News
You Asked, We Responded: Linking to Arizona’s Resource for Arts Promotion and Calendaring
First, thank you to those who participated in the statewide listening session meetings that took place March through May 2010 as a part of the Arts Commission’s 2010-2015 Strategic Planning Process: Building an Artistic Future for Arizona.
Arts Commission staff is currently reviewing the wealth of feedback collected during the meetings, convened in Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City, Mesa, Show Low, Surprise, Tubac, Tucson and Yuma. But even before we began the review of meeting notes, one statewide need rose to the top. (more…)
The Business of Being an Artist: Free Online Courses from Fractured Atlas
Whether or not you are already familiar with Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit organization that offers support to individual artists and arts organizations in a multitude of ways, we encourage you to continue reading.
While they might be best known for the fiscal sponsorship they provide to their members, Fractured Atlas offers a variety of much needed services, including health insurance, liability insurance, an online calendar and more. Their programs aim to help artists and arts organizations function more effectively. Through their blog and service to the field, Fractured Atlas is a vocal advocate for the arts industry. (more…)
What are the Common Core Arts Standards?
Allow me to introduce some facts about the Common Core Standards. Basically, these standards define the knowledge and skills students should achieve during their K-12 education. They aim to ensure that students graduate high school with the ability to confidently succeed in entry-level, credit bearing academic college courses, and in workforce training programs. Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia are committed to developing a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12.
You may be asking yourself, “Where do the arts fit in the new Common Core Standards?” (more…)
The Exhausted Arts: Come Together to Recharge
A few weeks ago I came across a piece by Michael Kaiser about the “Lasting Legacy of Recession.” Many remember that Michael Kaiser, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, visited Tucson and Phoenix on his “Arts in Crisis” National Tour earlier this year.
The piece begins:
“One of the legacies of the lengthy recession we appear to be leaving behind us is that arts leaders are exhausted.” The full piece can be found here. (more…)
Reflecting on the Grant Panel Process
I am always jazzed for the week of grant panel meetings. This past week was a highlight for me and the staff at the Arts Commission. It is energizing to see new faces from across the state, to spend time with review panelists and board members, and to learn of the unique projects, engaging programming, school residencies and festivals taking place in Arizona.
Panel meetings are so important to our work, and frankly to the work of all arts organizations in our state. They bring together diverse panelists with an array of experience in the arts, to carefully consider each grant application. An application’s success is largely based on the valuable program or impactful arts experience the applicant puts forth. (more…)
A First-Person Perspective: Why Individual Artists and Small Orgs Should Register for SWAC
The following post is by Samantha Basting, Performing Arts Intern at the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
The 2010 Southwest Arts Conference is presented by the Arizona Commission on the Arts in association with Alliance for Audience and hosted by the Chandler Center for the Arts. SWAC is in its 33rd year of convening artists, arts administrators, arts advocates, and arts educators from across the state. Attend the one-and-a-half day convening for professional development, to grow your peer network and to be inspired by performers, guest speakers and other attendees — like Samantha. For complete conference information, please visit www.azarts.gov/swac.
You might be considering whether to attend the Southwest Arts Conference – aka SWAC – this summer. (more…)
Arizona Museums to Open Their Doors to Military Families This Summer
UPDATED: The musuems of the Arizona Historical Society, with locations in Flagstaff, Tempe, Tucson and Yuma, will also offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day, 2010. For information about each of these museums, please visit their website at http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/.
ORIGINAL POST: Six Arizona museums will offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2010, according to an announcement made on Monday, May 24, 2010 by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Blue Star Families, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services.
“Arts organizations have traditionally opened their doors and programs for service men and women over the course of history,” said Arts Commission Executive Director, Robert C. Booker. “The Arizona Commission on the Arts is pleased to see these Arizona nonprofit museums participating in this program.” (more…)
A Glee-ful Look at Arts Education in Arizona
Over the course of the last year, the American musical comedy-drama series, GLEE, has taken television by storm. The show, which focuses on a high school glee club, has a knack for spotlighting the positive impact of arts education. As Tim Mikulski states in his blog post, the GLEE episode from two nights ago “dealt with what so many music, art, dance, and theater programs across the nation are fighting—budget cuts.” And like in this recent episode, these successful programs are often pitted against other school programs when decision-makers are forced to make tough choices. (more…)
