News
Celebrating the Flagstaff Arts and Sciences Community: The 2012 Viola Awards
On Saturday, March 3, over 500 people came together in Flagstaff for the Viola Awards, to commemorate achievements of the Flagstaff arts, culture and science community. An annual event presented by the Flagstaff Cultural Partners, the Viola Awards recognize nominees and honorees in 11 categories, to celebrate artists, educators, organizations and leaders who make positive contributions to the arts and sciences in Flagstaff, in the name of Viola Babbitt, a long time advocate of the arts and painter.
John Tannous, Executive Director of the Flagstaff Cultural Partners, says of the event, “When we started the Viola Awards, we wanted to recognize and celebrate the excellence and hard work of our artists and arts professionals. We didn’t know if it would be successful, or if anyone would show up. Then, the arts community came out in full force, and each year, more and more have come out to celebrate. They have made this the biggest party in Northern Arizona, both classy and raucous. It’s a testament to the bond that artists here have with one another and speaks to the generous nature of this community. It makes me proud to live here and work amongst such positive, supportive, hard-working folks.” (more…)
Advocating for Arts Education: Three Strategies
The following article originally appeared in the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) March 2012 newsletter Executive Director’s Column. Jonathan Katz is the chief executive officer of NASAA, one of the primary spokespersons on behalf of funding and support for the arts and cultural activities in the United States. For more than 20 years, he has guided NASAA, the association through which the nation’s 56 state arts agencies share knowledge and strategic thinking, develop leadership and professionalism, and advocate the value of arts and culture.
From NASAA Notes, March 2012, published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Executive Director’s Column
Advocating for Arts Education: Three Strategies
by Jonathan KatzAs readers of Notes may know, NASAA manages a cooperative agreement funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to provide state arts agency arts education managers with professional development activities. This tremendously productive and long-term partnership has contributed greatly to the knowledge, skills and effectiveness of what has become a mutually supportive network of arts education leaders informed by national perspective and federal colleagues. Recently, the advisory group that plans the professional development agenda each year met in Washington, D.C., and I had the opportunity to speak with them and our NEA friends. Here are some headlines from that discussion, underscoring the value of arts learning and the importance of state arts agency leadership. (more…)
Updated ADA Regulations and Ticketing: Is your organization in compliance?
As of September 15, 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice has added new language regarding ticketing to the regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II (State and Local Government) and Title III (Places of Public Accommodation). These new regulations are enforceable as of March 15, 2011. The new ticketing regulations are composed of eight sections and section five specifically regulates the hold and release of wheelchair-accessible locations. (more…)
Final Reminder: Grant Application Deadline, this Thursday, March 15
Final Grants Deadline Reminder
The application deadline for the fiscal year 2013 grants cycle for organizations and schools is this Thursday, March 15, 2012. Grant Guides and information can be found on the Arizona Commission on the Arts website at http://www.azarts.gov/grants/organizations-and-schools/guides/.
Please be advised: As a government agency, the Arts Commission is not able to offer any exceptions or extensions to the grants deadline.
Please pay special attention to the following reminders;
- Festivals and GOS/Basic/Locals Aid Applicants ONLY: The fiscal year 2013 grant cycle marks the Arts Commission’s formal integration of the Arizona Cultural Data Project (AZCDP) as a part of its application process. The application process in the Festivals and GOS/Locals/Basic Aid grants categories now requires applicants to submit the 2 most recent fiscal years of financial data into AZCDP.
- GOS/Basic/Locals Aid Applicants ONLY: Review the GOS Multi-Year Funding Document to determine whether your organization is required to submit a full application this cycle. Please note that organizations are required to complete certain actions in their Alternate Year to remain eligible for funding (see the GOS Guide to Grants).
Arts Commission offices will be open until 5pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012 for applicant assistance. EGOR, the online application system, will accept complete applications until midnight on March 15.
The Arts Commission does not advise waiting until the day of the deadline to submit applications. Applicants report that the online application system slows significantly on the day of the deadline due to the volume of traffic on the server.
Questions regarding EGOR?
Contact Ginny Berryhill, Grants and Information Technology Manager at gberryhill@azarts.gov or 602-771-6528.
Questions regarding the Cultural Data Project?
Contact Patrick Fanning, Arts Commission Special Projects Coordinator at pfanning@azarts.gov or 602-771-6529, or the Cultural Data Project Help Desk.
Together we can imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.
Spotlight on Arizona Poetry Out Loud; Over 13,000 Students Involved in Statewide Competition
One merit of poetry few persons will deny: it says more and in fewer words than prose. -Voltaire
It is such an honor and a humbling experience to manage Arizona Poetry Out Loud. Over four months, more than 13,000 students from all over our state learn, and recite from memory, hundreds of poems in competition to represent Arizona in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C. (more…)
Grants Deadline Next Week; New Requirements with Arizona Cultural Data Project – Do not delay!
The upcoming Fiscal Year 2013 grant cycle – deadline Thursday, March 15, 2012 – marks the Arts Commission’s formal integration of the Arizona Cultural Data Project (AZCDP) as a part of its application process.
We urge you to carefully review the grant guidelines. The application process in most grants categories now requires applicants to register for and submit 2 fiscal years of financial data into AZCDP. PLEASE NOTE: This process takes time. Plan accordingly, and do not delay.
Inquiries related to AZCDP should be directed to the Cultural Data Project Help Desk or to Patrick Fanning, Arts Commission Special Projects Coordinator at pfanning@azarts.gov, or 602-771-6529. (more…)
An Update Regarding the Arts Commission’s Reauthorization
Arts Commission’s Reauthorization Bill Receives Unanimous Approval in Senate Committee
Today, Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the bill to reauthorize the Arts Commission for ten years took another critical step forward. The bill, HB2265, passed out of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Energy, with unanimous approval. (more…)
NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman Visits Phoenix, Tucson and Ajo
Today, and over the course of the next two days, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman, will visit Arizona. He begins in Phoenix today, hosted by Phoenix Art Museum Director, Jim Ballinger, and Bob Booker, executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Ballinger is also a member of the National Council on the Arts.
Today, Landesman will meet with local arts and culture leaders, visit Xico Inc. in Chandler, the Musical Instrument Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. He will spend time with Chandler Mayor, Jay Tibshraeney and Phoenix Mayor, Greg Stanton, and will end the day by touring downtown Phoenix, and the Phoenix Public Market. In 2010, the city of Phoenix received an NEA MICD 25 grant to hire an artist-led team to redesign a city block along a key thoroughfare fronting the new market. (more…)
