The Arts Council of New Orleans is pleased to announce an April 21, 2010 application deadline for FY 2011 grants to support arts activities in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes. Grant applications must be submitted through the online application system by midnight April 21, 2010, with a required hard copy submission by April 22, 2010.

Please go to Grants/Available Grants on the web site for further information and for links to the guidelines, application forms, and workshop schedule for FY 2011 grants.  

Intent to apply deadline March 15, 2010 Proposal deadline March 31, 2010

As a cultural component to the redevelopment of the former CJ Peete public housing complex, Central City Partners (CCP), are commissioning a public art installation for the site at its Louisiana/ Clara St entrance in the form of a free-standing Welcome Sculpture. Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and currently residing in Orleans Parish. Total Budget: $35,000

Building on our theme of harmony, we are requesting that artists submit designs for a free standing Welcome Sculpture that is inspired by materials salvaged from the former housing complex. Recycling the iron columns from the first iteration of CJ Peete in order to create a new structure reflects a commitment to the preservation and memory of the neighborhood’s unique traditions while celebrating its evolving culture and moving forward. The sculpture should be designed as a permanent structure, be weather resistant and be designed in accordance with the site plan at the corner of Louisiana and Clara Streets, in front of the 40 Unit building.

To download the complete call as a PDF, please click here.

With questions, please email to nfeldman@nondc.org 

On Wednesday, March 31 at 12 noon, join the Arts Council ONLINE for our latest webinar, this time on non-profit incorporation. Items to be discussed include:

• Alternatives to becoming 501c3
• When is the right time to incorporate
• How to incorporate
• Your responsibilities once you have incorporated

The webinar will go live on March 31st at noon, and will feature live chat to answer your questions. If you cannot attend live, the webinar will also be available "on demand" for free streaming following the live broadcast.

To request a link to participate, please email Gene Meneray

This workshop is funded with support from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation

 

PLEASE Take Action Now: Urge House Appropriations Committee to Reinstate Decentralized Arts Funding and Statewide Arts Grants Funding.

Please take three minutes to contact Committee Members NOW. Just go to www.lparts.org Insert your Zip Code in the box under Take Action: Write Your Legislators. Click "GO" and you will be taken to the ALERT page. Under State of Louisiana, click Take Action. You'll see the action alert at the top of the page and as you scroll down, you will see the MESSAGE to the members of the House Appropriations Committee. Scroll down to the Sender Information, If you have never sent a CapWiz message, you will need to complete the information requested. Once this is done, just hit "send message" and you're done! Don't forget to forward this message on to all your friends and other arts advocates. Remember, with your help we were able to have the arts funding reinstated last year. We NEED everyone's help again this year to do it again! Below is a detailed explanation of the current situation.  Continued »

To purchase tickets for this year's event, please click here.

Please make time to applaud artists and arts organizations from our unique culture. Mark your calendars for the 34th annual Community Arts Awards celebration. The Patron Party is Tuesday, May 4th from 6pm-8pm at the Windsor Court and the Awards Luncheon is Wednesday, May 5th from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Audubon Tea Room.

This year’s award recipients represent a diverse group of individuals and organizations impacting a broad scope of the New Orleans community. Individual honorees include glass artist and studio entrepreneur Mitchell Gaudet, philanthropist and Azby Fund Vice President Stewart Farnet and New Orleans public schools drama, music and dance teacher Diana Boylston. Organizations to receive the award this year include the Anthony Bean Community Theatre & Acting School, established in 2000 to work with New Orleans residents interested in learning and participating in dramatic art, Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble, whose purpose is portraying international folk cultures through dance and music, and Newcomb Art Gallery, dedicated to the enrichment of the cultural and intellectual life of Tulane University and the New Orleans community. The prestigious Chairman’s Award will be presented to Lionel Ferbos, New Orleans oldest living jazz musician still performing in New Orleans today. He can be heard at the Palm Court and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Please email Aimee Freeman or call her at 504-571-1833 for additional information.  

The Arts Council of New Orleans, on behalf of the City of New Orleans’ Percent For Art Program, is pleased to announce the selection of a new sculpture to be created specifically for Coliseum Square. The proposal: Birth of a Muse, by local sculptor Kim Bernadas, was selected by a panel of neighborhood representatives, an artist, architect, landscape designer and public art expert.

The new sculpture will be a cast bronze figure representing one of the nine muses who are the namesakes of the Lower Garden District neighborhood. When the piece is installed on Terpsichore St. it will create another entrance point to the park guarded by a strong female figure; like Margaret Haughery at the Clio St. entrance, and Sophie Wright at the Uptown end of the park system.

The budget for the new sculpture is $30,000.  

Spurred by the Creative Alliance of New Orleans, with assistance from the Arts Council, a coalition of more than 60 local arts and culture organizations announced a platform Wednesday for developing the city's cultural economy.

The Short Program consists of

1.Create a City agency or Office to develop and coordinate cultural policy, planning, programming and budgeting. Create an advisory commission or committee to provide policy input.

2. Develop a dedicated funding source for cultural programming and cultural economic development.

More information below...  Continued »

To Preserve the City’s Culture with Government as a Partner

Study after study has proven that at least 85% of artists are active in their community and VOTE! The Arts Council of New Orleans represents our unique community of artists. The cultural economy is the 2nd largest employer in Louisiana, and the culture of New Orleans is known worldwide.

The Arts Council of New Orleans encourages the creation of a Cultural Policy for the City of New Orleans to preserve, encourage, support and promote the cultural traditions of New Orleans. The Cultural Policy should provide culture stature and credibility, and act as a guide for city officials, artists of all mediums and for the public at large. The Arts Council recommends that the new Mayor and City administration acknowledge and undertake the following:

More information below, or to download this as a PDF, please click here.

 Continued »

The National Arts Index is a highly-distilled annual measure of the health and vitality of arts in the U.S. using 76 national-level indicators of arts and culture activity. This report covers an 11-year period, from 1998 to 2008. This National Arts Index encompasses one of the largest collections of data on arts and culture in the U.S. ever assembled. The information has been gathered from reputable government and private sector sources and covering multiple industries--nonprofit and for-profit arts organizations, artists, funding and investment, employment, attendance and personal creation, and much more. Click here to download the pdf. 

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund has just released its artist designed and tested toolkit to help artists become disaster ready and disaster resilient. The Studio Protector is a comprehensive digest of general, medium-specific and disaster-specific information that guides the user through all aspects of emergency management plus interviews with artists and experts.

The Arts Council is happy to announce that we will be providing all artist members, whether you are joining now, or have become or renewed your Arts Council membership in the last three monthsone Studio Protector for free as a membership premium. You can also purchase one at cost from the Arts Council for $16 plus shipping.

To purchase your Studio Protector, or to request one as a membership premium if you joined in the last three months, please email Gene Meneray.

To view a video of the Studio Protector in action, please click here.