Limestone Sculpture Installed in Nashville Cultural District

The Indiana Arts Commission designated Nashville and Brown County as a Certified Cultural District in 2012. In honor of the designation, renowned limestone sculptor William Galloway created a nine-foot sculpture, inspired from his (smaller) pieces carved for the 2011 Governor's Arts Awards. Weighing 4,000 pounds, the sculpture depicts thin, dancer-like figures and yet still maintains the stone's strong central axis, producing a visually impressive sculpture. The Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission held an installation and unveiling ceremony November 8 to officially celebrate the cultural district certification. The sculpture was installed in front of the Artist Colony Inn, located at the corner of Franklin and Van Buren Streets in downtown Nashville. Back to Top

Entries Sought for 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) is now accepting entries for the 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Writing and Multimedia Contest. The fourth annual contest asks Indiana high school students to use art, writing or multimedia to describe the lasting footprint left by Dr. King. One overall winner will be selected and will receive: A $500 college scholarship from Indiana Black Expo, Inc. An invitation to attend the 24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration at the Indiana Statehouse on Thursday, January 15, 2015. At the program, the student will be honored with the prestigious Passing the Torch award. The contest is sponsored by Indiana Black Expo, Inc., the Indianapolis Recorder, and the Indiana Arts Commission. All entries must be received by December 22, 2014. Click here to view the contest brochure. For more information, call 317-232-2561 or email bmeadows@icrc.in.gov. Back to Top

Big Read Now Accepting Applications

The Big Read is accepting applications from non-profit organizations to develop community-wide reading programs between September 2015 and June 2016. The Big Read is a national program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage reading for pleasure and enrichment. Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read receive a grant, educational and promotional materials, and access to online training resources and opportunities. Approximately 75 organizations from across the country will be selected. To review the Guidelines and Application instructions, visit The Big Read website. Application deadline is 4:00 p.m. (CST) January 28, 2015. Back to Top

Indiana Humanities & Indiana Landmarks to offer Grant Workshop

Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks will offer a grant workshop December 5, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana. Focusing on opportunities for funding public programs in history, preservation, literature and related fields, the workshop will provide information on available grants, offer examples of innovative projects and give you a chance to meet grant officers and colleagues. Senior program officer Chrissy Cortina will talk about grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Advance registration is required. Find more information at: www.indianahumanities.org/Grants or contact Nancy Conner, 317-638-1500 or email nconner@indianahumanities.org.  (source: Indiana Humanities press release)

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News Around the State

New Nonprofit Gets $100,000 Grant to Purchase Jasper's Astra Theatre
In the main theater of the Astra, the Dubois County Community Foundation announced its largest single grant to date. The grant is for a new nonprofit organization planning to buy the Astra Theatre and open the former movie house as an arts facility. Click here for the full story. (source: Indiana Economic Digest)

Highland's Town Theater to Anchor Arts and Culture District
Ever hear the one about that town that rallied together to save its historic movie theater - you know, the one with the vintage marquee? Most recently, this was Highland, Indiana. But saving the theater is just the beginning. Read the full story here. (source: Indiana Economic Digest)

Fort Wayne Unveils Statue Makeover
One of Fort Wayne's most iconic landmarks has been rededicated. The General Anthony Wayne statue received restoration work and a new protective coating, which was funded by $125,000 from the Courthouse Preservation Trust. Click here for the full story. (source: Inside Indiana Business)

Mitchell Opera House Rehab to Start with Grand Opening July 2015
After researching the 107-year history of the Mitchell Opera House, David Miller believes the building's best years are still ahead. Hoosier Uplands recently purchased the Opera House from the city of Mitchell for $1 with the intention of rehabilitating the historic building and reopening it as an entertainment venue. Read more here. (source: Indiana Economic Digest)

University to Launch Marching Band Program
The University of Saint Francis is launching a marching band program. The Fort Wayne school plans to debut the program in 2016 and eventually build toward 100 members within four years. Read the full story here. (source: Inside Indiana Business)

Wabash College Students Display Recycled Bicycle Art
With Crawfordsville's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan in its infancy stages, Athens Art Gallery wanted to help the plan gain some tread. It did so over a month by displaying artwork made of recycled bicycles. The gallery worked in conjunction with Sustainable Initiative and Wabash College to display the bicycle artwork during its REvision exhibition. Read more here. (source: Indiana Economic Digest)

Purdue University-North Central Debuts Five New Sculptures
Five new works or art now grace the Purdue University-North Central grounds, bringing the total number of sculptures on the Westville campus to 37. The new sculptures were debuted during an event held at the university assembly hall earlier this month. Click here for the full story. (source: Indiana Economic Digest)

Crowd Turns Out to Paint Shelbyville Mural
What began as a concept about a year-and-a-half ago has finally come to fruition for the city of Shelbyville and Shelby County. Numerous residents recently braved cold temperatures and headed to the Salvation Army's gymnasium to participate in painting a community mural. Click here for the full story. (source: Indiana Economic Digest)

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National News

Atlanta Symphony Lockout Ends
Orchestra officials announced the two-month Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musician lockout ended following a four-year agreement. The deal was forged over the last month with the help of Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service mediators. The 70th season was expected to open in mid-November. (source: AJC.com)

Do Americans Appreciate Their Arts and Culture?
In the past few days, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra reached a settlement with its players after a 10-week lockout. It was contentious - Atlanta's season-opening concerts were cancelled, and federal mediators had to be called in. Cincinnati may not know how close it came to downsizing, potentially even losing, its own major orchestra a handful of years ago. The orchestra was strapped with a large structural deficit and pondering big cuts. It was headed to becoming a much smaller organization. Why is a symphony important to a cultural landscape? Click here to find out more. (source: Cincinnati.com)

Could What Almost Happened in Detroit, Happen with Other Cities' Museums?
A court ruling saved the Detroit Institute of Art's collections, but other museums whose works are government-owned might not be so lucky. Read the full story here. (source: The Wall Street Journal)

Online Art Auctions Fail to Stir Interest, or Higher Bids
As art collectors gather in New York City of the glittering fall auctions, where works of art will routinely change hands for tens of millions of dollars, a few for much more, auctions that are exclusively online, conducted without the benefit of a live auctioneer or audience, have not come close to reaching top prices. Click here to read the full story. (source: New York Times)

Congress May Consider Creation of a Cultural Property Protection Czar
A new bill introduced in Washington, D.C. early this month seeks to block looted Syrian cultural heritage from entering the U.S. The Protect and Preserve International Property Act asks Congress to appoint a cultural property protection czar and establish emergency import restrictions to protect endangered cultural patrimony. The bill aims to "deny terrorists and criminals the ability to profit from instability by looting the world of its greatest treasures," said Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY). Engel is co-sponsoring the bill with Chris Smith (R-NJ). Read the full story here. (source: theartnewspaper.com)

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Opportunities

Funding Opportunity, Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America
Funding is available to presenters in Indiana through Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation's Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America program. This national initiative has been revised from prior funding rounds to simplify the grant process and make the program more accessible to a broader range of presenters. Fee support will now be available to nonprofit presenters based anywhere in the United States and its territories that book artists from an annual roster. The program will no longer accept applications from presenters for support of engagements by artists they have self-identified for engagements. Help select the 2015-2016 artist roster. For information on the candidates under consideration, click here. To indicate your preference for the artists to be included on the roster, please take a brief (less than 5 minutes) survey. Click here for the survey. The survey will close Friday, December 5, 2014. The roster will be announced later in December, 2014. Funding will be available for roster engagements taking place between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Instructions on booking artists and receiving funding will be made available when the roster is announced. For more information, contact Robyn Busch at robyn@midatlanticarts.org. 

Director of Marketing & Communications, Brevard Music Center, Brevard, NC
The Brevard Music Center seeks a Director of Marketing & Communications. Reporting to the President, the Director of Marketing and Communications is charged with the creation and execution of short-and long-term marketing and public relations efforts across all media, with the goals of increasing performance ticket sales and developing and expanding brand / awareness-building campaigns that grow audiences, while increasing the company's engagement with local, regional, and national community. Click here to read more about this opportunity. Deadline for application is December 12, 2014.

Director of Development, Arts for Learning, Indianapolis, IN
Arts for Learning (AfL), the Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences, seeks a development and fundraising professional with knowledge of and ability to organize all fundraising activities with a focus on individual and corporate solicitation. This full-time position will lead annual and special project fundraising campaigns; cultivate major-gifts donors; supervise the grants and stewardship manager; and work directly with the President & CEO to interact with AfL Board of Directors and stART Young Professionals board. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor's degree, plus five years experience in fundraising, particularly in the area of annual fund and grant writing; demonstrated experience in identifying and successfully soliciting individual donors; and strong service orientation, initiative, good judgment, and ability to work independently and as a team member. Upload resume, cover letter, and salary history to: http://artsforlearningindiana.org/ways-to-help/job-opportunities/ or submit materials by mail to: JoEllen Florio Rossebo, President & CEO, Arts for Learning, 3921 N. Meridian St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Deadline for application is December 15, 2014.

Patron Services Representative, Part-time, Center for the Performing Arts, Indianapolis, IN
This is a part-time position with customer service oriented box office team. Varying work schedule includes evenings / weekends. Excellent communications skills required. Experience with Tessitura a plus. Sales experience helpful. Click here for more information and how to apply.

Arts Administrator, Sphinxmusic, Detroit, MI
Artist recruitment, coordination and logistical management are core responsibilities of this position with an established national organization focused on transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Successful candidate will be comfortable managing details while operating at a rapid pace. The position demands expertise with both technology and interpersonal communications while offering the satisfaction of helping youths and promoting diversity in classical music. If you enjoy challenge, a broad scope of responsibilities, and the opportunity to play a critical role in an organization that offers relationships of mutual respect, please email cover letter, resume and salary requirements to info@sphinxmusic.org.

Vice President of Public Relations, The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
The John F. Kennedy Center is seeking an experienced professional to lead its public relations team. As a senior management team member reporting to the President, the Vice President of Public Relations will provide leadership and direction in the areas of long-term public relations strategy, and institutional communications and oversee media outreach for more than 2,000 performances and events held at the Center each year. Click here to learn more about this position and how to apply.

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