Here is a blog about Pat Potter's experiences!
Picture this - It's 6am on a cool March morning, no one else is up yet. The house is quiet except for the hum of the furnace. The sun has yet to show it's early light as she turns on the lamp to the den where her big mirror sits, propped against the wall waiting for her like an old friend. She dons her ballet shoes and begins the morning's practice, holding onto the back of a chair as if it were her own personal ballet barrre. Slow tendus are her subject this morning, as controlled and perfect as she can, toes pointed, slowly moving her delicately bowed foot to the side in a precise, predetermined route... each time a little better than the last.
As she watches herself in the mirror, she doesn't see an eleven year old girl practicing one of the most basic of ballet movements. In her mind's eye, she's on stage in front of thousands of people performing her favorite ballet, The Nutcracker. Her head is filled with the cacophony of sounds coming from the orchestra pit. The lights are warm and bright as the other dancers move around her seemingly effortless. She floats across the dance floor and off into the stage wings and has to quickly change into another costume before going back onto the stage. She is alive in a way only she can feel... she is dreaming of her future.
This scene plays out every morning in many homes, including my own. My daughter's chosen art, dance, has impacted her life positively in so many ways. She's learning discipline, time management skills and how to be a part of something larger than herself. She's learning how to deal with success and failure in a positive and healthy way. She's learning how to be a strong, confident young woman who values her body and her mind and realizes that she has something unique to give back to society. She may graduate from her dance school and never step foot on another stage but the lessons she learned there will stay with her throughout life, indeed enhancing her life in a way that is both valuable and quantifiable.
I realize I'm partial to my own child's artistic journey and art form but, this can be said for any art that one participates in wholly regardless of age. The ability to pull from oneself that which is our essence, our passion is the true function of art, a function from which our society benefits. We are the sum of our experiences and when an art form is part of that experience subset, we are made better by it.
I can wax philosophic about this topic for hours but most of us who work in the arts can attest to the fact that those who participate in artistic endeavors report that it positively affects many other aspects of their lives. There are a multitude of studies which support this sentiment, so why aren't the arts garnering more support? There are many reasons, but I believe the onus falls on us to advocate for change. We are not elitists, rather we are humanists and it's up to us to change the stigma and educate society of the importance of art in our lives.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
An interesting link
Here is an interesting article from the Harvard Business Review. Let me hear what you think!
http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2012/02/multiplication-philanthropy.html#.T2ovTFniGLE.email
http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2012/02/multiplication-philanthropy.html#.T2ovTFniGLE.email
Creative Impact Awards
Eight terrific agencies and artists were granted the first ever Creative Impact Awards. These awards were designed as a result of our Community Cultural Plan which called for us to 'open our tent' and have an impact on the York Cultural community through creativity.
We did just that and heard from some impactful programs and projects throughout the county. When you see them congratulate them!
New Freedom Heritage $21,600
The Creation of a passive video and an interactive kiosk that depicts the evolution of historic landmarks in the Borough of New Freedom. The passive video will be displayed in the Heritage Theater, a part of the heritage Museum of New Freedom and will be available for viewing on the New Freedom Heritage website. The interactive kiosk will leverage and expand on the passive video. The kiosk will be available for deployment to local schools to use for educational purposes and to local retirement homes for the benefit of t our aging citizens.
Hanover Lancers $2,000
A three hour concert involving Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps from Four (4) states. Also expect either the US Naval Academy Drum & Bugle Corp from Annapolis, MD or the US Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corp. from Colorado Springs to participate in the show. The goal is to give the residents of York County this unique music in an indoor setting. High school bands will be invited. Hope to inspire youth and cultivate an enthusiasm for this music.
Robert Miller $2,000
Retired director of the William Penn Performing Arts Institute (23 years). Produces the Rosies, high school award program, at the Strand. The York Summer Arts Institute will offer a one-week intensive program for approximately 40 students. Students will major in either the visual or the performing arts. Professionals from the Strand-Capitol and YorkArts will work with internationally acclaimed artists in developing their skills and talents, while learning about the possibilities and problems of a life in the Arts. Students will be selected by their high school directors and teachers. Students not selected will however, have the opportunity to audition for inclusion in the program. There will be no cost to students.
Don Gogniat $1,500
Retired Campus Executive of Penn State York, Director of International Programs for Penn State. PhD in Cultural Geography from the University of Pittsburgh. Each of the 700 students on the fall voyage of Semester at Sea 2012 will be asked to work in a group of no more than 7 people and choose a topic that can be researched and documented in at least 7 countries on the voyage. They will prepare a DVD on the topic selected. The videos from each of the chosen countries will look at how the topic has “migrated” and/or “mutated from its place of origin. For example a group may choose “searching for cross-cultural patterns in hip-hop music.” Could be about people (migration patterns), Ideas (democracy, capitalism, education), Culture (art, music, dance, language), or things (food, clothing, transportation, architecture, gardens). The result will be an exhibition entitled, “Atlantic Ocean Cross-Currents: Four Continents of Blended Cultures.” The DVD will be available to any student from the voyage to send it to their high school, hometown or university. A website will be established for viewing the individual videos.
Jewish Community Center $4,500
The culture of childhood that played outside is gone and children’s everyday life has shifted to the indoors. We will hold workshops that will provide resources and inspiration to help adults more effectively reach pre-school through elementary children through re-connecting the children with the creative wonders of nature. Some of the workshops will take place in our natural playscape allowing adults and children to work hands-on while learning how to bring nature and the natural arts into children’s lives on a regular basis. Outdoor play and exploration involves art forms such as sculpture, gardening, and music. Local organizations and artists will include YorkArts, York Gardening Club, and York Art Association.
New Hope Academy Charter School $17,618
Fund the purchase of mobile piano learning lab based on iPads and ION Piano Apprentice Keyboards. They system blends technology and the classic art in a way that students understand and embrace.
Foundry Plaza Inc. Two Schools and a Creek $15,000
Logos Academy and York Academy Regional Charter School together with Foundry Plaza Inc plan to build creative outdoor play spaces in the Codorus corridor. “Image a classroom with the sky for a ceiling and the earth as a floor . . .” this project will, “Create an environment that promotes healthy and creative play that engages the whole child . . .” Once completed, these play spaces will “serve as a model for other organizations and communities working to integrate art into their development projects.”
ForSight Vision $5,000
The Art class for Children Who Are Blind will build a large-scale mosaic project. The mosaic will be the focal point for a renovated entrance into the building. The art class will give sight impaired children the same experiences as those enjoyed by sighted children. They will be exposed to various art mediums in a safe and nurturing environment. The children also learn appropriate social skills and creative problem solving skills. Since art is neither right nor wrong, the children flourish in this atmosphere of acceptance.
We are now revisiting the Creative Impact Awards - from expectations, to process, and even the application. Please check out our website for the fall announcement of the awards and even better - check out these fabulous funded projects. We are proud to help make them happen.
We did just that and heard from some impactful programs and projects throughout the county. When you see them congratulate them!
New Freedom Heritage $21,600
The Creation of a passive video and an interactive kiosk that depicts the evolution of historic landmarks in the Borough of New Freedom. The passive video will be displayed in the Heritage Theater, a part of the heritage Museum of New Freedom and will be available for viewing on the New Freedom Heritage website. The interactive kiosk will leverage and expand on the passive video. The kiosk will be available for deployment to local schools to use for educational purposes and to local retirement homes for the benefit of t our aging citizens.
Hanover Lancers $2,000
A three hour concert involving Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps from Four (4) states. Also expect either the US Naval Academy Drum & Bugle Corp from Annapolis, MD or the US Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corp. from Colorado Springs to participate in the show. The goal is to give the residents of York County this unique music in an indoor setting. High school bands will be invited. Hope to inspire youth and cultivate an enthusiasm for this music.
Robert Miller $2,000
Retired director of the William Penn Performing Arts Institute (23 years). Produces the Rosies, high school award program, at the Strand. The York Summer Arts Institute will offer a one-week intensive program for approximately 40 students. Students will major in either the visual or the performing arts. Professionals from the Strand-Capitol and YorkArts will work with internationally acclaimed artists in developing their skills and talents, while learning about the possibilities and problems of a life in the Arts. Students will be selected by their high school directors and teachers. Students not selected will however, have the opportunity to audition for inclusion in the program. There will be no cost to students.
Don Gogniat $1,500
Retired Campus Executive of Penn State York, Director of International Programs for Penn State. PhD in Cultural Geography from the University of Pittsburgh. Each of the 700 students on the fall voyage of Semester at Sea 2012 will be asked to work in a group of no more than 7 people and choose a topic that can be researched and documented in at least 7 countries on the voyage. They will prepare a DVD on the topic selected. The videos from each of the chosen countries will look at how the topic has “migrated” and/or “mutated from its place of origin. For example a group may choose “searching for cross-cultural patterns in hip-hop music.” Could be about people (migration patterns), Ideas (democracy, capitalism, education), Culture (art, music, dance, language), or things (food, clothing, transportation, architecture, gardens). The result will be an exhibition entitled, “Atlantic Ocean Cross-Currents: Four Continents of Blended Cultures.” The DVD will be available to any student from the voyage to send it to their high school, hometown or university. A website will be established for viewing the individual videos.
Jewish Community Center $4,500
The culture of childhood that played outside is gone and children’s everyday life has shifted to the indoors. We will hold workshops that will provide resources and inspiration to help adults more effectively reach pre-school through elementary children through re-connecting the children with the creative wonders of nature. Some of the workshops will take place in our natural playscape allowing adults and children to work hands-on while learning how to bring nature and the natural arts into children’s lives on a regular basis. Outdoor play and exploration involves art forms such as sculpture, gardening, and music. Local organizations and artists will include YorkArts, York Gardening Club, and York Art Association.
New Hope Academy Charter School $17,618
Fund the purchase of mobile piano learning lab based on iPads and ION Piano Apprentice Keyboards. They system blends technology and the classic art in a way that students understand and embrace.
Foundry Plaza Inc. Two Schools and a Creek $15,000
Logos Academy and York Academy Regional Charter School together with Foundry Plaza Inc plan to build creative outdoor play spaces in the Codorus corridor. “Image a classroom with the sky for a ceiling and the earth as a floor . . .” this project will, “Create an environment that promotes healthy and creative play that engages the whole child . . .” Once completed, these play spaces will “serve as a model for other organizations and communities working to integrate art into their development projects.”
ForSight Vision $5,000
The Art class for Children Who Are Blind will build a large-scale mosaic project. The mosaic will be the focal point for a renovated entrance into the building. The art class will give sight impaired children the same experiences as those enjoyed by sighted children. They will be exposed to various art mediums in a safe and nurturing environment. The children also learn appropriate social skills and creative problem solving skills. Since art is neither right nor wrong, the children flourish in this atmosphere of acceptance.
We are now revisiting the Creative Impact Awards - from expectations, to process, and even the application. Please check out our website for the fall announcement of the awards and even better - check out these fabulous funded projects. We are proud to help make them happen.
Monday, January 30, 2012
An interesting article
I just read this and thought it would be interesting to share. The author is Michael Kaiser from the Kennedy Center.
It makes no sense to me that the arts are not embraced more emphatically by politicians these days.
I understand that the country was founded by Puritans who believed that music and dance were evil. That has led to a separation of art and state and a far lower direct subsidy for the arts than in many other nations.
I also understand that there is a deep fear, even contempt, for all that is considered elitist in this nation (until one's child turns out to be talented -- then the elitist tag magically disappears) and that many people mistakenly believe that arts organizations primarily serve the elite. (These people should visit the hundreds of community arts organizations, arts organizations of color, rural arts organizations and grassroots arts organizations that I get to visit every year.)
But at a time when unemployment is the key political issue and when virtually everyone in politics is struggling to find ways to reduce the ranks of the unemployed, why doesn't some smart politician realize that the arts are one way to help solve this problem?
No, I am not talking about the arts employing more people, though that would be a wonderful thing. (Franklin Roosevelt's WPA comes to mind.)
I am talking about the way the arts can help train people to be creative thinkers and entrepreneurs.
Virtually every economist agrees that for the United States to thrive, we need to reignite the spirit of creativity and invention that formed the foundation of the major corporations that now employ so many of us.
That is one rationale for encouraging small businesses -- new products and inventions are often developed by small entrepreneurial ventures.
But successful small ventures can grow to become big economic engines and major employers. Google, for instance, which started as recently as 1998, now employs over 30,000 people!
But economists are also lamenting the dearth of creative entrepreneurs. Who is going to be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or Sergey Brin? How do we continue to be the innovative leader of the world as so many countries pass us in test scores?
That is where the arts come in.
Who better to train young people to think creatively, to exercise their own unique ways of thinking than we in the arts? The success of arts organizations and artists depends on the ability of people to be creative and make something new.
I am convinced that if all children were able to partake in a consistent arts education, we would create a larger group of innovators who would become the corporate leaders of tomorrow.
By allowing children to exercise their creative muscles, by encouraging them to think outside the box, by allowing them to invent, we must be abetting their ability to innovate with confidence as they grow older.
No, it isn't a short-term fix. Installing meaningful arts education programming takes time and doing, so will not reduce unemployment before the presidential election.
But it could be a very low-cost approach that leads to huge long-term benefits.
Isn't there one serious politician out there who agrees with me?
It makes no sense to me that the arts are not embraced more emphatically by politicians these days.
I understand that the country was founded by Puritans who believed that music and dance were evil. That has led to a separation of art and state and a far lower direct subsidy for the arts than in many other nations.
I also understand that there is a deep fear, even contempt, for all that is considered elitist in this nation (until one's child turns out to be talented -- then the elitist tag magically disappears) and that many people mistakenly believe that arts organizations primarily serve the elite. (These people should visit the hundreds of community arts organizations, arts organizations of color, rural arts organizations and grassroots arts organizations that I get to visit every year.)
But at a time when unemployment is the key political issue and when virtually everyone in politics is struggling to find ways to reduce the ranks of the unemployed, why doesn't some smart politician realize that the arts are one way to help solve this problem?
No, I am not talking about the arts employing more people, though that would be a wonderful thing. (Franklin Roosevelt's WPA comes to mind.)
I am talking about the way the arts can help train people to be creative thinkers and entrepreneurs.
Virtually every economist agrees that for the United States to thrive, we need to reignite the spirit of creativity and invention that formed the foundation of the major corporations that now employ so many of us.
That is one rationale for encouraging small businesses -- new products and inventions are often developed by small entrepreneurial ventures.
But successful small ventures can grow to become big economic engines and major employers. Google, for instance, which started as recently as 1998, now employs over 30,000 people!
But economists are also lamenting the dearth of creative entrepreneurs. Who is going to be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or Sergey Brin? How do we continue to be the innovative leader of the world as so many countries pass us in test scores?
That is where the arts come in.
Who better to train young people to think creatively, to exercise their own unique ways of thinking than we in the arts? The success of arts organizations and artists depends on the ability of people to be creative and make something new.
I am convinced that if all children were able to partake in a consistent arts education, we would create a larger group of innovators who would become the corporate leaders of tomorrow.
By allowing children to exercise their creative muscles, by encouraging them to think outside the box, by allowing them to invent, we must be abetting their ability to innovate with confidence as they grow older.
No, it isn't a short-term fix. Installing meaningful arts education programming takes time and doing, so will not reduce unemployment before the presidential election.
But it could be a very low-cost approach that leads to huge long-term benefits.
Isn't there one serious politician out there who agrees with me?
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
We made it!
Yes folks, the Cultural Alliance hit its 2011 goal! And to add to the excitment, we exceed the $1.16 millon goal and (drum roll please) reached $1.25 million on the last day of 2011.
Can you imagine reaching this goal which serves the arts-creative-cultural sector AND doing so in this down economy? What a spectacular acheivement anywhere, but in a town of just 44,000 and county of 400,000, this is remarkable. NO wonder York is envied across the United States.
To thank Larry Miller,CEO of PeoplesBank and John Klinedinst, President of C.S. Davidson is to understate. They are true leaders who inspired 300 solicitors to make their calls. What can I say? They are wonderful.
What a way to start our 2012 campaign, Create Community. Larry and John have raised the bar and with their results and urged us on as an Arts Army to do more for the creative community in York. We can do it!
Can you imagine reaching this goal which serves the arts-creative-cultural sector AND doing so in this down economy? What a spectacular acheivement anywhere, but in a town of just 44,000 and county of 400,000, this is remarkable. NO wonder York is envied across the United States.
To thank Larry Miller,CEO of PeoplesBank and John Klinedinst, President of C.S. Davidson is to understate. They are true leaders who inspired 300 solicitors to make their calls. What can I say? They are wonderful.
What a way to start our 2012 campaign, Create Community. Larry and John have raised the bar and with their results and urged us on as an Arts Army to do more for the creative community in York. We can do it!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Campaign 2012 - CREATE COMMUNITY
It's that time again. The Cultural Alliance is gearing up for its 13th annual campaign headed by John Klinedinst with Anne Zerbe and Jerry Watson. We are so excited to head into this campaign year though we know it will be tough. This year, besides supporting our partners, we now have developed the Creative Impact Awards which funds creative activities throughout York County.
The Creative Impact Awards came directly from the Community Cultural Plan. The York Community asked us to fund more throughout York county and we did just that. The deadline for the Pilot year of the Awards was November 14, 2011 and we received 13 applications requesting twice what we had to distribute. So if we can increase the campaign numbers, we can increase the amount to be distributed.
Please help us! We need volunteers and that means you. Call Mary Anne if you want to help grow our creative community.
The Creative Impact Awards came directly from the Community Cultural Plan. The York Community asked us to fund more throughout York county and we did just that. The deadline for the Pilot year of the Awards was November 14, 2011 and we received 13 applications requesting twice what we had to distribute. So if we can increase the campaign numbers, we can increase the amount to be distributed.
Please help us! We need volunteers and that means you. Call Mary Anne if you want to help grow our creative community.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Talk About Timing
Just saw this article in the Nonprofit Quarterly - makes us look so smart as that is why we started the Creative Impact Awards - IMAPCT - using the arts to strenthen the community.
October 10, 2011; Source: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy | Current arts grantmaking overlooks large segment of cultural practice, and as a result, large segments of the American public according to a new report by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. Highlighting the fact that about 11 about percent of total foundation giving, $2.3 billion in 2009, goes to arts and cultural organizations, the report “Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change: High Impact Strategies for Philanthropy” indicates that “distribution of these funds is demonstrably out of balance with our evolving cultural landscape and with the changing demographics of our communities.” Although the report asserts that innovative work is being done in the arts that gives voice to new artistic traditions, it concludes that only 10 percent of grant support with “a primary or secondary purpose of supporting the arts explicitly benefit underserved communities, including lower-income populations, communities of color and other disadvantaged groups.”
The report draws on 2010 Census data to emphasize the country’s rapid population diversification over the past ten years. As examples, the report points to growth in the country’s Latino, Asian, non-white and immigrant populations. In addition, the report notes that among American children, the multiracial population has increased by 50 percent, and is now the country’s fastest growing youth group. The report also emphasizes that the number of people living in impoverished neighborhoods is growing and already exceeds 25 percent in Detroit, Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia. In rural areas poverty rates exceed 35 percent in parts of Appalachia, the Inland Empire of California, the rural West and Native American reservations.
As a hopeful sign in spite of recent funding decreases, NCRP points to the “enormous increase” in arts and cultural organizations over the past twenty years as a “testament to the universal desire for arts and culture in every community.” Still, the report recommends that funders work to create a more comprehensive story for arts philanthropy in the U.S, and rather than “building institutions, and preserving or creating artistic objects and products,” funders instead look at strengthening people and communities through artistic processes.For example, the Social Impact for the Arts Program at the University of Pennsylvania is now working on a mapping database that will allow funders and residents “to monitor growth in creative assets and determine their civic, economic and social impacts” within communities. Mark Stern, a professor at Penn said the goal is to show how art “mobilizes communities, (and) turns neighborhoods into places of interest to their residents and to visitors to the city.” That seems to be the kind of tool that funders might be able to use to respond to the NCRP challenge.—Anne Eigeman
October 10, 2011; Source: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy | Current arts grantmaking overlooks large segment of cultural practice, and as a result, large segments of the American public according to a new report by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. Highlighting the fact that about 11 about percent of total foundation giving, $2.3 billion in 2009, goes to arts and cultural organizations, the report “Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change: High Impact Strategies for Philanthropy” indicates that “distribution of these funds is demonstrably out of balance with our evolving cultural landscape and with the changing demographics of our communities.” Although the report asserts that innovative work is being done in the arts that gives voice to new artistic traditions, it concludes that only 10 percent of grant support with “a primary or secondary purpose of supporting the arts explicitly benefit underserved communities, including lower-income populations, communities of color and other disadvantaged groups.”
The report draws on 2010 Census data to emphasize the country’s rapid population diversification over the past ten years. As examples, the report points to growth in the country’s Latino, Asian, non-white and immigrant populations. In addition, the report notes that among American children, the multiracial population has increased by 50 percent, and is now the country’s fastest growing youth group. The report also emphasizes that the number of people living in impoverished neighborhoods is growing and already exceeds 25 percent in Detroit, Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia. In rural areas poverty rates exceed 35 percent in parts of Appalachia, the Inland Empire of California, the rural West and Native American reservations.
As a hopeful sign in spite of recent funding decreases, NCRP points to the “enormous increase” in arts and cultural organizations over the past twenty years as a “testament to the universal desire for arts and culture in every community.” Still, the report recommends that funders work to create a more comprehensive story for arts philanthropy in the U.S, and rather than “building institutions, and preserving or creating artistic objects and products,” funders instead look at strengthening people and communities through artistic processes.For example, the Social Impact for the Arts Program at the University of Pennsylvania is now working on a mapping database that will allow funders and residents “to monitor growth in creative assets and determine their civic, economic and social impacts” within communities. Mark Stern, a professor at Penn said the goal is to show how art “mobilizes communities, (and) turns neighborhoods into places of interest to their residents and to visitors to the city.” That seems to be the kind of tool that funders might be able to use to respond to the NCRP challenge.—Anne Eigeman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
