Call for entries: U.S. State Department's American Music Abroad Program

Using music as a means to engage audiences worldwide, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced that the American Music Abroad program is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 season. Musicians interested in applying for this international exchange program, which consists of month-long, multi-country tours for approximately 10 ensembles from a variety of American musical genres, may apply at www.americanvoices.org/ama. American Music Abroad ensembles will be selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to educational and cultural engagement. The deadline for applicants is January 16, 2012 at 5 p.m. PST. For more information, visit www.exchanges.state.gov 

Young Musicians, Inc., in Evanston awarded grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts announced today that Young Musicians, Inc., of Evanston is the recipient of a $10,000 Challenge America Fast-Track grant. The funding will “support the Music, Arts & Technology Camp. In addition to leading classes for youth and adults, professional camp staff will perform a concert for the community. Proposed artists include saxophonist Michael Giles, violinist Jeremy Starr, bassoonist Michele Hustedt, and tubist Joe Jensen.”

As National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman has noted, "Art works everywhere," which is why the agency's Challenge America Fast-Track (CAFT) program supports projects from primarily small and mid-sized arts organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved audiences-those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Chairman Landesman announced today that 162 Challenge America grants totaling $1,620,000 will be awarded to organizations in 46 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Taken together, these Challenge America Fast-Track grants provide an extraordinary sampling of the work that arts organizations do to reach underserved communities," said Chairman Landesman. "With these grants, we are helping to ensure that art works for all Americans."

Along with not-for-profit arts organizations, grantees in this announcement include a community housing authority, municipal tourism department, state mining and technology institute, and social service agency-all using the arts to engage audiences and make their communities more livable. In addition, among the 162 grantees, 47 or about 30 percent are first-time grantees to the NEA, a significant number that demonstrates the program's important gateway role.

Please see the complete listing of CAFT projects: http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/12grants/12cham.php?disc=Challenge%20America

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at www.arts.gov

Nomination deadline is Oct. 7 for 2011 Governor's Arts Awards

The Wyoming Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2011 Governor’s Arts Awards, an annual honor presented to citizens, organizations, businesses or communities in The Equality State that make substantial contributions to the arts.

The awards are presented based on accomplishments that reflect substantial contributions made to the arts in Wyoming, and exemplify a long-term commitment to the arts. Nominations must be postmarked no later than October 7, 2011.

To request a nomination form, selection criteria and a list of previous Governor’s Arts Awards recipients, contact the Wyoming Arts Council office at 307-777-7742, or via email at evangeline.bratton@wyo.gov. Forms may also be accessed on the Arts Council’s web site http://www.wyomingartscouncil.org

Previous Governor’s Arts Award recipients are not eligible; however, nomination of previously unselected nominees is encouraged.

Established in 1982, the Governor’s Arts Awards recognize excellence in the arts or outstanding service to the arts in Wyoming. These awards were first made possible by an endowment from the Union Pacific Foundation in honor of Mrs. John U. Loomis, a life-long patron of the arts.

Over the years, individuals and organizations from throughout Wyoming have been honored for their dedication to the arts in Wyoming. This year is the 30th anniversary of these prestigious awards. This year’s recipients will be honored at a dinner and awards ceremony in Cheyenne on February 24, 2012.

Through the Governor’s Arts Awards and its many other program, the Wyoming Arts Council fulfills its mission to enhance the quality of life for the people of Wyoming by providing resources to sustain, promote and cultivate the arts.

Aug. 11-12 NEA webcasts address HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities grants

Press release from Victoria Hutter at the NEA. Contact hutterv@arts.gov or 202-682-5692:

AUGUST 11 AND 12 WEBCASTS ON FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS FROM HUD’S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES

$123 Million in Funding is Available through HUD’s Community Challenge Grant Program and

HUD’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program

Nonprofit arts organizations are invited to attend two webcasts about funding opportunities through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC).  OSHC recently issued two Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA) for their FY 2011 Community Challenge Grants Program ($95 million in grants available) and FY 2011 Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program ($28 million available).

Guidelines and application information:

Community Challenge Grants Program Deadline is September 9, 2011.

Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program Pre-application deadline is August 25, 2011.

The webcasts will be hosted by OSHC staff to provide overviews of the respective programs followed by time for viewers to ask questions. People interested in watching the webcast should log onto http://www.hud.gov/sustainabilitybeginning one hour before the webcast start time for a link to the presentation.

Webcast Schedule

August 11, 3:30 – 4:30 PM EDT: Community Challenge Planning Grant program

August 12, 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT: Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program


Program Descriptions

The Community Challenge Grants Program (CC) provides grants to enable communities in fostering reform and reducing barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities. Such efforts may include amending or replacing local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes, either on a jurisdiction-wide basis or in a specific neighborhood, district, corridor, or sector to promote mixed-use development, affordable housing, the reuse of older buildings and structures for new purposes, and similar activities with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local or neighborhood level. This Program also supports the development of affordable housing, including artist housing, through the development and adoption of inclusionary zoning ordinances and other activities such as acquisition of land for affordable housing projects.


Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program (SCRP) provides grants to help improve regional planning efforts that integrate housing and transportation decisions, and increase state, regional, and local capacity to incorporate livability, sustainability, and social equity values into land use plans and zoning. The program supports metropolitan and multi-jurisdictional planning efforts through a consortium-based model that brings together numerous groups including arts- and design-based organizations to inform the planning process. 

Program Background and Results from Year One

Both programs, now in their second year build on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, an innovative interagency collaboration, launched by President Obama in June 2009, between HUD, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide more sustainable housing and transportation choices for families and lay the foundation for a 21st century economy.  For the first time last year, HUD and NEA co-convened the nonprofit arts community around funding opportunities. The SCRP program was the first NOFA that contained language encouraging arts organizations to participate in the consortia submitting applications.

As a result, four grants awarded through the SCRP program had arts organizations among its partners, including the City of Tampa, Florida that received a $1,181,250 grant to create a Primary Transit Corridor Master Plan to promote efficiency and better define a distinctive sense of place. Partner arts organizations were the David A Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, Arts Council Hillsborough County, Tampa Theatre Foundation, and the University of South Florida College of the Arts.

Four grants from the CC program had arts organizations among its partners including the City of Providence, Rhode Island that was awarded $910,000 for the Transportation Corridors to Livable Communities project to improve transit service in the city. The city partnered with two community-based arts organizations—New Urban Arts and Community MusicWorks—and AS220, a nationally recognized arts organization that has built affordable housing.

About the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov andespanol.hud.gov.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts – both new and established – bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

Call for proposals: American Film Showcase

Call for proposals:

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to administer the American Film Showcase's Contemporary Voices in Documentary and Fiction Film program. Full details may be found at: http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html. The application deadline is May 25, 2011.

The American Film Showcase seeks to bring award-winning independent American documentaries and narrative films to audiences around the world to offer contemporary new insights into American life and culture, as well as issues affecting democratic societies. The films and their filmmakers will be showcased at international venues, including U.S. Embassy-organized events and/or international documentary and feature film festivals. This program will provide for travel by documentary and feature filmmakers and film experts in conjunction with public presentation of the films overseas. Participating filmmakers and film experts will be expected to conduct or participate in master classes, workshops, lectures and other outreach activities designed for a variety of audiences, with a focus on younger and underserved audiences. The classes are expected to include filmmaking workshops and training in digital technology, emergent media, and creative use of social media. The Showcase also will provide for follow-up programming that could include return visits overseas by American filmmakers or visits by young foreign filmmakers to the United States.

Through this solicitation, ECA seeks an organization to identify and select a collection of contemporary American documentary and narrative films that offer a broad overview of the best in current American independent filmmaking. The films should demonstrate high artistic quality, illustrate diverse viewpoints, address a variety of social issues, and reflect the creativity inherent in an open, democratic society. Documentaries are the priority focus of the American Film Showcase. They should address important and compelling themes and represent more than half of the films in the Showcase, with the remainder being narrative/fiction films. The Showcase also should include a small collection of animated shorts.

U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue code section 26 USC 501 (c) (3) may submit proposals for the American Film Showcase. For this competition, all applicants must demonstrate sufficient experience successfully exhibiting, distributing, or otherwise promoting American documentaries and narrative films. They also should demonstrate extensive knowledge of independent filmmaking -- especially the documentary field -- both in the U.S. and overseas.

Grant-writing workshop May 23-24 in Cheyenne

The Cheyenne Police Department and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grants workshop in Cheyenne, May 23-24, 2011. This training is applicable to grant seekers across all disciplines. Attend this class and you'll learn how to find grants and write winning grant proposals.

Click here for full event details: http://grantwritingusa.com

Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county and state agencies as well as nonprofits, K-12, colleges and universities are encouraged to attend.

Multi-enrollment discounts and discounts for Grant Writing USA returning alumni are available. Tuition payment is not required at the time of enrollment.

Tuition is $425 and includes all materials: workbook and accompanying 420MB resource CD that's packed full of tools and more than 200 sample grant proposals. 

FMI: 800.814.8191 or cs@grantwritingusa.com

Call for proposals: U.S. State Department's One Beat cultural exchange program

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a cultural exchange in music, entitled One Beat.

To find out more information and/or to submit a proposal, visit ECA’s Open Funding Opportunities site. Application deadline is May 16, 2011.

One Beat will highlight artistic collaboration, improvisation, mentoring, and professional training opportunities for young foreign musicians and music professionals through a series of group programs in the United States. One Beat will enhance cross-cultural understanding and demonstrate democratic values such as collaboration, cohesion, and innovation through uniquely designed cohesive group programs which will strengthen the leadership and professional potential of the participants as well as enrich their American counterparts. 

Americans for the Arts: U.S. House makes deeper cuts in Arts Endowment budget

From Americans for the Arts:

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAKES DEEPER CUT TO NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS 

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R.1, a appropriations bill written to target at least $100 billion in domestic spending cuts in the current fiscal year. This legislation includes a $43 million reduction for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)—from the current $167.5 million to $124 million. This represents the deepest cut to the NEA in 16 years. Representatives narrowly passed an amendment to the originally proposed appropriations bill on Thursday by a vote of 217-209, which increased an already dramatic cut to total the $43 million reduction. The Senate, which may be more supportive of the NEA, will begin its consideration of the appropriations bill starting February 28, following a week-long recess in observance of Presidents Day. For more information about the federal budget process, please contact Associate Director of Federal Affairs Gladstone Payton at gpayton@artsusa.org.

Call for entries: FIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences public art project

Florida Art in State Buildings Program announces:

College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL

Budget is $50,000

Deadline: Thursday March 31, 2011 (received by 5 p.m.)

For Project Inquires please contact:
Carol Damian damianc@fiu.edu
Alexander Garcia aogarcia@fiu.edu

Florida International University is Miami–Dade County's first public, four–year university. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU has been locally and globally engaged for more than four decades finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time.

For complete guidelines, go to http://thefrost.fiu.edu/artinstate.html