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

Posted in Editorial, Creative Economy, News | Print | 1 Comment »

ArtBits - October 29, 2009

October 29, 2009 by Dick.

A LITTLE ARTS HISTORY, PART I

The St. Albans City Council approved a proposal for the St. Albans Society for the Performing Arts earlier this month. Starting this week, we will survey the existing arts groups and presenters in the county and think about the gaps in programming and services. Read more…

ON STAGE LIVE

The UVM Old Time Music Club presents a Contra and Square Dance. The Burlington Irish Heritage Festival presents a Celtic Hootenanny to benefit the Champlain Valley Folk Festival. Read more…

ARTS in the ECONOMY

The creative economy is more vulnerable than most to economic contractions. Massachusetts has a new program to help. Read more…

ART SITE OF THE WEEK

Hallowe’en art remains the dark side of the Internet. Boo. Read more…

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ArtBits - October 15, 2009

October 15, 2009 by Dick.

TALENT WILL OUT

The Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents the 17th annual Talent Search with special guests. Read more…

PERFORMANCE ART

Leon Thompson’s new book is either bad, not bad, not too awful or pretty darned good. Find out at the book launch party on Saturday. Read more…

ON STAGE LIVE

Lakeside Coffee presents Jim Branca “uplugged and up close.” The annual Blue Jean Ball for Home Health features music by Big Boots Deville. Yankee Chank has a busy weekend with a Louisiana Saturday Night Dance Party and a performance at the Bee’s Knees. Read more…

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER ART DEADLINES

There is an Art House grant, a Fall Solo Show, a juried photography exhibition, a magazine art and literary contest, and the 17th Juried Biennial North American Small Print Exhibition. Read more…

CREATIVE ECONOMY

Vermont Council on Rural Development wraps up the 2-year Council on the Future of Vermont project. Read more…

Posted in Calls, Creative Economy, Dance, Music, Calendar, ArtBits | Print | 1 Comment »

ArtBits - February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009 by Dick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

That is either an attention getter or a showstopper. This week contains some important birthdays of people in the arts: Jules Verne on Sunday, Thomas Alva Edison on Tuesday, and Abraham Lincoln today. Read more… 

BOOTLEGGING A JUG

Trout River Traders in Montgomery presents the Bottom Shelf Bootleggers tomorrow evening. Read more…

ON STAGE LIVE

Save the date for the third annual Franklin County Court Diversion fundraiser next Saturday, February 21. The St. Albans Historical Museum presents A Musical Tribute to Sterling D. Weed on Saturday. Tonight is WCLX Blues Night at the Lincoln Inn with the Nobby Reed Project. Swing your sweetie with Fiddleheads on Valentine’s Day. Read more…

CREATIVE ECONOMY

American inventor Thomas Edison advanced the science and the technology behind the arts and entertainment we take for granted today. Read more…

Posted in Creative Economy, Music, Calendar, ArtBits | Print | 1 Comment »