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Opportunities for Artists

Current Newsletter:

 Arts Orange County, Winter/Spring, 2003                   Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

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Previous Newsletters:

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Artist’s Hanging Scheduled at University Mall

The historic marker on South Churton Street in downtown Hillsborough says: "Regulators Hanged: After the Regulators were defeated at Alamance May 16, 1771, six of their number were hanged 1/4 mile east June 19, 1771."

Commemorating the Hanging of the Regulators, the Orange County Arts Commission and the Orange County 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee announce an Artist’s Hanging, set for March 21-30, 2003 at University Mall in Chapel Hill. This much-anticipated unjuried exhibition is open to all visual artists - from the obscure beginner to the recognized artist. Modeled after an event previously sponsored by the Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh, this democratic art show gives artists of all ages and levels of experience an opportunity to exhibit their work alongside their peers.

Visual artists are invited to bring one piece of two-dimensional artwork (per artist) to the central area inside University Mall on Friday and Saturday, March 21-22, between 9:00 am-6:00 pm. All artwork will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope to hang at least 250 pieces, space permitting. Parents and children are encouraged to hang up their works of art together.

Because of space limitations, no three-dimensional artwork will be accepted. All artwork must be appropriate for viewing by the general public. Artwork will be hung by the artists themselves (with some assistance by volunteers as needed) and must be ready for hanging (using wire). Artists will be also given the option to sell their artwork.

An opening reception for all artists, their families and friends will be held at 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 22nd in the central area inside University Mall.

The Artist’s Hanging will be on display at University Mall until Sunday, March 30, when artists are asked to pick up their work. For more information on the Artist’s Hanging, please contact the Orange County Arts Commission.

As a prelude to the Artist’s Hanging, a Symposium on the Regulators will be held on February 22, 2003 from 1:00-5:00 pm at the Orange County Historical Museum in Hillsborough ($5 admission). Marjolene Kars and Simon and Sara Spalding will lead this symposium on the greatest revolt in the colonies before the American Revolution, entitled "A Test of Wills: The Regulator Uprising in Orange County". This Orange County 250th event is co-sponsored by the Hillsborough Historical Society (919/732-7741), and the Orange County Historical Museum (919/732-2201). Also on February 22, 2003 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm., the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough (919/732-7741) will sponsor Cornwallis' Occupation of Hillsborough: A Living History Program of the Revolutionary War, an encampment re-enactment of General Cornwallis’ occupation of Hillsborough in 1781. Set in downtown Hillsborough, the lives of typical British soldiers and loyalist North Carolina volunteers will be demonstrated during this free living-history interpretation by The King’s Own Patriots and the 33rd Regiment of Foot. Headquarters will be located at the Alexander Dickson House (Orange County Visitor Center, 150 E. King Street). The Hanging of the Regulators is described in a new book, Breaking Loose Together: The Regulator Rebellion in Pre-Revolutionary North Carolina, by Marjoleine Kars (University of North Carolina Press; Chapel Hill, NC; 2002). More than 2000 Piedmont farmers rose up in protest of corrupt government and were defeated by Governor William Tryon's colonial militia after a two-hour battle. One Regulator was hanged on the spot without a trial. A month later, another six were hanged at a wooded spot east of Cameron Street, then outside the town limits. Today, a bronze marker inside a wrought-iron fence between the Hughes Academy and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church commemorates the spot. For information on additional Orange County 250th Anniversary activities, please visit the official web site at www.orangecounty250.org.


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2002 Fall Grant Awards Announced

The following organizations and individuals were awarded Orange County Arts Grants to support art programming during the Fall, 2002 grant cycle:

  • Cedar Ridge High School Chorus Boosters
  • Chapel Hill Museum
  • Choreo Collective
  • Deep Dish Theater Company
  • Efland-Cheeks Elementary School Cultural Arts Committee
  • Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library
  • Lineburger Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Medical Foundation of NCNC Women's Choral Festival
  • Orange-Person-Chatham System of Care Network
  • Guy B. Phillips Middle School
  • Renee Piechocki
  • PlayMakers Repertory Company
  • Dan Rhode
  • Michael Schwalbe
  • Village Band
  • Women’s Center
  • Women’s Voices Chorus

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    2003 Spring Grants Deadline Announced

    The Orange County Arts Commission announces a May 27, 2003 deadline for receipt of grant application for the spring cycle. Grants are available to both nonprofit organizations and individuals. Fall grants categories are as follows:

  • Arts Program Grant - funds up to $1,500.00 available to non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.
  • General Arts Support Grant - funds up to $5,000.00 available to Orange County non-profit arts organizations that consistently provide high-quality arts programs. Organizations must have received an Orange County Arts Commission grant in each of the three previous years to apply.
  • Arts in Education Grant - funds up to $1,000.00 available to public or private schools, or parent and teacher organizations in Orange County coordinating arts programs.
  • Arts in Education Coalition Grant - funds up to $5,000.00 available to three or more Orange County schools or parent and teacher organizations coordinating arts programs.
  • Artist Project Grant - funds up to $1,000.00 available to professional artists coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.

    • Spring Grants Project Period: The spring cycle of grants will fund arts activities taking place from July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004. A fall cycle will also be available for all categories except the General Arts Support and the Arts in Education Coalition grants, which will be available annually.

    Supportable Projects: Applicants may request funds to support a variety of arts programs in the visual, performing, literary arts.

    Deadline: Spring applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at the Orange County Arts Commission office (this is not a “postmarked by” deadline).

    Applications: Applications will be available for downloading online (PDF format); hard-copies will be available at the Arts Commission office and at all Orange County Public Libraries.

    Information Session: The Arts Commission will hold a free grant-writing workshop for potential OCAC grant applicants from 7-8:30 pm on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at the Arts Commission office in Hillsborough. To registrar or for more information about OCAC grants, contact the Orange County Arts Commission.


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    Congressional High School Arts Competition Deadline Announced

    Each spring, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, committed to the importance of our cultural heritage, join together to recognize the creative spirit of American high school students in a nationwide art competition. The Congressional High School Arts Competition is implemented by the Members in the Congressional Districts and features paintings, drawings, and prints. Each Member brings a winning entry back to Washington, D.C. to be displayed in the corridor of the U.S. Capital. Launched in 1982, this nationwide event has produced thousands of local competitions, yielding more than 500,000 high school winners.

    This competition is coordinated locally through Fourth District U.S. Representative David Price’s office. High school visual arts students in the counties of Orange, Durham, Chatham and Wake are eligible to apply.

    If you are interested in participating in the 2003 Congressional High School Arts Competition and you live in Orange County, contact your high school art teacher or the Orange County Arts Commission for an application form and guidelines. You may also print the application form and guidelines directly from the US government web site at www.house.gov/hooley/artshow.html.

    The deadline to apply is 5 pm on Wednesday, April 30, 2003. All entries must be delivered by that time to the Orange County Arts Commission’s office at 110 E. King Street in Hillsborough, NC.


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    Next Artists' Salon at ArtsCenter

    The next Artists' Salon, sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission, will be held on Friday, April 11, 2003.

    April's topic will be a continuation of the “Artist’s Studio Space Needs” discussion began at the January 17th Artists’ Salon. Guest speaker(s) will be announced. Visit the Arts Commission’s web site (www.artsorange.org) for updated information.

    If you are an artist interested in studio space in Orange County, please come to this meeting! Artists' Salons are held from 6-9 pm at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. Salons are free, for artists of all kinds - performing, visual, literary, whatever! Come to meet, network, and build a better arts environment for all Orange County Artists.

    If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the Orange County Arts Commission at 919/245-2335 or email us at arts@co.orange.nc.us.


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    Kaia Parker Fund for Young Dancers Announces Spring Deadline

    In an effort to come to terms with the tragedy of Kaia Parker’s death in August of 2000, her family and teachers have joined with the Triangle Community Foundation to offer the Kaia Parker Fund for Young Dancers again this year. This fund was created to honor the memory of a beautiful and talented young woman from our community by opening the way ahead for others who, as she did, love dance and aspire to make it their lifework.

    Monies donated to the fund are allocated to deserving dance artists for summer study and special choreography or performance projects. Dancers between the ages of 12 and 21 who reside in Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange or Wake counties are eligible to apply and current plans call for the awards to be granted in the spring of 2003. The deadline to apply is Saturday, March 15, 2003. For application materials or more information, please contact the fund’s website at www.kaiaparker.org. Application forms and guidelines are also available at the Orange County Arts Commission’s office at 110 E. King Street in Hillsborough, NC.


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    Arts Incubation Program Seeks New Participant

    Three years ago the Orange County Arts Commission embarked on an innovative program supporting the arts and culture of Orange County. The Arts Incubation Program strives to create successful and self-sustaining local arts organizations by offering up to three years of concentrated skills and technical development and aid.

    The first participant in the Arts Incubation Program was the Orange County Artists Guild, a group of professional "artists aiding artists." Currently working towards establishing themselves as a non-profit organization, the Artists Guild's main activity is to coordinate the annual Orange County Open Studio Tour. For more information on the Orange County Artists Guild, visit their web site at www.orangecountyartistsguild.com.

    The Orange County Arts Commission is now looking for a new Orange County arts organization to incubate beginning July 1, 2003. If your organization is interested in participating in our Arts Incubation Program, contact the Orange County Arts Commission at 919/245-2335 or arts@co.orange.nc.us.


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    Wanted: Artist's Studio Space in Orange County

    If you have interior space to rent/lease/sell that could be used as artist’s studio space, contact the Orange County Arts Commission at 919/245-2335 or arts@co.orange.nc.us.

    An artist’s studio space bank will be created for online referrals.


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    The Arts Mean Business in North Carolina

    A strong economy depends on the spirit of its people. Citizens in every county demonstrate the power of the Arts every time they put a hand to clay or a voice to song. Because of the support of the General Assembly, the Arts remain a vital and indispensable part of life in North Carolina.

    North Carolina Arts Council:

  • 11 million adults and children participated in Arts Council funded projects.
  • Grants were made in all 100 counties of the state.
  • 62,281 North Carolinians volunteered for Arts Council funded projects.
  • The $7.8 million appropriated by the State of North Carolina in 00-01 was matched by $91 million at the local level.
  • Partnerships with tourism and downtown revitalization have a direct impact on the state’s economy.

    • North Carolina Museum of Art:

  • The Museum hosted 438,532 visitors in 2000-2001.
  • Total economic impact for one special exhibit (Rodin) was $50 million.
  • 97% of those attending the Rodin exhibit planned to return to the area.
  • The $3.5 million appropriated by the State of North Carolina is matched by $7.3 million.

    • North Carolina Symphony:

  • Performs 175 orchestra concerts, with more than one-half of its performances taking place outside the Triangle.
  • Visits 30-40 counties each year, performing for 250,000 people, traveling a total of 20,000 miles.
  • Performs 45-60 full orchestra education concerts across the state, serving up to 100,000 children yearly.
  • The $2.4 million in state appropriation is matched by $6.2 million.

    • A+ Schools:

  • 35 schools in 21 school districts are supported through the A+ program.
  • Students demonstrate improved attitudes, attendance, and behavior.

    • Acknowledging the current economic challenges, the Arts stand ready to serve as part of the solution. The budgetary shortfall cannot be addressed through further reductions in arts funding, and the effects of such decisions can be catastrophic. The Arts have traditionally served the state with “less” while producing the highest standard of experience. Further reductions will result in the loss of valued programs and unemployed artists and professionals.

    The Arts are indispensable to our state’s health. The Arts are stakeholders of our economy, our children’s education, our quality of life. The Arts mean business in North Carolina.

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    Orange County 250

     Celebrating 250 Years of Diversity, Freedom, Preservation and Education

    On September 9, 1752 a new county was born in the North Carolina back country -- a county that spanned the area from present-day Greensboro to present-day Durham, from the Virginia line to the Uwharrie mountains. On that day, Orange County became a reality as its first colonial court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions was held at Grayfields along the Eno River.

    Originally inhabited by the Occaneechi/Saponi nation and other native American tribes, the new county encompassed a land area of 3,500 square miles (versus 400 today) including all of present day Alamance, Caswell, Person, Durham and Chatham counties as well as parts of Wake, Lee, Randolph, Guildford and Rockingham counties.

    Mindful of our proud heritage, the mission of the ORANGE COUNTY 250 celebration is to bring together citizens to celebrate and educate ourselves about the people past and present who have called Orange County home.

    As citizens in one of the oldest Piedmont counties, Orange County’s 120,000 residents -- up from 4,000 when the county was formed -- have a lot to celebrate:

  • Our commitment to education, from the founding of the University of North Carolina, the nation's first state university when it opened in 1795; through early advocacy for universal public education; the development of six freedmen’s schools by 1868; a district tax enacted in the 1940s to boost local school funding in Chapel Hill and Carrboro; to today's changing UNC-Chapel Hill and local school systems rated among the best in the southeastern U.S.
  • Our will to preserve cultural resources such as our tapestry of distinctive buildings and neighborhoods, as well as our farmland and natural treasures like Occoneechee Mountain and the Eno River corridor.
  • Our growing diversity, beginning with Indian nations, recast by the arrival of people from Europe and Africa, and shaped recently by the addition of persons from Asia, Latin America and other parts of the globe.
  • Our ongoing love of independence, whether reflected in the actions of the Regulators or the patriots of the American Revolution, by women fighting for equality, African-Americans struggling to secure their civil rights, sharecroppers and mill workers striving for dignity, or free-speech advocates protecting free expression in the mid-20th century. In all of these struggles, important battles were fought and won in Orange County.

    • The anniversary of the county's founding provides an opportunity and need to celebrate its 250 rich years. Social and political issues may sometimes divide us, yet there is much that argues for recognizing our common ground. Knowing that a diversity of interests, cultures and ideas have been a mainstay of the past 250 years makes it easier for us to welcome the diversity that the future will surely bring.

    The ORANGE COUNTY 250 committee seeks your help in celebrating our common heritage. Currently there are plans to:

  • Hold a kickoff event commemorating the county’s origin beginning on September 8th with a several-mile walk from Moorefields to Hillsborough bearing artifacts from the 1750s, followed on September 9 by a re-enactment of the first county court in the 1840 courthouse, brief remarks from several county dignitaries, and a ringing of church and courthouse bells across the county.
  • Post highway signs and banners that advertise and celebrate our anniversary, featuring a juried logo commissioned for the occasion.
  • Encourage the county’s numerous and varied civic and service organizations to incorporate programs with an ORANGE COUNTY 250 theme during the semi-quincentennial year beginning September 9, 2002.
  • Develop driving tours and other activities related to the county's heritage and diversity, encouraging local residents and visitors to explore Orange County.
  • Close the year-long celebrations by hosting an event saluting the county’s past, present and future in September 2003.

    • Please help us set the stage for a year of unity and celebration by volunteering to work with ORANGE COUNTY 250, by making a contribution, by identifying existing events that might share the anniversary theme, or by participating in related events throughout the year. For more information on how you can help, please call 245-2325 or send e-mail to edcmail.co.orange.nc.us. Please provide event information by July 31, 2002.

    We'd like to thank Central Carolina Bank & Trust Company for helping to sponsor the Orange County 250th Anniversary Celebration.

    This yearlong 250th anniversary celebration, ending on September 9, 2003, will include these events:

  • World Arts Festival -- Sept. 6, 27, Oct. 19, 25-26, Nov. 22-23, Dec. 13-14, The ArtsCenter, Carrboro
  • Orange County Open Studio Tour – Nov. 2-3, 9-10, 2002, Orange County Artists Guild, countywide
  • Hillsborough Candlelight Tour – Dec. 8, 2002, Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough
  • Community Dinner Celebrating Cultural Diversity – Feb. 9, 2003, Cultural Arts Group, Chapel Hill
  • Cornwallis Encampment Re-enactment – Feb. 22, 2003, Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Hillsborough
  • Occaneechi-Saponi Pow Wow – June 13-14, 2003, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Hillsborough

    • For a more complete listing, visit the official web site at: www.orangecounty250.org.


    Key Events in Orange County History:

    1701 – English explorer John Lawson arrived in the area and recorded his meeting with the Occaneechi

    1752 – Orange County formed, largely from Granville County, partly from Bladen and Johnston; western boundary indefinite until Rowan County was formed about a year later

    1754 – County seat (permanently named Hillsborough in 1766) established on 400 acres where the Indian Trading Path crossed the Eno River

    1771 – Government troops defeated Regulator army at Battle of Alamance; six regulators hung in Hillsborough

    1795 – University of North Carolina becomes the first state-supported university to open its doors

    1865 – Last headquarters of the Confederacy established at Alexander Dickson homestead in Hillsborough

    For a more complete listing, visit the official web site at: www.orangecounty250.org

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    CHHS Student Wins Honorable Mention in Congressional Arts Competition

     Sarah Owen, a Junior at Chapel Hill High School, received an Honorable Mention at the District level for her collage entitled “The Journey” in the Congressional High School Arts Competition, sponsored annually by the U.S. House of Representatives, and implemented locally through Fourth District U.S. Representative David Price’s office. She was presented with this award at a district-wide reception held on Wednesday, May 29th in Pittsboro. Sarah’s artwork will hang in Congressman Price’s Chapel Hill office for a period of one year.

    Sarah is the daughter of Patricia Owen of Carrboro. Her art teacher at Chapel Hill High School is Pamela Pate.

    Four finalists were chosen from Orange County to participate at the district level. The other three finalists from Orange County were Kasey Christian and Matt Mezynski from Chapel Hill High School and Carynne McIver from Orange High School in Hillsborough. We want to thank all students who entered this competition. The Orange County Arts Commission, the Chatham County Arts Council, the Durham Arts Council and United Arts of Raleigh and Wake County worked together to make this competition a success.

    Each year, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, committed to the greatness of our cultural heritage, join together to recognize the creative spirit of American high school students in a nationwide competition. This contest is implemented by the Members in the Congressional Districts and features paintings, drawings, and prints. Each Member brings a winning entry back to Washington, D.C. to be displayed in the corridor of the U.S. Capital. Launched in 1982, this nationwide event has produced thousands of local competitions, yielding more than 500,000 high school winners.

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    Artists' Salon Series

     Mark your calendars now for the next Artists’ Salon, to take place at the ArtsCenter in Chapel Hill from 6-9 pm on:

  • Friday, April 11, 2003 (Subject TBA)

    • Sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission, these Artists’ Salons are free, and for artists of all kinds – performing, visual, literary, whatever! Light hors d’oeuvres will be served from 6-9 pm. Discussion will begin at 7:00 pm.

    April's topic will be "Artist's Studio Space Needs - Part 2". Input from the audience on this topic will be solicited. Guest speaker(s) TBA. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.

    The purpose of the salon is to bring together artists of all disciplines in a casual setting to share ideas, concerns and information. It is the hope of the Orange County Arts Commission to not only bring the artistic community together but to facilitate closer ties between artists and the general community of Orange County. Better serving the needs of artists is one of the goals of the Orange County Arts Commission. Artists often work in isolation and the salon can serve as a place to get feedback from peers as well as to share all of the problem and pleasures of being an artist with kindred spirits.

    The OCAC thanks the ArtsCenter for allowing us to use their space for this salon series. Please RSVP to the Orange County Arts Commission (919/245-2335 or arts@co.orange.nc.us) to let us know if you are planning to attend.

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    Fall Grants Announced by Arts Commission

     The Orange County Arts Commission is planning for a fall, 2002 cycle of arts grant applications. As in the past, arts project grants are available to non-profit organizations and schools, as well as to individual artists. The fall grant categories are as follows:

  • Arts Program Grant - funds up to $1,500.00 available to non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.
  • Arts in Education Grant - funds up to $1,000.00 available to public or private schools, or parent and teacher organizations in Orange County coordinating arts programs.
  • Artist Project Grant - funds up to $1,000.00 available to professional artists coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.

    • The fall cycle of grants funds arts activities taking place from January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003. A spring cycle will also be available for all categories including the General Arts Support and the Arts in Education Coalition grants, which are available annually.

    Applicants may request funds to support a variety of arts programs in the visual, performing, literary arts.

    The fall application deadline is Monday, November 25, 2002 by 5 pm at the Orange County Arts Commission. (This is a "receipt" deadline, not a "postmarked by" deadline.)

    Applications are available online for downloading as PDF files (see "Grants" section of this web site). Hard copies are available at all Orange County Public Libraries and at the Arts Commission office.

    The Arts Commission will hold a free grant-writing workshop on Thursay, October 10, 2002 from 7-8 pm at the Chapel Hill Public Library. To register or for more information about grants or the Arts Commission, call 919/245-2335.

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    Arts Organization Spotlight – Green Tara Gallery

     As well as an outstanding collection, Green Tara Gallery offers on-site consultation and both private and corporate installation. Their corporate clients have included Nortel, UNC Hospitals, Cisco, and Duke Medical Center, among others. Adding to their wide variety of stunning art works, Green Tara currently has an exhibit of works by Latin artists Francicso Gonzales and Raul Villarreal, through June 30, 2001. Visit Green Tara Gallery in Chapel Hill, at 241 South Elliott Road at the Village Plaza. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm or by appointment. For more information, call 919/932-6400 or see www.greentaragallery.com.

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    Arts Organization Spotlight – Orange County Public Library

    When most people think of a trip to the neighborhood library, they might be expecting a connection only with literature, non-fiction, or poetry.  The Orange County Public Library provides a wide variety of literary arts, but in two unusual programs, departs from the standard library experience to include a lively combination of high-quality arts to community members and library patrons.  This year marks the tenth anniversary of the library’s gallery, which displays a wide range of two- and three- dimensional works by local artists.  These free, public exhibits often kick-off with an artist reception that has open invitation to community members.   Recent shows have included the works of local and nationally recognized artists Artie Dixon and Guy Wilkens, Jr..  The gallery shows generally rotate on a monthly basis and also annually highlight the works of local arts students.   The gallery space will be renovated this summer with a new hanging system to allow greater ease of display and higher quality exhibits, funded through an Orange Arts Grant from the Orange County Arts Commission.  Marion Jackson, Gallery Coordinator, recommends upcoming shows:

    • Exhibition of the Pastel Society of North Carolina. January 29-February 28, 2001.
       
    • Celebrate Youth Art Month. Works by Orange County Schools Students, K-12.  March 1-31, 2001.
    The Orange County Public Library also offers a variety of youth arts program that brings diverse performing artists into the library, providing a broad spectrum of educational arts programs that promote literacy, individual expression, and an appreciation of cultural and artistic diversity. Recent programs have included Creating Art with Recycled Materials through the Scrap Exchange, Braima Moiwai with African storytelling, songs and games, and Razzmatazz-Music for the Young and Young at Heart. Ginger Holler, Children’s Services Librarian, recommends upcoming programs:
    • Flavor of Mardi Gras -- highlights local artist and New Orleans native Andrea Tullos; Louisiana jazz, crafts, and games.  3:30-4:30 PM.  Tuesday, February 6, 2001.  For school-age children (6-12 years old.)
       
    • Tales and Scales -- connects physical movement and dance for kids with energizing percussive music. 3:30-4:30 PM. Friday, February 23, 2001.  For children of all ages.
    For more information about the Orange County Public Library, see their web site at www.co.orange.nc.us/library or call 919/245-2525.

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    Opportunities

  • The classic Greek anti-war comedy "Lysistrata", by Aristophanes, will be read in Pittsboro on March 3, 2003, at 7:15 pm at the Pittsboro library. The play is very entertaining and a bit bawdy as the women withhold certain favors from their men unless they cease fighting in the Peleponnesus wars! This community reading is part of an international movement sponsored by Theater Artists Against the War. So far more than 656 readings in 39 countries are scheduled for that day. Come to listen, to read, to enjoy and to protest creatively and with humor! For more information, call 967-3716.

  • DOG & PONY SHOW AND SHAKESPEARE & ORIGINALS PRESENT A DURHAM PRODUCTION OF THE LYSISTRATA PROJECT. On March 3, 2003, the Lysistrata Project will present worldwide readings of Aristophanes' ancient Greek anti-war comedy Lysistrata. The Lysistrata Project was conceived by New York actors Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower. To date, over 700 play readings are scheduled in 41 countries to voice opposition to the war in Iraq. Readings will raise money for charities working for peace. (For a full list of participants and detailed information on the project, please visit www.pecosdesign.com/lys/).

    Lysistrata tells the story of women from opposing states who unite to end a war by refusing to sleep with their husbands until the men agree to lay down their swords. Powerless in their society and distraught over too many of their children being slaughtered in battle, the women take the only tactic available to them: they withhold sex. Fast-forward 2,400 years: swords are now weapons of mass destruction. Faced with the prospect of massive loss of human life -- both Iraqi and American -- Lysistrata Project participants worldwide take a new tactic and add their voices to the mounting clamor of global anti-war protests.

    The area offering of THE LYSISTRATA PROJECT is a co-production between area theater companies Dog & Pony Show and Shakespeare & Originals. The two companies will absorb all costs associated with the event, giving all proceeds to the hunger relief association Food Not Bombs, dividing them equally between the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill chapters of this worthy organization. (For more information on Food Not Bombs, please visit www.foodnotbombs.net). There is no charge for admission, but the suggested donation amount is however much each attendee spent, or will spend, on goods consumed that day, be they groceries, fast food, restaurant meals, soft drinks, or even beer or cigarettes.

    The reading will be held at C. E. Jordan High School, 6806 Garrett Road in Durham, on Monday, March 3rd, at 8 p.m. All are welcome, and blocks of seating can be reserved for groups by e-mailing dogandponytheater@yahoo.com. It is our hope that this project can use the art of theater as a tool to raise not only funds for the hungry, but also awareness.

  • A free artist/seminar panel entitled "New Directions for your Art! Opportunities in the Public Realm - the Chapel Hill Connection" will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2003 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Chapel Hill Town Hall (Personnel Training Room, 2nd Floor), 306 Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC. Focusing on the new Chapel Hill Percent for Art Program as one example of increasing public art opportunities for artists, panelists will discuss the public art process from the artist, commissioner and administrator points of view. Upcoming opportunities in Chapel Hill for the Hargraves Center and the IFC Shelter will be presented. Information about public art programs in the state and beyond will also be discussed. Pre-registration is required. Call 919/715-0834 or email jeffrey.york@ncmail.net to register. This program is sponsored by the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission and the NC Public Art Network, a service of the NC Arts Council.

  • The National Outdoor Drama Auditions, sponsored annually by UNC's Institute of Outdoor Drama, will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2003 on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Registration deadline is March 13, 2003. For more information and application forms send a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to: Institute of Outdoor Drama, CB #3240, 1700 Airport Road, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3240 or download the application forms and information at www.unc.edu/depts/outdoor, or call 919/962-1328.

  • The Kaia Parker Fund announces a March 15, 2003 application deadline for dancers between the ages of 12 and 21 who reside in Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange or Wake counties. For application materials or more information, please contact the Kaia Parker Fund web site at www.kaiaparker.org. This fund is being managed by Ivy Wingate at the Triangle Community Foundation. She can be contacted at 919/474-8370 x 134 or by email at ivy@trianglecf.org.

  • Public Art Opportunity - Kinston, NC. Community Council for the Arts invites interested artists to submit proposals for public benches. Two bench designs will be selected by popular vote and each winning artist will receive $2,300 to create the bench. This amount must cover all aspects of design, production, transportation and installation. Any media capable of withstanding the outside environment and public use for a minimum of 10 years, will be considered.

    Each bench design must have a seating platform that is approximately 18" deep, 60" wide and 18" off the ground. Artists are free to propose armrests, backrests, canopies etc. No size requirement must be met aside from the seating platform. The benches will be installed in a renovated downtown pocket park. provisions for installation must be addressed by the artist. It is preferred that the designs reflect the aesthetics of the park which dates back to 1910.

    All proposals are due by March 29, 2003 by 2pm. Each proposal must include a color drawing or 3d model of the design with dimensions indicated. The winning bench designs must be completed and in possession of the arts council by 6/30/03. For additional information contact Tim Knouff at 252/527-2517.

  • Commemorating the Hanging of the Regulators, the Orange County Arts Commission and the Orange County 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee announce an Artist’s Hanging, set for March 21-30, 2003 at University Mall in Chapel Hill. This much-anticipated unjuried exhibition is open to all visual artists - from the obscure beginner to the recognized artist. Modeled after an event previously sponsored by the Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh, this democratic art show gives artists of all ages and levels of experience an opportunity to exhibit their work alongside their peers.

    Visual artists are invited to bring one piece of two-dimensional artwork (per artist) to the central area inside University Mall on Friday and Saturday, March 21-22, between 9:00 am-6:00 pm. All artwork will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope to hang at least 250 pieces, space permitting. Parents and children are encouraged to hang up their works of art together. Because of space limitations, no three-dimensional artwork will be accepted. All artwork must be appropriate for viewing by the general public. Artwork will be hung by the artists themselves (with some assistance by volunteers as needed) and must be ready for hanging (using wire). Artists will be also given the option to sell their artwork.

    An opening reception for all artists, their families and friends will be held at 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 22nd in the central area inside University Mall. The Artist’s Hanging will be on display at University Mall until Sunday, March 30, when artists are asked to pick up their work. For more information on the Artist’s Hanging, please contact the Orange County Arts Commission.

  • North Carolina Theatre Conference Professional Theatre Gathering and Auditions - March 30-31, 2003, hosted by PlayMakers Repertory Company and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for Dramatic Art. Visit www.nctc.org for registration information and forms. For more information call 919/832-9171 or email nctc@mindspring.com.

  • The next Artists' Salon, sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission, will be held on April 11, 2003 ("Artist's Studio Space Needs - Part 2"). Artists' Salons are held from 6-9 pm at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Salons are free, for artists of all kinds - performing, visual, literary, whatever! Come to meet, network, and build a better arts environment for all Orange County Artists. April's topic will be "Artist's Studio Space Needs - Part 2". Input from the audience on this topic will be solicited. Guest speaker(s) TBA. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the Orange County Arts Commission at 919/245-2335 or email us at arts@co.orange.nc.us.

  • Call for Entries - A Juried Art Competition “Out of the Box:” TRASH. The Visual Arts Guild of Columbus County is announcing a call for entries for “Out of the Box”, the first in a series of juried art competitions. For the first exhibition you are invited to interpret the impact of Trash in our Culture. This event is open to all artists 16 years of age or older, residing in North or South Carolina. All mediums are eligible. Call Leigh Shelley at 640-2787 for prospectus and additional information or e-mail at ccac@ncez.net. Deadline is April 16, 2003.

  • Copyright Information for Artits - Check out www.nea.gov/artforms/Manage/Copyright2.html.

  • Health Insurance for Artists - check out The Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center on the Americans for the Arts web site.

  • Two Artists' Studios for rent at the Clay Centre (402 Lloyd Street, Carrboro). 140 sq. ft each. Two people can share a studio for $400/month (total), with utilities included in that price. For more information, call Barbara Higgins at 919/967-0314.

  • Art Gallery offering retail and studio spaces for rent. No commission, 6 month agreements, available January 2003. Opening special: month of January rent - half price. Call 919/742-3878 (Siler City, NC).

  • Happenings Calendar of Events Listing Form - The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau and the Chapel Hill Herald publish the Happenings Calendar of Events jointly, listing events held in Orange County, NC. For the Spring issue, information is due Monday, January 13, 2003 for events from March 1-May 31, 2003. For Summer, 2003 issue, information is due Monday, April 14, 2003 for events taking place from June 1-August 31, 2003. Please send in the name of the event, sponsor of the event, date(s) of the event, description, time, location of event, prices (please note if event is free), phone number to be listed. Send information to Patty Griffin, Communications Manager, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, 501 West Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516, (919) 968-2060, or email to pgriffin@chocvb.org.

  • Family Violence & Rape Crisis Services 1st Annual Arts & Crafts Festival, April 12-13, 2003 in Siler City, NC. Space is limited; deadline to apply is January 25, 2003. Contact Darien Russell at 919/542-0456 for more information and to request an application.

  • The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has launched NYFA Source, "the nation's most extensive database of awards, services, and publications for artists of all disciplines." Artists, funders, arts organizations, and the general public can access NYFA Source for free at www.nyfa.org/nyfa_source.asp?id=47&fid=1.

  • Arts in the New Economy. The summer 2002 issue of the Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society focused on issues surrounding art and culture in the new economy. A PDF version of this issue is now available at www.culturalpolicy.org/pdf/neweconomy.pdf.

  • “Deeper Than Skin or Gender: Community Arts and Cultural Diversity.” The author of this article looks at the similarities and differences between the place of the artist in different communities. www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archive/intro-diversity.php.

  • Board Café, at www.boardcafe.org/, is a newsletter exclusively for members of nonprofit boards of directors. Check it out!

  • Tips for Nonprofit Accountability. Charles B. Maclean, PhD and founder of PhilanthropyNow has developed a self-audit for nonprofits to help prevent behaviors that could have a negative impact on donors. In his article, Maclean offers tips for nonprofit accountability. www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=734.

  • STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. Independent Sector has announced a new accountability initiative to help boards and staff of nonprofits develop clear standards and procedures for ethical behavior. The organization has produced an online compendium of the standards of more than 60 nonprofits. www.independentsector.org/issues/accountability.html.

  • IMAGINING AMERICA. A national movement to link universities with the communities they serve through arts, design, and humanities projects. www.ia.umich.edu/.

  • The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) announces a new free online database of grants, residencies, publications and sources of information and assistance for artists of all disciplines. NYFA Source identifies more than 2,600 award programs, 2,000 services and 700 publications for artists in dance, music, theatre, performance art, visual art, design, media art and literary arts. The database may be accessed through www.nyfa.org.

  • Playwrights needed for next production in North Carolina Artists Series - Nash County Arts Council is looking for scripts by North Carolina playwrights for their second production. Contact Cher Street, Nash County Arts Council, at 252/459-4734 or ncac@nashvillenc.com

  • National Heritage Fellowships: Nomination Information. As part of its efforts to honor, assist, encourage, and present artists and artforms that reflect the many cultural traditions that make up our nation, the NEA annually awards up to 12 one-time-only National Heritage Fellowships for master folk and traditional artists. These fellowships are intended to recognize the recipients' artistic excellence and support their continuing contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage. For information on how to nominate someone, go to their website at arts.endow.gov/guide/Heritage02.html.

  • The Creative Arts in Public/Private Schools (CAPS) Program of the Durham Arts Council provides creative ways for students and educators in public and private schools of Durham and Orange counties to access arts education. Students are taught history through dance, language through poetry, science through photography, and other core curriculums through the arts. If you would like information on how to become a CAPS Artist-in-Residence, check out the Durham Arts Council's Artist Services Update. To find out how to place a CAPS artist in your child's school, contact Jane Williams at 919/560-2718 or jwilliams@durhamarts.org.

  • Triangle Community Foundation is building a database of all eligible non-profits so that its donors can get involved in community organizations serving Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties, and have access to the full range of granting opportunities in their fields of interest. If you're interested in submitting an agency profile, contact Jan Muller at 919/474-8360 or email to jan@trianglecf.org.

  • Yosemite Renaissance is an annual competition/exhibition, intended to encourage diverse artistic interpretations of Yosemite. Subject matter is limited to recent works on the landscape, environment, wildlife, and people of Yosemite and the Sierra. Both representational and non-representational submissions are accepted. Entries may be in any fine art media, including, painting, photography/digital, drawings, printmaking, pastels, textiles, and any 3-dimensional work. $3,000 in prize money is distributed at the discretion of the jury. Entries are $15 for the first 35 mm slide, and $10 for additional submissions. For full rules and entry forms, visit www.yosemiteart.org or send an SASE to Yosemite Renaissance, P.O. Box 1430, Mariposa. CA 95338

  • If you would like your 2003 event included in the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development Calendar of Events Booklet, please include the following information: name of the event, event sponsor, date(s) of event, description of event, time, location of event, admission cost (please note if event is free), indicate whether alcohol is prohibited or program is not suitable for children, contact name, phone number to be listed in calendar, website, e-mail. To ensure the accuracy of the published events, the state travel office now publishes two booklets a year (January – June events) and (July – December events), instead of the one previously for the whole year. They print about 312,000 copies each, so you can see it’s extensive exposure. Your event will be placed on the state travel website www.visitnc.com and then this information is pulled to compile the printed booklet. If you have an event between January – June 2003 please return the information by Friday, July 31, 2002. If you have an event between July – December 2003, please return the information by Monday, February 10, 2003. Events sent throughout the year can still be added to the state website, however to appear in the printed booklet you must return by the noted deadlines. Please return the information to: Patty Griffin, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, 501 W. Franklin Street, Suite 104, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. FAX (919) 968-2062 or e-mail information to pgriffin@chocvb.org. Criteria for listing in the 2003 Calendar of Events Booklet published by the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, Department of Commerce: All events must have specific dates and must be open to the general public; The state Division reserves the right to edit all event information; Submission of the event does not guarantee listing in the booklet (however will be listed on bureau’s website, the state website and in Happenings); Coordinate the submission of your event information with our office (i.e. send form here); The event listing is FREE.

  • North Carolina Arts Council – The annual deadline for most grants to the North Carolina Arts Council is March 1st.  For more information about their programs and grants, call 919/733-2111 or visit their website at www.ncarts.org.

  • Durham Arts Council offers revised Exhibit Directory for Durham, Orange and Wake Counties. There are approximately 140 exhibit opportunities listed in this guide with contact names, numbers, addresses and suggestions on how to approach galleries. Exhibit spaces are divided into Commercial, Nonprofit and Alternative spaces. Copies are available for $5.00. Send request and payment (made to Durham Arts Council) to Jennifer Collins, Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris Street, Durham, NC 27701.

  • North Carolina Handmade is a new on-line gallery featuring arts and crafts made in North Carolina. Unlike a typical gallery, North Carolina Handmade will focus on handmade copies of original works instead of more expensive one-of-a-kind pieces. North Carolina Handmade is looking for artists and craftspeople who might be interested in having North Carolina Handmade sell their work. They plan to market pottery, jewelry, fabric arts, glasswork, woodwork, toys and dolls, and any other item handmade in North Carolina. North Carolina Handmade's mission will be to focus on promotion, maintaining a web store, customer service, and shipping while freeing each artist to focus on creating. They have put together a sample web site, www.nchandmade.com, so that they can demonstrate what we have in mind. The site includes sample arts and crafts, sample artist profiles, customer service information pages, and information for artists about working with North Carolina Handmade. For more information, contact Cheri DeRosia or David Brown at info@nchandmade.com or 919/401-9912.

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    Local Artists Create with Recycled Materials

     by Lynn Bossong, Orange Community Recycling

    Five local artists working with recycled materials are now nationally known in the recycling world through the “Art and Recycling: Together They Make the World More Beautiful” exhibit.   Funded by a Grassroots Arts Grant from the Orange County Arts Commission, Orange Community Recycling commissioned six works of art from these Orange and Durham county artists.  After the work of Jane Filer, Bryant Holsenbeck, Gordon Jameson, Mike Roig, and Callie Warner was exhibited throughout Orange County in 2000, five of the six pieces went on tour in September to the National Recycling Congress held in Charlotte, North Carolina. This event draws over 2,000 recycling agencies from all over the world.

    Orange Community Recycling, a division of Orange County Solid Waste Management Department, commissioned six works to be constructed from locally recycled materials.  Artwork components included paper (Gordon Jameson), construction waste (Jane Filer), metal (Mike Roig), glass (with metal) (Callie Warner), plastic and rubber (Bryant Holsenbeck). Orange Community Recycling received a Grassroots Arts Grant from the Orange County Arts Commission that provided funds to commission these local artworks.

    Following the appearance of the recycled art at the National Recycling Congress,  the “Art and Recycling” show continues to tour locally and regionally.  The recycled art exhibit was shown in local elementary schools in spring 2000.  Orange Community Recycling also hired a magician who entertained students with his bag of tricks on a recycling theme.  After school term ended in the  spring, the exhibit took up residence at the Chapel Hill Town Hall courtesy of the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission. The pieces will be displayed beginning in late January 2001 at the newly expanded Weaver Street Market Café at Carr Mill Mall.

    The recycled art exhibit is available to any Orange County or Chapel-Hill/ Carrboro school interested in displaying it, as well as other organizations.  This exhibit is a magical and a fun way to draw people into the recycling habit.  Organizations with a secure display space such as schools, libraries or other public venues should contact Lynn Bossong, lbossong@co.orange.nc.us, to get on the free exhibition schedule.

    We are very grateful to the Orange County Arts Commission for their Grassroots Arts Grant, North Carolina Division of  Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, D.H. Griffin Metals, Paper Stock Dealers Inc., Homebuilders Association of Durham and Orange Counties, Inc., NAPCOR National Association for PET Container Resources, and the artists; Jane Filer, Bryant Holsenbeck, Gordon Jameson, Jeff Menzer, Mike Roig and Callie Warner for the opportunity this exhibit affords our community to look at “trash” in a new way.

    The Grassroots Arts Program is funded from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, see their website at www.ncarts.org.

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    Contribute

     The Orange County Arts Commission welcomes article submissions from individuals and organizations. Please contact us at arts@co.orange.nc.us or (919) 245.2325 for more information.

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