You are invited to the neighborhood workshops

In response to the advice we got from the Loeb Fellows in the Fall (see "Why are we having neighborhood workshops" post): we first spoke with the Alliance of Neighborhood Association's leadership for their direction. We adopted their suggestions and have tried to design a workshop that should (we hope) allow you to identify our first project(s) and location. Ross Miller will return to York to facilitate the workshop.

If you'd like the Save The Date email for the workshop, let me know. We hope to have good representation from all the neighborhoods, from artists, and all interested people. The first day, Friday, June 24 will start at noon and we'll end about 5:00. This first day will probably include a "field trip" near the Codorus and/or the Rail Trail -- so bring an umbrella in case of rain. The second day, Saturday, June 25, will begin about 9 and we should wrap up about 2:00. Logos Academy will be our host. We are trying to design the workshop to be very interactive with as little of the usual "talking head" format as possible. If you are there, it will be more fun!

Got questions??? Please ask. Nothing is set in stone; we have much to learn from each other as we venture into this squishy endeavor of public art.

Why are we having neighborhood workshops about public art??

Good question. A little background first: Public art has long been considered a visible, credible way of defining a community, of creating a sense of place, of making a community attractive, and of attracting people to communities -- attracting people to a community contributes to the economic vitality of a community which in turn contributes to community pride. As examples, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Houston, Greensboro, and Portland (among many others) have successful public art processes and plans. For years, York has enjoyed disparate public art efforts -- from our historic statues, to our mural series, and now to the newest local effort -- the recycled art projects on Beaver Street.

Community leaders have come together recently and encouraged the Cultural Alliance to spearhead an effort to define a public art process in hopes of inspiring an integrated public art plan. That effort is being funded by the Women's Giving Circle (WGC) of the York County Community Foundation and is being coordinated by the Public Art Task Force. . . . a group of interested, innovative community members.

The first major step in developing this process was the Art for All public forum. Thanks the WGC, Foundry Plaza, Downtown Inc, and others, Genevieve Ray (a Loeb Fellow herself) invited four public art Harvard Loeb Fellows to York on behalf of the Task Force. These public art gurus formally kicked off our effort to understand how public art has evolved in different communities, how it can be funded, and, how projects evolve, and how processes can shift over time. Rosemary Noon, Kathleen Barrie, Donna Graves, and Ross Miller (Google them -- they are very impressive folks) spoke in the Capitol Theatre on September 30 and then led a series of workshops on October 1. As the Task Force hoped, we got good advice from public art professionals about how to proceed, how best to involve different people and constituents, how to get organized, and how to proceed.

The neighborhood workshops planned for June 24 and 25 are in response to "how to proceed".

Public Art for York

We are certainly busy here at the Alliance.

One of many exciting ventures is Public Art - through a grant from the Women's Giving Circle the Alliance is bringing in renowned public artist Ross Miller to assist us in finding a neighborhood in York to have public art on display.

We will hold workshops for all interested neighborhoods to talk about Public Art (what is it) and what projects might celebrate a neighborhood.

We are partnering with LOGOS ACADEMEY to present these workshops and must say, it is a pleasure having them as a partner. How wonderful to be working in the heart of York and by the Codorus. Thank you LOGOS!

If you have any questions, contact Gayle 812-9255 at our office.

PA Partners in the Arts

How exciting - we are the newest non-profit selected by the PA Council on the Arts to distribute small grants to York, Adams, Franklin, and Fulton counties - there is about $22K available to arts agencies, agencies with an arts activity, and individual artists for projects that are open to the public in these 4 counties.

In order to learn about these small grants(avg. $1000) please attend one of 3 informational sessions....they are:

May 11 at 4:00 PM in the Adams County Public Library, Eisenhower Room

May 12 at 5:15 PM in the conference room of the Cultural Alliance - 14 W. Market St.

May 24 at NOON at the Franklin Area Development Corp. 1900 Wayne Rd. Chambersburg

Come and learn about the PA Partners in the Arts program and whether you want to apply!

Cultural Community Plan

The Community Cultural Plan is helping direct the Alliance's activities and has since last year. It clearly laid out some short and long term goals which we are using for our strategic direction.

Since the plan was approved, the Alliance has worked on these goals:

Create a high powered arts event showcasing York and its creativity.

• Presented the Governor's Awards for the Arts with Rocco Landesman, Chair of the NEA, Jonathon Katz, President of the National Association of Local Arts Agencies, Executive Director of the PA Council on the Arts, Philip Horn, Governor and Judge Rendell, Jeff Koons and Del McCoury to name a few.

Connect arts with York's citizens

• Presented the July 4th Symphony Concert and Fireworks show at the York Expo - estimated crowds 20,000 plus

Strengthen the sector

• Revised the allocation application to focus on two things: Audience Development and Finanical Sustainabilty

Open our "tent"

• Currently creating a web page designed specifically for artists
• Designing capacity building workshops for organizations and individual artists
• Exploring health insurance to be offered to small organizations or individuals

Increase Resources for the Sector

• Working like crazy to finish the campaign over goal!!!!!

Create an awareness of York as a destination through public art

• The public art process is underway. It will help make our city more inspiring, our lights and sidewalks more interesting, and showcase both the history and future of York.

Diane Mataraza, the author of this vision, is coming back to York in November to check in with us and help with the heavy lifting. Stay tuned.

Mind Bending Public Art

The Cultural Plan gave us our marching orders - one of which was to create public art in York to celebrate our city and help make it memorable. Through a gift from the Women's Giving Circle, the Cultural Alliance and a public art committee has begun facilitating a public art process for York. Questions asked - Where does it seat itself? How are sites and then artists chosen? How is it funded?

We've met a few times and a huge question is 'what is public art'? In order to answer that, Genevieve Ray, a Loeb Fellow herself, invited 4 more Fellows to present their experiences to York. They are public art experts from around the country. They will come here and 1. Present their 'mind-bending' public art to everyone in York and 2. hold a lively conversation about what works/what doesn't/and what might be a good way to go in York.

They will have a working day to educate the committee and answer our questions. What a treat! To experience this level of expertise is just unbelievable. We are all eager to learn and to keep moving the goals of the Cultural Plan forward.

4th of July

We are excited! After a decade of helping the Fireworks Committee present the 4th of July concert and fireworks, the Cultural Alliance is taking the lead in presenting the event this year. Though we still have the support of the Bon-Ton, Glatfelter Insurance, Susquehanna Real Estate, and the York Newspaper Company, we have 2 brand new sponsors. Columbia Gas of PA and BAE Sytems are the lead sponsors this year, ensuring that York's 4th of July continues. We are proud that York will continue this 30 + year old tradition while communities all around us are cancelling theirs due to finances. York is just an incredible and supportive community so if you see our sponsors, shake their hands for helping keep our 4th at the Expo Center alive.

While we will continue our wonderful traditions, symphonic music and song, we have a few surprises in store for you this year. And don't forget our surprise ending - the fireworks sounding off at the end of the 1812 Overture! Dah dah dah dah dah dah duh duh da - BOOM!

The young Wagman boys, who played blue grass so beautifully for Del McCoury during the Governor's Arts Awards, will also play. It's just going to be fabulous and we don't want anyone to miss it.

Remember - this event is free and open to the public. For more information and to download song lyrics for our sing-along, visit our web site, 4th of July section, at www.culturalalliance-york.org/JulyFourth.htm