From Grid:
Virginians for the Arts announced winners of its Arts Build Communities Awards. The awards recognize arts organizations that best demonstrate the ability to enhance the community, lift our spirits, and build a better quality of life. Says Virginians for the Arts President Peter Fields, "The awards showcase the ways the arts contribute to the overall quality of life in Virginia communities."
1708 Gallery is being recognized as a "Shining Star" finalist, and Gallery 5 is recognized as a "Rising Star" finalist.
In addition, Richmond's Visual Arts Center received an Honorable Mention for "Shining Star."
Grid also reports:
Awards will be presented at the ArtWorks for Virginia Conference 2010 Luncheon on January 27, 2010, in Richmond, Virginia. Virginians for the Arts works to build awareness of the importance of the efforts of Virginia's state arts agency, the Virginia Commission for the Arts. In 2009, the agency provided grants for operating support for more than 200 arts organizations throughout the state and more than 1,000 other types of grants that benefit teachers, students, local government, artists and the communities they serve. The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the only entity in the state concerned about developing the arts industry as a whole and about making the arts available in all parts of the Commonwealth. In 2008, the Commission helped to make possible 39,943 arts events attended by more than 7.7 million people, including 1.9 million school children. ***As of October 2009, Virginia's arts agency was funded at 51 cents per capita, the lowest level of any state arts agency of its neighboring states: including (July 2009 figures) North Carolina at $1.18 cents, Maryland at $2.52, Kentucky at $.84, and West Virginia at $1.54.
The starred emphasis of the last paragraph here is our own- this is problematic.
In Virginia, arts are funded half as much as they are in North Carolina, one fifth as much as in Maryland, and one third as much as they are funded in West Virginia???
Admittedly, math is not our (RVAAB's) strong point, but specific numbers aside, this is a thing that makes us go "Hmmm..."
Virginians for the Arts' website is here.
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