Artbits - January 26, 2012

January 26, 2012 by Dick.

ART ON THE WALLS

Corliss Blakely is first and foremost an oil painter. This winter, she has a special offering. Read more…

ON STAGE LIVE

The Rusty Nail presents Justice. The fifth annual Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival brings together local and regional musicians. A Community Dance and Library Celebration features a potluck and Fiddleheads at the Folsom Educational Center. Cosmic Bakery and Country Pantry each present Carol Ann Jones. The VSO Masterworks 3 is the VSO Chorus. The Flynn also hosts the VYO Winter Concert. Read more…

CREATIVE ECONOMY

The 2013 NEFA Creative Communities Exchange will take place in Portland, Maine. The federal government now requires that all organizational grantees supported by federal funds register for D-U-N-S numbers. Read more…

FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

The Swanton Public Library has the fifth annual Stuffed Animal sleepover at the library. Read more…

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ArtBits - May 5, 2011

May 5, 2011 by Dick.

GREEN ART

Saturday is Green Up Day. High water or not, this weekend is our opportunity to make everything green and ready to tint again. Read more…

CALL FOR THESPIANS

Fairfax Community Theater Company celebrates its 20th season this year and will hold auditions for an Anniversary Gala production. Read more…

ART ON THE WALLS

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, the Artist In Residence Gallery presents painters Corliss Blakely and Rebecca Anne Bennett, jeweler Holly Spier, and pastel artist Genie Rybicki-Judkins with a free meet-the-artists reception. The Northwestern Medical Center Gallery hosts Emily Dunsmore. Read more…

ON STAGE LIVE

Look for Cinco De Mayo parties everywhere tonight. On Tap at the Lincoln Inn offers Blues Night with the Nobby Reed Project. Dust off your poodle skirts and blue suede shoes, baby! The Fairfax Community Theater Company presents a Do Wop Hop. Barnes and Noble Booksellers hosts a free in-store Mini Concert featuring Georgia singer-songwriter John Gibbons. The Flynn presents David Crosby and Graham Nash in a benefit for the Tom Sustic Fund. Read more…

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ArtBits - March 24, 2011

March 24, 2011 by Dick.

ON STAGE LIVE

Chow Bella presents Carol Ann Jones with Will Patton. The Grand Isle House Concerts Spring Series hosts Kallet and Larsen in a house concert. The Cornell University Chorus brings their 2011 Tour to the Elley Long Music Center for a joint concert with Bella Voce Vermont.. The 9th Annual Cabin Fever Reliever benefit dance/concert features Starline Rhythm Boys, Bill Kirchen and more. Radio Bean presents Yankee Chank. Fiddleheads and Young Tradition Vermont will hold an Irish Fiddle Workshop with Kevin Burke for intermediate to advanced players. Read more…

CREATIVE ECONOMY

The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project is now active in 24 Vermont communities. The NEFA Creative Communities Exchange will have 30 workshops on successful creative economy tools. The next NEFA Public Art Discussion Series session is on the RFQ: A Mock Panel Review. Read more…

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ArtBits - September 30, 2010

September 30, 2010 by Dick.

CLOISTERED SAVAGE

The Fairfax Community Theater Company fall production, The Curious Savage opened last night and continues in the Westford Brick Meeting House. Read more…

CALL FOR PERFORMERS

The annual Opera House Talent Search is right around the corner and the registration deadline looms. Read more…

EAT, DRINK, BE ARTY

St. Albans fourth annual Taylor Park Fine Wine, Food, and Beer and Art Festival comes to Taylor Park. Read more…

CREATIVE ECONOMY

The second round application for e-Vermont Community Broadband Project will open tomorrow. Dorchester Publishing is moving to e-books and “trade” sized paperbacks. Read more…

ARTSY POLITICAL EVENTS

Our policy is not to include political events in ArtBits. Read more…

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Artbits - March 25, 2010

March 25, 2010 by Dick.

TEMPUS FUGIT

The Latin actually means “time flees” although I doubt that even Einstein would think our clocks and calendars hitch up their skirts and run away from us. At any rate, time is indeed flying past and the deadline for the first Stop Drunk Driving Music Campaign approacheth. Read more…

MONEY MONEY MONEY

The Arts Council will conduct only two workshops for grant seekers this year–one is in St. Albans. Read more…

ART @ THE WALLS

The Museum of Modern Art has acquired the @ symbol for its collection at the Department of Architecture and Design. Read more…

ON STAGE LIVE

The Vermont Youth Chamber Winds Spring Concert will be held in the Elley-Long Music Center. Read more…

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Keeping Your Arts Alive

December 28, 2009 by Dick.

Public and private contributions to the arts dropped again this year. Popular programs like the Summer Sounds series depend on municipal appropriations. And school art programs are primarily funded by the increasingly strained property tax.

Art is an economic engine but it is far more than a retail sale or a paycheck.

If you read my arts column regularly, we have looked at a boatload of cultural economy numbers. The data shows that Vermont cannot afford to lose the Arts. The Arts boost school test scores. The Arts improve our sense of community. And it doesn’t hurt that a painting or photograph, an original song, a well-staged play, or a warm book on a cold winter day all bring light to our lives.

More than that has happened this year. Artists have done more. Artists have shared more art and more resources this year, from donations to United Way to music at the Cap Cancer Blues Fest and much more. Artists have been generous with their time, their talent, their product. Artists are concerned about their community.

The All Arts Council is the only all-volunteer Local Arts Service Organization in the state. Your  year-end gift to the AAC is both tax-deductible and will go entirely to programming. Your planned 2010 sponsorship will help us continue the programs and our support for other arts groups. Please email or call me (802.868.3351) for more information or to donate.

Happy New Year!

–Dick Harper

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