ANNOUNCEMENT: New Individual Visual Artist Grants Program
Deadline: June 6, 2009
An annual work grants program has been newly established. Grants of $500.00 each will be awarded each summer. The funds for these grants will be generated by the fall Open Studio Tour. The number of grants will vary from year to year depending on funds available from the tour.
Artists applying for the grants should have a dedicated need for the grant as part of either ongoing or ensuing work. This need could be as varied as research, documentation, equipment or materials, skills enhancement through workshops or studio upgrades.
Applying visual artists should produce original work, live on Whidbey Island, and not use the funds for work that accrues academic credit. Artists who serve on Whidbey Island Arts Council or subcommittees, their partners (domestic, business, or family members) are not eligible for these grants while they are actively involved in the WIAC in these capacities. Recipients will be asked to verify residence prior to grant awards.
For grant information and application procedures click here.
Community Outreach
Whidbey Island Arts Council reaches out to the community to sustain art.
Whidbey Island is a microcosm of art.
Youths, middle-aged people and seniors alike all join in the practice and support of a community that embraces art in all its forms.
Painters, sculptors, textile artists, glass artists, musicians, writers, dancers, actors, designers and poets all can be found on the island in the various phases of their experience with the arts from student to accomplished professional.
The wider community of service organizations, businesses and community members islandwide have shown a deep commitment to the arts by their solid promotion and support of the artistic community.
This support is bolstered by the active endeavors of arts organizations such as the Whidbey Island Arts Council.
With its scholarship program that gives a helping hand to high school graduates pursuing a college education in the arts or its newest endeavor of the Whidbey Arts in Education Community Consortium where the council strives to support a sustainable arts curriculum in island schools, its presence is a valuable asset to the community.
Additionally, the council embraces the work of other local arts organizations including the partnership of Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and the South Whidbey High School theater program; the Whidbey Children's Theater and the outreach programs that connect them to area schools; the Association of American University Women and their annual support of arts scholarships for island high school students; the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra and its annual Young Soloists Competition Concert and the Whidbey Island Dance Theater and its solid connection to enriching the lives of young people through dance.
WIAC and Brave New Words
WIAC was a major sponsor of the very first Brave New Words poetry festival on April 18, 2009.
The reviews are in and the conclusion is that Brave New Words was a bonafide hit.
The Whidbey Island Arts Council was happy to do its part by becoming a major sponsor to get the brand new one-day festival off the ground at Greenbank Farm.
The festival invites the community and off-island folks to celebrate life, poetry and community and to increase the visibility and viability of poetry in a uniquely Whidbey format and environment. Features of the event are award-winning poets, youth poets developed in our own community, multilingual poetry, an inspiring workshop, a hosted open mic, poetry/art installations, music, connection and inspiration.
The Whidbey Island Arts Council, which has a long tradition of supporting all genres of the arts on Whidbey was eager to make a generous donation to the fledgling festival along with an offer of in-kind services.
"Brave New Words" is meant to be a community event," festival organizer Victory Schouten said.
"To flourish we needed exactly these kind of generous, committed sponsors and volunteers to step up. Without them there would literally be no Brave New Words. We feel very lucky and grateful to all of those who are generously offering their support in a myriad of creative ways."
Anyone wishing to make a donation or volunteer for Brave New Words 2010 can contact Schouten by phone at 360-331-7099 or 360-222-3070. Or e-mail info@BraveNewWords.org. All donations are tax deductible.
Arts and Education project update
The Whidbey Arts in Education Community Consortium was recently awarded a grant in the sum of $4,000 by the Washington State Arts Commission.
The grant comes after months of tireless effort by Whidbey Island Arts Council members Frank Rose and Sue Symons.
Award of this First Step Grant opens the door to annual WSAC funding at higher levels to encourage quality and sustainable arts teaching and learning for local schools in dance, music, performing arts and visual arts.
An additional $4,000 of matching community funds will be applied in curriculum development, K-12.
A plan to bring Consortium members together in early September (2009) to develop and approve consortium organizational policies, procedures, vision, mission, and a three-year strategic plan is underway.
Rose and Symons formed the arts in education committee of the Whidbey Island Arts Council to make the Whidbey Arts in Education Consortium project a reality.
The grant encourages communities to implement arts education in local public schools, pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
The grant supports the utilization of local resources through the formation of partnerships between educators, artists, arts organizations, parents, businesses and community members.
"A consortium is one way to create those strong supports in the arts community," Rose said.
It's a forward-thinking move to get public school teachers and local artists certified to teach art, and is directly in line with the Whidbey Island Arts Council vow to partner with school-based arts programs, Rose added.