Georgia arts [Vol. 2, no. 2 (Dec. 2004/Jan. 2005)]

SOUTHERN ARTISTRY.ORG: A TOOL FOR GEORGIA ARTISTS

GCA is pleased to announce involvement in a partnership to include Georgia artists in the newly developed website, Southern Artistry.
SouthernArtistry.org is an online artist registry designed to showcase the South s artistic diversity and excellence by spotlighting outstanding artists of all disciplines that live and work in the region.
The site provides artists and arts groups with an online platform from which to expand their audience, publicize their work, and articulate their artistic philosophy. It will highlight the work

of artists and groups of outstanding artistic merit within Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The registry is a joint effort of Southern Arts Federation (SAF) and the Center for Arts Management & Technology at Carnegie Mellon (CAMT).
GCA, through its adjudicated Touring Artist Roster and topscoring grantees is partnering with the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, the Georgia Humanities Council, the Georgia Writer s Association, and the Atlanta

Coalition of Performing Arts to invite the first artists to have this opportunity. The list will include artists from the following six arts discipline categories: Visual Arts/ Photography, Literature, Dance, Music, Theatre, Traditional Folk Arts.
Artists will be chosen based on artistic excellence, artistic product, and professional achievement. For 2005, Southern Arts Federation has made 50 slots available for each state. The website is expected to expand in future years.

Volume 2, Issue 2 Dec/Jan Newsletter
Inside this issue:

The Performing Arts Exchange (PAE) is one of the nation s premiere conventions for the planning of performing arts series and professional development. Here, Georgia presenters have the opportunity to evaluate potential artists and meet with artist representatives from across North America. At this year s convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the

Georgia Presenters Consortium meeting, GCA presented two nationally respected professionals to address the day-to-day management issues Georgia presenters face. Kenneth Wentworth, president of Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd., discussed the finer points of booking an artist, describing the negotiation process as part of the broader relation-

ship between presenter, manager and artist. Kenneth has performed as a pianist for more than 50 years, programmed the performing arts series at Sarah Lawrence College and owned an artist management company in New York. This range of experience allowed Kenneth to map out the delicate details of the relationship between artist, presenter and manager

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PERFORMING ARTS EXCHANGE CONT.

from a unique perspective, having filled all three roles himself.
GCA s program also included the charismatic Jim Hackney, managing partner of Alexander Haas Martin and Partners, Inc. Working as a central figure in one of the most highly regarded fund raising companies, Jim s current portfolio includes campaign goals totaling more than $345,000,000. Jim has a special talent for helping executives strategically identify potential funding sources, a concept he focused on in this program tailored specifically

to presenters. He provided welldocumented, highly specific advice on available sources of contributed income. Jim also described the importance of a carefully researched and constantly tended annual fund, providing great specifics on the cultivation of the individual donor from initial interaction to the development of a champion contributor.
it is important for GCA to deliver nationally-recognized experts like this with specific advice on key elements of organizational planning.

Many of our organizations cannot always afford premium consultants, yet the details experienced consultants can provide in settings like a GCA workshop are highly valuable to growth in our field. Sherryl Nelson, Executive Director of Spivey Hall, commented after GCA s program.
The program was attended by most of Georgia s presenters and was designed by GCA s Grants Director, Walton Ray.

FY2006 GUIDELINES MANUAL

On December 1, GCA emailed to all FY2005 grantees a copy of the new guidelines for the upcoming year, which includes many of the recommendations made by grantees and panelists. The final version of this document is scheduled to go online (download available from the GCA Website) along with all required forms and references on December 15, two months before the deadline for applications on February 15.
In these two weeks, it is hoped that grantees will read through this, six-part manual, in preparation for the GCA Grant Workshops that begin on

December 6 and continue through January 12. All of the dates and locations are listed below and are available online. Bring your questions to these Grant Workshops and hear the answer to your questions and those of others to broaden your knowledge in this competitive process.
The biggest change for FY2006 is the new, two-part application process. The Universal Application Form is submitted electronically while the Grant-Specific Application Package is to be mailed; both are due no later than close of business (4:45 PM) on February 15. Information electronically en-

tered into the Universal Application Form for one grant will automatically transfer into:
Other grants in that year The Final Report Form for that year Grants in future years in the Universal Application Form GCA believes that this is a design that will reduce the time it takes to make application for state funds. Additionally, though there have been changes made to some grant requirements, most of the guidelines and policies have been rewritten for clarity.

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THE VALUE OF THE ARTS IN GEORGIA
Susan S. Weiner, Executive Director
Inspiration is something that artists well understand. It is the spark that ignites a new way of thinking about the colors on the canvas, the new use of oboes in the third movement, the staging of three additional dancers during the ballet, or the selection of a word to enhance a sonnet.
Many artists find their inspiration from the same place that Shakespeare details in Hamlet, holding a mirror to nature . But other artists and other people get their inspiration from experiencing an unfamiliar discipline or poking around in something outside of their normal routine. And, most often, that unfamiliar discipline or unusual routine is the arts.
WWII military personnel designed an unbreakable code that saved thousands of lives, and it was based on the Navajo language Knute Rockne got the idea for Notre Dame s Four Horsemen formation while watching a dance performance WWI military designers borrowed from the cubist works of Picasso when creating effective camouflage patterns
These facts are presented as part of the Value of the Arts in Georgia, an ongoing feature in GCA s newsletter.
Most people don t think about how often during their daily experiences the arts enhance the quality of their lives.
The new teapot for the kitchen was chosen because of its design and color, as well as its durability and function The water feature was added to the garden because of its delightful music, as well as its service to birds and wildlife The mirror was chosen for hanging above the fireplace for its frame, as well as for its spatial relationship to the clerestory windows
The arts not only serve as inspiration for innovation in all other arenas of work and leisure, but the arts play a vital role in our everyday decision-making.

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ARTS NOTES

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SNAPSHOT: MACON LITTLE THEATRE, THE LITTLE THEATRE THAT COULD
Founded in 1934 as Macon s first community theatre, Macon Little Theatre (MLT) has steadily grown over the decades, expanding seating capacity to 400+ seats, and increasing the number of productions per season. The Little Theatre has embraced its community through programming and outreach efforts to bridge racial differences. Now entering its 71st season, MLT as a result of focused efforts on community and board development is celebrating recent successes after surmounting financial challenges.
Robert Bailey, Chair of Development and Fundraising, joined MLT s Board of Directors in June 2003, and his ideas combined with the dreams of newly elected Chair of the Board, John T. Jones, have been instrumental in turning MLT around. Bailey acknowledges that the recent successes including sold-out hit performances, increased revenues, and a new artistic/technical director could not have happened without the hard work of an active board and an unwavering focus on the importance of community involvement.
For the summer production of Showboat, board members conducted outreach efforts throughout the Macon area, traveling to churches and schools to recruit a performing choir. While searching, the board discovered the incredible vocal talents of high school students at Southwest High School, a choir that had won competitions throughout the state and would be traveling to Italy to perform in the International Music Festival.
Friends and family members of the students attended sold-out performances of Showboat; for some, it was their first trip to MLT. For a community theater to survive and thrive, Bailey knows that the community as a whole must be involved. The success of Showboat demonstrated how critical it was for a local theater to welcome various communities. He also emphasized that a commitment to community means a dedication to sharing resources. For example, MLT sponsored the cost of travel for one high school student from the choir to travel to Italy.

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MACON LITTLE THEATRE: THE LITTLE THEATRE THAT COULD, cont.
As a visible sign of Macon s community involvement with MLT, Bailey points to the newly landscaped surroundings outside MLT s lobby windows where a local landscape artist donated his time and expertise in re-landscaping the theater grounds. Now that the kudzu-like growth has been cleared away, there is enough room for a new outdoor patio that will feature newly engraved red bricks, a successful fund-raising idea that was generated by another member of the board.
MLT s recent turnaround started when the board took a huge risk in temporarily eliminating a permanent director position, and substituting guest directors for productions. Bailey said that this strategy lowered MLT s overhead and operating costs bringing the organization back to sound financial health. Recently, the theatre was able to hire a permanent artistic/ technical director for its upcoming productions.
Bailey is excited about the upcoming December production of Annie, which has been greeted by a wave of community enthusiasm. MLT held 150 auditions for onstage roles in October, and decided to double-cast each role (except for Annie s dog!) in order to give more community members a chance to sing and dance. To satisfy popular demand, MLT is doubling the number of performances. Enthusiasm builds on enthusiasm. said Bailey, summing up MLT s continuing turnaround.
SNAPSHOT: ARTS EDUCATION IN TELFAIR COUNTY
Telfair County Schools, a FY04 Arts Education Challenge recipient, is continuing to build on the development grant they received in 2003 by focusing on making a wide array of visual and performing arts programs available for K-5th grade students and classroom teachers in Telfair County Elementary School. One such program is the Civil War focused Social Studies art infusion unit taught by GCA residency artists, Peggy Benkeser and Clair Ritzler.
Ms. Ritzler, a professional puppeteer, helped students create Shadow Puppets and a Time Line Stage presenting key events and issues of the war. Ms. Benkeser, a professional musician, focused on teaching students an understanding of the Civil War from a drummer boy s perspective for which GCA s development grant allowed the teachers to provide the class with 25 drum pads and sticks. Through drumming, drill and reading historic journals of real drummer boys, the students learned key concepts and were able to go beyond just the memorization of dates into the lives, issues and feelings of young people who actually lived during the Civil War. Music, Extension and other classroom teachers participated in the planning and preparing of students for a performance for fourth grade students and parents in November.
Other arts education programs planned for Telfair include Storyline , a series of interactive lessons focusing on the Rainforest that will be taught to third grade language arts classes by Carol Jones and Claire Ritzler, both of the Alliance Theatre. Local artist Henry Gorham will join Joe Mathew s art class to teach students about color and line during the month of October 2005 and GCA roster artist Kim Bowers-Rheay will return to do Wolf Trap with the Kindergarten classes in the spring of 2005.
GCA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING IN MACON
The GCA Advisory Board Meeting was held on November 9, 2004 in Macon at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Agenda items included a presentation on Macon s Cultural Tourism Initiative by Lynn Cass of the Macon Arts Alliance and Janice Marshall of the Macon Convention Visitors Bureau, a review of the FY2005 Grants, and a review of the proposed FY2006 guideline changes. Reports were also given on State of the Arts (TV show & companion website), Southern Artistry.org, and Opening Nights, all new GCA initiatives. ALL-GA Executive Director, Jan Selman, was also present to report on the status of ALL-GA and arts advocacy in Georgia. Minutes from the board meeting can be found on the GCA website, www.gaarts.org, under Council Meetings .

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Welcome to New GCA Staff Members!

Serena M. Simpson
Accountant, Paraprofessional
Serena M. Simpson has joined the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) as the Accountant, Paraprofessional. Prior to joining GCA, Ms. Simpson was the Accountant, Paraprofessional for the Department of Agriculture. Ms. Simpson received a B.A. in Marketing from Georgia Southwestern State University.

ReLiang Tsang
Arts Services Manager
Prior to joining GCA, Ms. Tsang served as Director of Career Services at the Atlanta College of Art (ACA). At ACA, she managed the internship program and built an effective Career Center that provided students and alumni with resources on career development for emerging artists and designers. Through the internship program and the development of a lunchtime lecture series, she developed and strengthened ACA s relationship with the local arts and design community.
Ms. Tsang received her B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in painting from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.A. in Museum Studies with an emphasis on curation from San Francisco State University. She received a Fulbright Fellowship to Taipei, Taiwan to serve as the Curatorial Fellow to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.

Grassroots Legislative Luncheon held by the Greater Augusta Arts Council

The Greater Augusta Arts Council (GAAC) held their annual Grassroots Legislative Luncheon on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at noon in the Sacred Heart Cultural Center. Every year, for the past 8 years, GAAC has invited all of their local and state legislators, commissioners, and Board of Education officials to the event to celebrate the arts and the importance of arts programming at a local level.
The objective of the event from its inception was to infuse the crowd with a renewed understanding of the importance and value of support for the arts, and to reconnect legislators and community members alike with the true power of the arts as an agent for change and progress. Believing that it takes the efforts of many to ensure that the arts are supported, and programs such as the Grassroots Arts Program remain viable and funded, the luncheon is also an opportunity for the

GAAC to celebrate the efforts of the local legislators that keep these programs running and share some of the successes that have been born of GAP funding.
The GAAC has a 10 county GAP Region (Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Warren, Wilkes) and accordingly re-grants GAP money to more counties in the state than any other GAP Agency. By GAAC s estimate, the GAP funds in their 10 county region has impacted over 30,000 community members.
This year approximately 60 people attended the luncheon and heard Gary Dennis of Behind the Mask, a local theater group, share some local perspective on the importance of GAP funds. Additionally, Gordon Renshaw, GAAC Board Member and Co-chair of the GAP Committee announced all of GAAC s FY05 grantees. They included: Ben and Peters Puppets, a storytelling and puppet show that focuses

on character education, the Augusta Mini Theater, and a multi-cultural Drama club among others.
Representative Sue Burmeister spoke of the State-wide economic impact of the arts and the significant contributions that cultural tourists make to a local economy. She went on to discuss the increasingly evident role of the arts in economic development as exhibited by Swamp Gravy in Miller County. Other guests included Willie Mays, Mayor pro tempore, Augusta.
A program such as this is only as strong as its administrators and the backbone of that strength is the conviction that communities know how to navigate the road to their own success. The power of true progress is born of local collaboration and innovation. Georgia Council for the Arts Community Arts Development Manager, Karen Lawton told the guests.

Visit us on the Web! www.gaarts.org

D UN & BRADSTREET REGISTRATION
Americans for the Arts is urging all artists and arts organizations to get their own free Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) number or if they already have a D&B number, to ensure that they are accurately coded as an arts organization or artist. Why? Because Americans for the Arts has developed a new annual research initiative, Creative Industries, that uses D&B data to document the number of arts-related businesses and employees in any geographical region or political jurisdiction. If you don t have a D&B number you are not represented in the data, and the analysis suggests a vast under-representation of nonprofit arts organizations and artists. So SIGN UP AND BE COUNTED as part of this potent visibility and advocacy tool for advancing the arts in America.
For more information, go to www.americansforthearts.org

Snapshots are homegrown stories of success and innovation found across Georgia in the arts organizations supported by GCA. Grantees are encouraged to submit up to 500 word articles with photographs for consideration to GCA s Public Information Officer, Darrya Lipscomb, at dlipscomb@gaarts.org.