me.” · “Painting with the grandchildren, making cookie cutouts with the grandchildren, reading/singing with the grandchildren.” · “I love jewelry, and I like to enjoy the art I purchase.”
· “I can remember drawing ever since I was a little girl. I loved getting that new box of colors for school each year and drawing pictures of farm animals and farm scenes. One of my very favorite memories in kindergarten was finger painting in school. There was something exciting about all of the colors and using your fingers to create art.” · “Miserable piano lessons.” · “Drawing on the walls of my bedroom.” · “Participating in a church dramatic production.” · “Taking my first roll of photos with my grandfather’s old SLR camera.” · “Learning to play the piano in 3rd grade and listening to my mother play the piano.” Want to know more? View all the results of the IAC’s survey. And speaking of legislators…this year the budget for the Department of Cultural Affairs (including the Iowa Arts Council) will be reviewed and approved by a different legislative committee than in past years. We have been moved from the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. Senate members of this subcommittee include William A. Dotzler, Jr. (D, District 11), Chair; Bill Heckroth (D, District 9), Vice Chair; Steve Kettering (R, District 26), Ranking Member; Rich Olive (D, District 5); and Pat Ward (R, District 30). House members of the subcommittee include Swati Dandekar (D, District 36), Chair; Tyler Olson (D, District 38), Vice Chair; Bill Schickel (R, District 13), Ranking Member; Dan Clute (R, District 59); Greg Forristall (R, District 98); Clarence Hoffman (R, District 55); Tom Schueller (D, District 25); Art Staed (D, District 37); and Roger Thomas (D, District 24). American Idol? Not quite. But youth between the ages of
eight and 18 who live in central
collaborate
with other organization and ensembles on joint programs and performances. With an annual
enrollment of 250 youth, the student body represents a variety of ethnic, religious,
and economic populations from a variety of neighborhoods; the common thread
is a demonstration of strong singing skills. Children are evaluated yearly on
progress made toward curricular goals (intonation, literacy skills, rhythm
reading and character). Students advance to higher levels of the choir
through an evaluation process. The Youth
Chorale provides a variety of enrichment opportunities for the youth such as
regional, national and international tours and competitions, exchange
concerts, guest clinicians and collaborative performances with local
ensembles. Each season, a
variety of programs offered include: ·
The Choir School: Year-round music education through
rehearsals, performances and travel opportunities. A varied repertoire
including diverse and ethnic music. Children ages 8-18 are eligible to
audition for one of five choruses. Choirs are tiered to allow children to
grow with the program as their skills develop. Choirs are fee based; however
scholarships and financial aid are available. A non-auditioned Primary Choir
is available for children ages 6-7. ·
School Partnership Program: A free program offered to area music
teachers and their students. Each year a series of creative and interactive
workshops are offered on a variety of topics. Teachers have the flexibility
to choose the workshops that best fit their curriculum. The Youth Chorus also
offers free in-school concerts to public and private schools in the Metro
area. ·
Outreach Choir Program: To read the
Executive Summary of the Afterschool Report, visit www.iowaartscouncil.org. Or for a copy of the full report, contact
Dawn Martinez Oropeza, Dawn.Oropeza@iowa.gov. Two
Creative Writing
from the
“I’m actually
wary of a poem that seems to know, already at the beginning, what it wants to
say,” she says. “If a poem I’m working on doesn’t surprise me in some way,
I’m suspicious, and probably on the wrong track.” Both women find
inspiration from poets who have come before: familiar names like Whitman,
Plath and Eliot, as well as the lesser-known Robinson Jeffers, Mary Oliver,
James Galvin, Adrienne Rich and even fellow native Iowan Dennis Schmitz among
them. Both were ecstatic
and honored to have received the award, Osier admitting she wouldn’t have
guessed she was eligible to receive an NEA grant. And both will use the money
as it is intended: Dunham won’t be teaching summer classes to concentrate on
her writing; Osier plans to purchase a new computer and finish her
manuscript. Ever think about
applying for an NEA grant? It’s easier than you think! View all NEA grant
opportunities by visiting www.arts.gov. “Iowa Roots,” a
mini-documentary series that features music, stories, and talk with
traditional artists, will resume its weekly broadcast this month. With its variety
of ethnic, geographic, occupational, and religious groups found in The Iowa Arts
Council, a Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, maintains a companion
Web site with downloadable audio, interview transcripts, artist biographies,
photos, and links to other traditional arts programs and radio Web sites.
Look for the fourth season of Iowa Roots in early March at www.iowaartscouncil.org along with programs from previous seasons. Iowa Roots is a
production of the Iowa Arts Council and Seven Oaks Audio and is distributed
by Iowa Public Radio. The work of 60-plus IAC staff members Dawn Martinez Oropeza and Sarah
Ekstrand worked with Metro Arts Alliance, Art Dive, Jane 360, A quick turnaround time and some technical difficulties
made for raised blood pressure along the way, but connecting with these fine artist
organizations and showing such a volume of work by Iowa State University Museums have launched a new virtual tour of public art on the ISU campus. Have you ever wondered about the controversial sculpture called the Left-Sided Angel outside Parks Library or the symbolism of the G-Nome Project on the Molecular Biology Building? Is Christian Peterson’s The Gentle Doctor in its original location? Check out Digital Art on Campus (DAOC) Project, a new part of the Iowa State University Museums Web site. Take a virtual tour of the public art on campus from your desk or download the MP3 files to your iPod and hike around campus with your own personal tour guide. The Digital Art on Campus Project features 15 pieces of the Art on Campus Collection using the ISU Wireless Network so you can take your lap-top with a wireless card and view the videos on site. Lynette Pohlman, director and chief curator of University Museums, administers the Art on Campus Program and Collection, which includes the Art in State Buildings acquisition program that has completed 61 projects and added more than 275 public works of art to the ISU campus. With more than 475 major public works of art, ISU’s Art on Campus Collection is the nation’s largest campus public art collection. The DAOC project is the culmination of a nearly year-long independent-study Honors Project completed by Grant Thompson, a recent ISU grad with a degree in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. More projects will be added in the next couple of months including the Grant Wood murals in Parks Library. Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Bruce Williams meets with Feb. 3: Dawn Martinez Oropeza attends Iowa Alliance for
Arts Education Board meeting, Feb. 9-10: Riki Saltzman attends Midwest Folk Fest/Hispanic Cultural Festival planning meeting, Columbus Junction. Feb. 13: Sarah Ekstrand participates in Creative Careers
Week panel at the Feb. 13-14: Riki Saltzman at Feb. 19: Dawn Martinez Oropeza attends Silos &
Smokestacks National Heritage Area’s Teacher Resource Fair, Feb. 26-27: All staff available during Cultural Advocacy Days activities. Internships are
a great way for college students to get real life experience while earning credit,
and for organizations to receive help at little or no cost. The Iowa Arts
Council is compiling a database listing of internships available for college
students at cultural organizations in If you are an
organization interested in listing an internship, please submit the following
to Sarah Ekstrand at Sarah.Ekstrand@iowa.gov : ·
Organization
name ·
Contact
person ·
Beginning/ending
dates of internship ·
Hours
per day/week/month ·
Paid/unpaid ·
Description
of position, including responsibilities and intern projects ·
Any
other information the intern should know The annual Iowa Culture and Language
Conference will be held Feb. 13-14 at the Polk County Convention
Complex in downtown As part of the conference, IAC Folklife Coordinator Riki Saltzman will present two programs, “Iowa Folklife Online: Curriculum, Grants, Suggestions for Use and World of Difference Programs” and “Write a Grant for the Iowa Arts Council – At Least a First Draft!” Other workshops are: ·
“Local Tools, · “Math Across Cultures”; and · “Becoming an Anthropologist in Your Own Classroom.” Visit the Iowa Culture and Language Conference Web site for details.
and after-school time to help their students prepare for
in-school competitions. The winner of each school-level competition will come
to The winner of the Iowa Poetry Out Loud competition will
go on to compete nationally in What’s in a word? Terminology matters, as is evident
from this information from the National
Association of the Deaf’s Web site: “Overwhelmingly, deaf and hard of hearing people prefer to be called ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing’…. ‘Hearing-impaired’ [is] a term much preferred by hearing people, largely because they view it as politically correct. In the mainstream society, to boldly state one’s disability (e.g., deaf, blind, etc.) is somewhat rude and impolite. To their way of thinking, it is far better to soften the harsh reality by using the word ‘impaired’ along with ‘visual,’ ‘hearing,’ and so on. ‘Hearing-impaired’ is a well-meaning word that is much-resented by deaf and hard of hearing people. Indeed, the deaf and hard of hearing community views ‘hearing-impaired’ as negative, because the label focuses on what they can’t do. With this label, a standard has been set: the ‘hearing’ standard. To be anything other than ‘hearing’ is not acceptable to the mainstream society, and deaf and hard of hearing people have failed to meet the ‘standard.’”
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for a Mini Grant. If you apply 2-3 months before your project occurs, you may then have time to make adjustments and re-apply if you aren’t funded the first time. Remember – the last possible date you can apply for a Mini Grant is the first of the month before the month in which your project occurs.
“I have been teaching for over 30 years and each day is a fresh, unique and interesting experience,” Kobos said. “This award, though, is about being recognized by fellow teachers who share my joy of teaching. I have been successful in the classroom because of others who have been willing to share their ideas and expertise with me. It is the professionalism of art teachers, both new and experienced, that inspired me to do my best.” Application guidelines for the next round of Grants for Arts Projects are now available on the NEA Web site. Organizations may apply under these categories: · Access to Artistic Excellence: To encourage and support artistic excellence, preserve our cultural heritage and provide access to the arts for all Americans. Grant amounts from $5,000 to $15,000. Deadlines: March 12 and Aug. 13. ·
Challenge · Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth: To advance arts education for children and youth in school-based or community-based settings. Grant amounts from $5,000 to $150,000. Deadline: June 11. |
