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   Orange County Poet Jaki Shelton Green Chosen as First Piedmont Laureate
Highly acclaimed Orange County poet Jaki Shelton Green has been selected as the region's first Piedmont Laureate under the newly created Piedmont Laureate program. The Piedmont Laureate program is dedicated to building a literary bridge for residents to come together and celebrate the art of writing. Co-sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission, City of Raleigh Arts Commission, Durham Arts Council, and United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, the program’s key goal is to: “promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region.” Ms. Green’s publications include “Dead on Arrival,” “Masks,” “Conjure Blues,” and “breath of the song,” which was cited as one of two Best Poetry Books of the Year by the Independent Weekly. Her poems have appeared in numerous magazines and journals, including Ms. Magazine, Essence, The Crucible, and Obsidian and she has performed her poetry and taught writing workshops throughout the United States, Caribbean, Europe, Central and South America. Her poetry has also been choreographed by groups such as African American Dance Ensemble, Two Near the Edge, and the ChoreoCollective, and awards include the North Carolina Award for Literature in 2003, 2006 Artist in Residence at the Taller Portobelo Artist Colony, and the 2007 recipient of the Sam Ragan Award. “I applied to be the first Laureate because I am so excited about utilizing the fervor akin to an evangelist to facilitate a ‘movement’ that fosters a greater appreciation of the literary arts,” Ms. Green said. “During my tenure, it is my intention to identify and interface with the numerous community based organizations that are engaged already with literary programs and hopefully collaborate on strengthening their efforts and assisting them with strategies that will enlarge and sustain their projects.” In his letter of support for Ms. Green’s application, Joseph Bathanti, professor of creative writing at Appalachian State University, wrote: “ I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Jaki in action (the operative word for her dynamism).... Her readings are electrifying. She is a presence at the podium, a meld of panache and humility that embraces every audience… She is North Carolina poetry’s Billie Holiday…” For being named the Piedmont Laureate, Ms. Green will receive an honorarium of $5,000 and serve for one year. Her duties will include presenting public readings and workshops, participating at select public functions, and creating at least one original activity to expand appreciation of literature. Applications for the laureate position were received from a three-county area. A selection committee comprised of Dr. Anjail Rashida Ahmad, director of the creative writing program at North Carolina A&T State University; Dr. Sally Buckner, an author and editor; Richard Krawiec, also an author and editor; Banu Valladares, writer and cARTwheels manager at the North Carolina Arts Council; and sponsoring agency representatives reviewed all the applications and made recommendations. Jaki began her year as Piedmont Laureate by reading a poem she had written for the occasion of the December 1, 2008 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. This was the first official meeting of the seven Orange County commissioners, three of them newly elected. Her poem, in praise of new beginnings, was entitled “The Girl Who Lost Her Head”. Arts Economic Impact Study by Americans for the Arts
The Orange County Arts Commission, the Durham Arts Council, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, and United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County all agree that an arts economic impact study is a good use of limited dollars in tough economic times. In 2009, these Triangle-area arts councils will work together with Americans for the Arts to complete an arts economic impact study for the Triangle area (Orange, Durham, and Wake counties) and for each of these three counties individually. Through Americans for the Arts, the Orange County Arts Commission will receive two studies in 2009 (one for Orange County and one for the overall Triangle area). These studies will measure – in a reliable and affordable manner – the economic impact of Orange County’s cultural sector on four key areas of North Carolina’s economy: There are two major areas that will be studied: (1) the economic impact of spending by arts and cultural organizations, and (2) the impact of event-related spending by these organizations’ audiences. Arts, humanities, heritage, and culture organizations – unlike most industries – leverage significant amounts of event-related spending by their audiences. Attendance generates related commerce for hotels, restaurants, gas stations, parking garages, baby sitters, etc. – money “re-spent” in the community. Consider this example from the performing arts: A theatre company purchases a gallon of paint from the local hardware store for $10 (this generates the “direct economic impact”). The hardware store then uses a portion of the $10 to pay the sales clerk’s salary; the sales clerk re-spends some the money for groceries; the grocery store in turn uses some of the money to pay its cashier; the cashier then spends some for the utility bill, and so on (these are the “indirect economic impacts”). The economist at Americans for the Arts will customize an econometric model to reflect the unique economy of Orange County. Americans for the Arts (www.americansfortheartsarts.org) is the nation’s leading provider of studies that measure the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences. Their studies employ an input/output analysis that is highly regarded in the field of economics and the basis of two Nobel Prizes in economics. Their findings are the most frequently cited statistics used to demonstrate the impact of the nation’s nonprofit arts industry on the local, state, and national economy. These local studies will begin in the spring of 2009 and culminate with reports in the fall of 2009. Artists' Salon Series The next two Artists' Salons, sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission, will be held on the following dates in 2009: Artists' Salons are held from 6:30-9 pm in the West End Theatre at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. Salons are free, for artists of all kinds - performing, visual, literary, whatever! Come to meet, network, and build a better arts environment for all Orange County Artists. The topic for February will be “Making Money Online Through Art.” Guest panelists will be Sarah Powers (Visual Art Exchange) and Michelle Lyon (Knockabout). Both of these venues are located in City Market in Raleigh. Sarah will focus on “Fast & Easy Websites” and Michelle will focus on “How to Sell Online”. The topic for May has not yet been determined. The purpose of the salon is to bring together artists of all disciplines in a casual setting to share ideas, concerns and information. It is the hope of the Orange County Arts Commission to not only bring the artistic community together but to facilitate closer ties between artists and the general community of Orange County. Better serving the needs of artists is one of the goals of the Orange County Arts Commission. Artists often work in isolation and the salon can serve as a place to get feedback from peers as well as to share all of the problems and pleasures of being an artist with kindred spirits. The Orange County Arts Commission wishes to thank the ArtsCenter for the use of space for this series. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the Orange County Arts Commission at 919/245-2335 or email us at arts@co.orange.nc.us. Fall 2008 Arts Grants Awarded The following organizations and individuals have been awarded Arts Grants by the Orange County Arts Commission to support arts programming during the Fall 2008 grant cycle. Representatives will accept their grant awards from the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County on February 3rd, 2009 at the Central Orange Senior Center in Hillsborough. 7 Orange County Artists to Receive Emerging Artists Grants Recipients to be Honored at 25th Anniversary Celebration Seventeen local area artists will receive Emerging Artists Grants in 2009 through the Durham Arts Council. Artists will be honored at the 25th Anniversary Emerging Artists Awards Ceremony in the spring of 2009. The 25th Anniversary Celebration will include a tribute to the late Ella Fountain Pratt, who founded the Emerging Artists Program in 1984. The Emerging Artists Grant Program, administered by Durham Arts Council, is designed to enable individual artists who have mastered the basic techniques of their art form to complete projects that will establish or enhance their professional careers. Grants may not exceed $1,500. Criteria for making the awards include the accomplishment and commitment of the artist, the feasibility of the proposed project and the impact the project will have on the applicant’s career. This year, a total of $23,900 was awarded. Ninety-three artists applied to the program. Durham Arts Council's Emerging Artists Committee coordinates this program in partnership with the arts agencies of adjacent Chatham, Orange, Granville and Person Counties. This joint effort provides an efficient, non-duplicative administration and allows artists in all five counties to participate in the Emerging Artists Program. The cooperative nature of the program has also helped build relations between arts organizations in these counties and has encouraged networking between artists in the region. The Emerging Artists Program is cited repeatedly by local artists as providing important financial support and significant public recognition of their professional achievements. Counting the current recipients, 389 grants have been made to area artists during the program’s 25-year history. Past recipients include six-time Grammy-nominated, jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon; painter and Guggenheim Fellow, Beverly McIver; and violinist and Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Nicholas Kitchen. Sauda A. Zahra, an Emerging Artists Grant recipient in 2007, is a Master Quilter whose work has just been selected for Quilts for Obama: An Exhibit Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President, at The Historical Society of Washington, DC. The 2008-2009 Emerging Artists Grant Recipients in Orange County are: Lynn Bregman Blass, Mixed Media, to work with Leah Sobsey to create a public art installation and a series of community art workshops for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Public Art Commission. www.lynnbregmanblass.com Grey Brown, Literature, work with a graphic artist to create a website to promote her forthcoming collections of poetry and to further her career as a poet. Ellen Giamportone, Photography, produce a portfoloio of limited edition large format photographs created at night distingushed by enhanced lighting and ambiance. www.ellengiamportone.com Annemarie Gugelmann, Painting/Drawing, paint, in oil, five large-scale vanvases (6 ft. x 6 ft) of cityscape works that reflect the life and development of downtown Durham. www.annemariegugelmann.com Daniel Harris, Painting/Drawing, attend 2009 Penn Relays in Philadelphia to sell his work illustrating sporting events. www.dandraws.com Victoria Ralston, Installation, create a theatre piece "Hungry Ghost" which is a shadow and marionette puppet performance, based on the Asian belieft that haunting, unearthly beings roam among unwitting humans, both tricking and confusing. Reuven Sadeh, Installation, create "Cycles of Life' - a functional innovative installation sculpture, which is a fully tunable, self-sustained musical instrument operated by the power of falling water. www.creativeIronArt.net Durham Arts Council’s Emerging Artists Grant Program is funded by grants from the North Carolina Arts Council, with funding from the state of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, the Chatham County Arts Council, the Orange County Arts Commission, the Granville Arts Council, the Person County Arts Council, gifts to the Durham Arts Council Annual Arts Fund, the Ella Fountain Pratt Fund, the Wainwright Fund for New Works and support from other interested organizations and individuals. Arts Commission Announces May 26th Grant Deadline: Information Session April 1st The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) announces a May 26, 2009 deadline for receipt of arts grant applications from both nonprofit organizations and individuals for the spring cycle: Spring Grants Project Period: The spring cycle of grants will fund arts activities taking place from July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010. A fall cycle will also be available for all categories except the General Arts Support grant, which is available annually. Supportable Projects: Applicants may request funds to support a variety of arts programs in the visual, performing, literary arts. Deadline: Spring applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at the Orange County Arts Commission office (this is not a “postmarked by” deadline). Applications: Applications will be available for downloading online (MS Word and PDF formats) at www.artsorange.org by March 2009. Hard-copies will be available at the Arts Commission office, all Orange County Public Libraries, and the Chapel Hill Public Library. Information Session: The Arts Commission will hold a free grant-writing workshop for potential OCAC spring grant applicants from 7-8:30 pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 in the large conference room downstairs at the Chapel Hill Public Library (100 Library Drive). To register for this workshop, or for more information about OCAC grants, visit www.artsorange.org or contact the Orange County Arts Commission at 919/245-2335. 2009 Congressional High School Art Competition Each spring, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, committed to the importance of our cultural heritage, join together to recognize the creative spirit of American high school students in a nationwide visual art competition. The Congressional High School Art Competition is implemented by the Members in the Congressional Districts and features paintings, drawings, and prints. Each Member brings a winning entry back to Washington, D.C. to be displayed in the corridor of the U.S. Capital. Launched in 1982, this nationwide event has produced thousands of local competitions, yielding more than 500,000 high school winners. This competition is coordinated locally through Fourth District U.S. Representative David Price’s office. High school visual art students in the counties of Orange, Durham and Wake are eligible to apply. If you are a current high school visual art student in Orange County and would like to participate in the 2009 Congressional High School Art Competition, contact your high school art teacher or the Orange County Arts Commission for an application form and guidelines. The deadline to apply will be mid-March to mid-April, 2009. Visit the Orange County Arts Commission’s web site at www.artsorange.org for updated information and to download the application and guidelines or call 919/245-2335. Orange County Library Public Art Project Project Summary DESCRIPTION: The Orange County Arts Commission and Friends of the Orange County Public Library are please to announce a Request for Qualifications to create public artwork(s) for the Orange County Public Library to be located in Historic Hillsborough, North Carolina. The newly constructed library will be a 25,000 square foot, two-story brick building in a traditional style. The library building will be located in historic downtown Hillsborough and will serve as a community gathering place serving the more than 120,100 people who reside in Orange County (2006 census). SITE FOR ARTWORK: A 13 x 40 foot space located to the left of the main entrance to the library. The artwork placed in this space will be visible, as well, from within the building through three large front-facing windows. ELIGIBILITY: Open to all artists or artist teams currently living in North Carolina, working in any media. Artists residing or working in Orange County, NC are encouraged to apply. PROJECT BUDGET: $10,000 (public/private). POSTMARK DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: April 6, 2009 SITE SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS: The proposed artwork should enhance the library building’s function as a location with purpose within the community. The intention of this public artwork is to draw people to the site and encourage the use of the library and its grounds as a place to gather, relax, reflect and socialize. As this building is a new construction in Hillsborough, it is anticipated that landscaping will be occur around the art following installation. Due to location of the building (located within the Historic District), this art piece will be guided by the Hillsborough Historic District Commission Guidelines. This artwork will be a permanent outdoor fixture in Hillsborough. The design concept should reflect Hillsborough’s sense of community identity. The artwork should be cost effective, durable due to the exposure to outside elements. Design considerations could include functional pieces such as seating, bike racks and solar lighting if applicable, and multi-sensory features. Background - History of Location The Orange County Library is located in historic downtown Hillsborough, next to and near the Orange County government buildings, the courthouse, a popular co-op-cafe, Weaver Street Market, and downtown businesses along Churton Street. The Hillsborough library intends to be a welcoming institution for children, teens, families and adults of all ages and abilities. The Library will feature a contemporary research and computer lab, a community meeting room to provide for events, such as book clubs and interest group discussions. There will be gallery spaces exhibiting local artists on a rotating basis. Budget The public art budget for this project is $10,000 in public and private money. This budget includes all costs associated with, but not limited to: artist design fees, travel, project materials; fabrication; installation costs (if not constructed on site); and documentation of the work(s). Eligibility The project is open to all artists currently living in North Carolina, working in any media. Artist teams are eligible to apply, including teams of artists from multiple disciplines. Artists residing in Orange County, North Carolina are encouraged to apply. The actual Call to Artists for this project will be available for downloading on the OCAC website (www.artsorange.org) in mid-February, 2009. Temporary Installations Made for the Elements (T.I.M.E.) In the Spring/Summer of 2009, the Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) will co-sponsor a “Temporary Installations Made for the Elements (T.I.M.E.)” project with the Orange County Parks and Recreation Department. This project is closely modeled after a project by New Mexico Arts. This project will help to “grow” public artists in Orange County. The OCAC will initially commission two temporary, visually engaging and conceptually rich environmental artworks to be exhibited in two Orange County parks. The artworks always relate to a specific park and theme developed by the communities involved. The OCAC will provide at least $1,000 to the artist/artist team for each of the two temporary installations, plus a small honorarium for all finalists chosen by the two selection committees. These small-budget temporary installations will give local artists the opportunity to “get their feet wet” in the public art arena. No artwork requiring concrete pads or other environmentally damaging approaches will be commissioned. When the artwork is removed, artists are responsible for restoring the installation site to its original condition in the park. It is hoped that in future years, other Orange County parks will participate in this project on a rotating basis. Please visit the OCAC website at www.artsorange.org for more information on this project and to download an application. The application deadline will be mid-March to late-April, 2009. “Opportunities for Artists” and More on OCAC Website The Orange County Arts Commission’s website lists current opportunities for artists and includes information on: Check it out! We Are the Orange County Arts Commission The Orange Arts newsletter is a publication of the Orange County Arts Commission, the countywide arts agency working to promote the artistic and cultural development of Orange County. The Orange County Board of Commissioners appoints the fifteen members of this advisory commission. The Arts Commission is housed within the Economic Development Department. The Arts Commission recommends strategies to promote the artistic and cultural growth of Orange County, advises the Board of Commissioners on matters involving the arts, and acts as the granting panel for two annual funding programs available to individual artists and non-profit groups sponsoring arts projects in Orange County. Funding comes from Orange County and the North Carolina Arts Council. Services of the Arts Commission include administering these two grants cycles that support both Orange County arts organizations and individual artists, maintaining a web site including an online local arts directory, and sponsoring workshops and skills development for artists and organizations. If you are an artist, or a citizen interested in the arts, contact the Orange County Arts Commission office and inquire about Board positions and other Volunteer opportunities. We are always on the lookout for Orange County residents who can help us fulfill our mission to promote and support the arts in Orange County. The Orange County Arts Commission also welcomes newsletter submissions from artists and organizations. For more information about Orange County Arts Commission services, programs and publications, contact us at: Orange County Arts Commission
Our local arts are exciting, vital, and they are happening right now – so get out and enjoy the arts in Orange County!  Topics covered: Discovering your media, Trusting your vision, Marketing topics on how to approach a gallery, photo your work, keeping records for the IRS and developing a working resume. There will be ample time for questions and problem solving. This is for any visual media. We are seeking submissions for 2D, 3D, film, and proposed installations for MUSA in Raleigh, NC. See www.musanc.com for details. Deadline: All entries hand delivered on September 18th and 19th from 11-4. Artists notified by email no later than Thursday, September 24th. [Pick-up of non-selected works on Saturday, September 26th]. Qualifications: All media will be considered. No email submissions will be accepted. UNC says the program, known as UNC Business Essentials, includes a total of six courses. Students who complete the program would be granted a certificate that they could reference on their resume. It will be offered to both current students and college graduates. “UNC Business Essentials allows the non-business major to become fluent in the language of business to stand out in an interview with a company, make a more meaningful impact in a non-profit or start their own business or organization,” says Susan Cates, associate deal of UNC Executive Development at Kenan-Flagler. “The program is a must-have for students and recent graduates who need to build their real-world relevant business knowledge and add a valuable credential to help distinguish them in the job market.” Carolina plans to start enrolling students in April, 2009. The program includes six courses: Introduction to Business, Financial Accounting, Economics and Finance, Marketing, Business Operations and Business Communication. If so, please consider contributing to my research study! My name is Heather Koopmans and I am a Master’s student in Library and Information Science, and an artist. My thesis study will be the first to explore how visual artists use the Web to find creative inspiration, perform research, and advance their artistic careers. I am seeking fine artists who: If this describes you, please email me to learn more! Participation is voluntary. Pay will not be provided, but your participation will contribute to an overlooked research area. I hope to hear from you! 
The presentation begins at 7 pm. Join us, have some refreshments, get some questions answered and make some good contacts. What do they all have in common? They may qualify to participate in a project created by the North Carolina Arts Council, www.homegrownhandmade.com, the first statewide effort to create thematic driving trails featuring art and agritourism. To see a sampling of what has already been developed in the eastern part of the state, click on the site and check out the trails. The project is free to all participants and is paid for by grants from the Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation, focusing upon counties that have traditionally had some form of agricultural based economy. The goal is to create a new "cash crop," blending tourism, arts and agriculture together. The trail in this area will include Chatham, Orange, Lee, Randolph, Guilford and Alamance counties. Are You One of These?
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Greta Lint, local project coordinator for the North Carolina Arts Council, says, "This is the most in-depth, cutting edge tourism effort ever created in our state. Each trail runs through 3 or 5 counties, offering the traveler opportunity to hear local music, eat locally grown food, pick locally grown produce, see locally made crafts and spend more money. By digging deeper into what communities offer, it allows businesses and artisans opportunity to capitalize upon the tourism dollar. In 2003, tourism generated nearly $18 million in direct and indirect spending in North Carolina." For more information, call Greta Lint at 336/626-0527 or visit www.homegrownhandmade.com. You may also call Rebecca Moore, Director of Marketing, NC Arts Council at 919/733-2119 or visit www.ncarts.org.  If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, download it first (click on the icon above or click on www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html). Then come back to this page and download the following pdf file.
The CDL Clinic is a two-semester program in which third-year students provide corporate and transactional counsel to North Carolina nonprofit community development organizations. CDL students work on a wide variety of business law projects including: forming corporations and limited liability companies; spinning off subsidiaries for existing nonprofit corporations; advising organizations regarding local, state and federal taxation; negotiating and drafting contracts on behalf of nonprofit organizations; assisting organizations with real estate acquisitions; helping structure joint ventures between nonprofit and for-profit entities; obtaining necessary state licenses for nonprofit programs. Students in the CDL Clinic take primary responsibility for interviewing clients, structuring the legal projects, negotiating on behalf of their clients, and drafting all necessary legal documents. The goal of the CDL Clinic is to help students develop skills in corporate and transactional law, show them how those skills can be put to use in serving under-resourced communities, and at the same time provide valuable legal services to community organizations serving those communities. If your organization could use legal counsel in some aspect of its program, or if you would like more information about the clinic, please contact Mark Dorosin (CDL Clinic Supervisor) at 919/843-9909 or dorosin@email.unc.edu or visit UNC Community Development Law Clinic. |
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