It's a Beautiful Day in this Neighborhood Link Monday

Loren Schwerd's "Mourning Portrait" will open at Visarts April 9th

Top story ICYDK*

Talk20 is this Tuesday at 1708- 6-9 PM!

Grid on Loren Schwerd at Visual Arts Center (opening April 9th), LYDM and Minds Wide Open, and Heidi Field-Alvarez upcoming at Main Art (Daniel Calder is showing now)

More info about Minds Wide Open here

RTD reports on Minds Wide Open, too, and here, as well

Richmond Crafts Examiner(!!!) on Visarts regular/RVA artist Bob Scott and RVA artist/teacher Richard McCord

Last week to see "Fragments of Our Imagination" at Visarts (our previous post on this show is here)

RAGE on Chris Semtner at Visual Arts Studio and Gallery 5's needs

Upcoming "blockbuster" shows at VMFA

VMFA's new website look

C3's free RVA artist directory is growing- sign up for FREE, and check out their other good stuff coming up

Rawls Museums' call for entries for their 2010 Juried Exhibition (to be juried by RVA artist Sally Bowring)

Greater Reston Art Center's call for artworks

Earth Day Recycle Art Show's call for entries (this Plant Zero show will be juried by Heather Russell of Russell/Projects)

Proposals for "The Zone" (artist residencies at the Science Museum of VA) are due March 30th


*(in case you didn't know)

It's Alive: General Assembly Votes to Preserve VA Commission for the Arts!

(from VA Alliance of Local Arts Agencies blog)

Budget conference makes 16% additional cut in arts funding but Commission is intact, lion's share of funding is preserved (More info here).

The House and Senate budget conferees have compromised on the questions of arts funding and the continuing existence of the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) by recommending an additional cut of $669,673 -- approximately 16.4% -- to the state general fund appropriation for grants to arts organizations throughout the Commonwealth.

This cut, while unfortunate in light of the 30% in cuts to arts funding previously made during 2008 and 2009, is a far cry from the proposal in the House budget plan, which would have cut VCA funding by 50% in the fiscal year that begins July 1 and eliminated the Commission, and all arts funding, a year later.

I am absolutely certain that this relatively small cut -- in the larger context of a $4.2 billion gap between base spending needs and available revenues -- is a direct result of the wonderful outpouring of advocacy efforts from every corner of Virginia since the House plan was unveiled on February 21. Arts advocates rose to the challenge and contacted legislators in unprecedented numbers, making clear the enormous breadth and depth of support for Virginia's rich and diverse arts and cultural resources. But for this heartfelt display of support, this cut could have been far worse -- and the Commission itself might not have survived.

Assuming that the Governor does not choose to suggest amendments to this budget item -- something we consider unlikely -- total state general funds available for arts grants in FY11 will be approximately $3.37 million.* This represents a significant decline -- some $2.4 million, to be precise -- from the high point of funding, achieved in FY08, of $5.78 million, and regrettably will bring Virginia below 50 cents per capita in arts funding for the first time in a number of years. Nevertheless, we count ourselves fortunate in comparison to those in several other states. facing similarly unprecedented budget pressures, that have made more draconian cuts, and even zeroed out arts funding altogether.

Please take the time to thank your legislators -- all of them -- for preserving arts funding and the Commission. A simple thank you goes a long way. Contact information HERE.

And please make a commitment to reach out to your legislators during the balance of 2010 -- invite them to your facilities, events and educational programs so that they can see, firsthand, what the arts mean on the lives of Virginians.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you have done to bring us home safely in the midst of an extraordinarily difficult fiscal storm.

Alan D. Albert
VFTA Legislative Counsel



* This figure represents the state general fund appropriation for arts grant funding, the "yardstick" by which we measure progress toward our dollar-per-capita goal for state arts funding. This does not include (a) funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) (approximately $721,000 this year, plus one-time stimulus funding of approximately $300,000), (b) the operating budget of the VCA itself ($532,137), and (c) a small amount of revenue derived from sales of the "Virginians for the Arts" license plate and income tax refund checkoffs (totaling approximately $43,000). Other published reports regarding arts funding occasionally refer to the combined general fund appropriation for grants and for administration; that figure will be $3.9 million in each of the next two fiscal years once this additional cut is taken into consideration.

Mixed Link Monday

Martha Jones Carter's quilt is on view at Spotlight Gallery

Art at/to come to 101 Addison

Bobby's Blog: please don't get rid of the Virginia Commission for the Arts

Art at Harrison St Coffee Shop

Bob Mooney: awesome RVA arts servant leader

Style on Reference Gallery and Russell/Projects

Grid on "Chemicals in Balance" at Ghostprint, Visual Art Studio's current show

Style on Art6 "Stayin' Alive"

VMFA expansion update from the Hat

More from Grid on 1708's 20th Annual Art Auction, Spring Bada Bing (the boss of all craft shows), women in fiber arts at Spotlight Gallery, First Fridays east info



Philadelphia love:

the artblog

One Review a Month is another great Philadephia-based art blog

AND former Richmonder Bruce Wilhelm (represented by ADA) has opened a gallery in Philla. It's called Grizzly Grizzly- check out their website and facebook pages.

Rally to save VA Arts Today!

PLEASE ATTEND IN A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR VA ARTS FUNDING

ARTS ADVOCACY RALLY
At the Virginia General Assembly and Capitol
FEBURUARY 25, 2010

WHY YOUR ATTENDANCE IS URGENTLY NEEDED AT THE ARTS RALLY
On February 21 the Appropriations Committee of the House of Delegates voted, 15-7, to cut state funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts by 50% in 2010-11 and to eliminate the agency completely as of July 1, 2011. The Senate Finance Committee has adopted the proposal in the budget bill submitted by Governor Kaine not to make further cuts in state funding for the Commission.

There will be votes on the House and Senate floors THURSDAY on the proposals from the two committees. The different versions of the 2010-12 budget bill approved by the two house of the General Assembly then go to a Budget Conference Committee to resolve the differences.

EMAIL VIRGINIANS FOR THE ARTS at VaForArts@aol.com to let us know you are attending.

WHAT TO DO THURSDAY AT THE RALLY

1. MEET WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS

WHEN? In the Morning, as early as possible

WHERE? At the General Assembly Building, 9th and Broad St., Richmond
A Leave-Behind informational piece is available here for your legislators:
http://bit.ly/9RC1Fn

Legislators begin arriving as early as 7:30 a.m. Make an appointment with your legislators, if possible. If this is not possible, make an appointment with an aide or drop by and leave our advocacy handout. Legislators attend committee meetings before the noon legislative session begins at the Capitol, and it's best to catch them in their offices as early in the day as possible.

2. PARTICIPATE IN SHOW OF SUPPORT AT IN THE GALLERY OF THE HOUSE FOR FLOOR DEBATE

WHEN? Line up outside the House of Delegates Gallery at 11:30 a.m.-admission on 1st come basis-Be there no later than 11:45 to be admitted and seated before the session begins. Stay as long as you can between noon and 2 pm and later, if available. Advocates will be recognized by a local legislator.

WHERE? At the Capitol, in the House Gallery.

Getting there: The general public must enter the Capitol through the public entrance near 10th and Bank Street. Once in the Capitol Building, Virginians for the Arts will have volunteers present to help direct you to the House Gallery.

Public Parking: A limited number of metered public parking spaces (2 hours) are located on Bank Street, between Governor and 14th Streets, on the south side of Main Street, between 9th and 12th Streets and on 12th Street between Main and Bank Streets. Pay parking lots and decks are nearby on 8th and Grace Street and 7th and Marshall Streets.

More info here.

VA Arts Won't Go Down Without a RALLY- This Thursday!

The situation for Virginia arts funding is precarious. Besides calling and faxing your legislator, there will be a rally for VA arts funds this Thursday morning at the Virginia General Assembly and Capitol- get more information about the rally at the Virginia Alliance for Local Arts Agencies blog.

And read this great post at Richmond.com about potential cuts for Virginia arts funds and the importance of the VA Commission for the Arts. Here's an excerpt:

Every dollar the state invests in the arts through the Virginia Commission for the Arts returns $7 in investment by corporations, in ticket and event sales, and in local government funding. The state investment also leverages federal matching funds - $1 million last year from the National Endowment for the Arts. $1 million more that will not be available to many organizations that need it if this cut is approved.

Arts in a community promote the grown of the "creative class" in the community. Talented young professionals are attracted to communities with a lively arts and cultural scene. The growth of arts and cultural districts and of public art programs across Virginia demonstrates that local officials understand the connection of the arts with economic development and community revitalizations.

Please contact your legislators today!

February's First Friday Closures and Upcoming Events

Check out the list of First Friday venues over at Curated Culture Commentary to see who will be open this evening.

One show in particular we have been looking forward to is Tin Salamunic's "Pictural Colloquy," which will open at the Richmond Public Library Feb. 12th. Check out Salamunic's blog (with lots of images of his work) here.




Other upcoming events (which may or may not be rescheduled): Talk20 at 1708, currently set to happen Wed. Feb. 10th at 6 PM. More info/free registration here.

Also, the Virginia Commission for the Arts Grant Assistance workshop scheduled to take place in Richmond is coming up Fri. Feb. 12th, 10 AM -12 PM, at Richmond Triangle Players- more info can be found on VCA's facebook and on their website. Just read the "Funding Guideline Changes for 2010-2011"- major bummer.


Hey, on a sidenote, is there any kind of workshop for artists (happening in Richmond) about record-keeping for taxes, or about tax information for artists in general? Something like this, but in RVA?

Important Art Things Happening This Week

The Art Works for Virginia conference is set for this Tuesday- Thursday at the Richmond Marriott. Click the link for more information about the entire conference, or click here for info. about the FREE pre-conference events on Tuesday.

Also, CultureWorks has invited us all to a meeting about arts and culture districts that Tuesday evening (Jan. 26th) at Richmond Marriott from 5:45 to 7 pm. More info about this meeting here.

Another important and awesome event happens this week when Josephine Durkin gives a talk about her work currently exhibited at Metro Space Gallery. This talk will happen in VCU's Fine Arts Building, crit room #3, Jan. 28th, 5:15 pm. Grid's got more info about this here.


Josephine Durkin's work will be on view at Metro Space until Jan. 29th

Big Link Monday

Lots of love for First Fridays/Curated Culture this past week (it's about time, too):

* Style's Richmonder of 2009
* Curated Culture Commentary on the Style article
* NBC12 interviews Style ed. about Richmonder of the Year

Richmond.com's First Friday site- picks for 2010

AND Richmond.com has photos from Gallery 5's "Say Love" AND info about Josephine Durkin (currently showing at Metro Space)

VA Commission for the Arts offers workshops for artists and organizations interested in grants

Art 180's Open Studios, Jan. 12 (tomorrow)- 14th

Know someone who would provide a great home for Real Small Art? Nominate them here.

Art After Hours this Thursday at VMFA

Oh, my! Art criticism in RVA!

December's First Friday (Last Friday) from RVATV

RTD on Bernard Martin at ADA and Crossroads Art Center works at Bonvenu

VMFA blogs about "The Constructed Image: Christa Bowden and Robert Sulkin"

R.A.G.E. on shows at Visual Art Studio and Gallery 5

GREAT ARTICLE- What is RVA doing to keep its creatives here?