Two Indiana Poets Among Latest Recipients of NEA Grants

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced its latest round of grants including those for Art Works I, Challenge America, and Creative Writing Fellowships in Poetry. Two Indiana poets are among eight grant recipients in Indiana. Sara Gelston, Indianapolis, and Mark Neely, Muncie, each will receive a $25,000 grant in the field of Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry. The remaining six grants will be awarded to arts organizations or cultural program providers in the state. The eight Indiana grants total $150,000. "Since coming to the NEA, I have met with many NEA grantees and have seen first-hand the positive impact they have on their communities," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "These new projects will continue to demonstrate the power the arts have to deepen value, build connections, and foster an atmosphere of creativity and innovation both at the community level and with individuals throughout the nation." Back to Top

Student Art Contest / Cooperative Calendar of Student Art 2016 Seeks Student Submissions

The "Student Art Contest / Cooperative Calendar of Student Art 2016" is an officially endorsed Bicentennial Legacy Project, and seeks student artists, K-12, from across Indiana. This is a unique chance for Indiana youth to become and "official" part of the state's bicentennial history through the arts. The 2016 calendar will be encouraging artwork relative to Indiana's bicentennial in a fairly broad sense. The deadline for submission is March 20, 2015. The contest rules, found here, include the required entry forms and a tip sheet that includes examples of past winners that would meet the new bicentennial criteria added for the 2016 calendar. Criteria must show how the artist uses Indiana events, locations, landscapes, etc. Click here for more information. Back to Top

BSU Film Professor Makes Holiday Film Picks

When it comes to his favorite holiday movies, Ball State University film professor Wes Gehring says each is a feel-good, populist film successful in pulling at the heartstrings by showing that no Christmas is perfect but can still be happy. Gehring's top five Christmas-themed films are: "It's a Wonderful Life (1946) "The Bishop's Wife" (1947) "Miracle on 34th Street (1947) "A Christmas Story" (1983) "Elf" (2003) His second five favorites include: "The Shop Around the Corner," "Love Actually," "Christmas Vacation," "Holiday Inn," and "Scrooged." "These are all sentimental, a trait that works best at Christmas for a mass audience that might be more cynical the rest of the year," says Gehring, author of 33 books about the movie industry and its stars. "But personally, I like them year-round." Gehring likes "It's a Wonderful Life," and "A Christmas Story," because they are both well-crafted stories that have become icons through "around-the-clock" television and cable airings of them during the holiday season. "The dark tone of 'Wonderful Life' with a key character contemplating suicide surprised viewers when it was releases," Gehring said. "It did a decent business and received at Oscar time, but it wasn't considered a classic until the world caught up with its modern slant and public domain status allowed it to be shown so much." Gehring's least favorite holiday films? Let's just say they all deal with a much darker, violent theme that is far removed from the spirit of the season. Killer toys are not on his film wish list. (source: Ball State University) Back to Top

Arts Council of Indianapolis Announces Fellowships

The Arts Council of Indianapolis (ACI) announced early this month the ninth round of the Creative Renewal Art Fellowship Program, and a new fellowship connecting artists and community development projects. Since 1999, the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship Program has served as a signature program of ACI with financial support and program guidance from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Inspired by the practice of sabbaticals in the academic sector, the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship Program has become a source of support and opportunity for artists in Indianapolis.  To date, ACI has awarded 370 Creative Renewal Arts Fellowships, allowing artists and arts administrators the freedom to step away from day-to-day responsibilities to rejuvenate their talent and passion for the arts. Application materials can be found at www.indyarts.org. The Transformational Impact Fellowship Program will place professional artists and culture organizations at the forefront of community development. ACI will award two $100,000, two-year fellowships to artists and / or artist teams working in partnership with a nonprofit organization, community and / or neighborhood in Marion County.  Candidates for the Transformational Impact Fellowship can work in any artistic discipline (music, dance, theatre, literature, film and / or visual art). They must have a demonstrated exhibition and / or performance history; be at least 18 years of age; and live and work in central Indiana. Fellows will be selected from a three-stage adjudication process. Awarded funds will be used to create an arts-based transformational project or program for a neighborhood within Marion County. Additional details and materials for the program will be available beginning February 2, 2015. Back to Top

Study Shows Recent Arts Alumni are Resilient, Adaptable and Involved

A study by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAPP) shows that America's most recent arts graduates are using skills learned in school combined with internship experiences to find work, forge careers and engage their communities, despite higher student debt levels than older alumni. The report, "Making it Work: The Education and Employment of Recent Arts Graduates," analyzes data from more than 88,000 arts alumni of all ages, with a particular focus on the 17,000 recent alumni - those who finished their undergraduate or graduate level degrees up to five years prior. Arts alumni participating in the study attended 140 degree-granting institutions in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Recent arts alumni differ most from their older cohorts in their frequent use of internships to gain experience and in unprecedented levels of student debt. They also are more likely to have learned transferable skills including persuasive speaking, networking and project management. A large majority (80%) of recent alumni report finding first jobs that are closely or somewhat related to their arts education. Arts Alumni generally feel well prepared to pursue further education: 84% of recent graduates who pursued further education felt "very well" or "fairly well" prepared. Interestingly, a somewhat higher percentage of alumni or color pursued additional degrees compared to their white counterparts. Recent arts graduates demonstrate a high level of community engagement, with 90% reporting they had supported the arts in the previous 12 months by volunteering, donating money or attending an event. Back to Top

Survey Seeks Professional Artist Input

A national survey, Artists and Art Materials Survey, seeks input from U.S. and Canadian professional artists. The study gives results for students, recreational artists and professional artists, so this is a chance to be heard.

By taking the survey, artists will:

• Help art galleries, nonprofits, art schools, and businesses better serve artists
• Tell art supply stores and brands what artists want
• Receive free digital issues of The Artist's Magazine and Professional Artist
• Explore your art life
• Get a chance to win one of five $100 (C$110) art supply store gift cards

The survey is anonymous, and you will not receive marketing spam.

The results of this survey will appear in the third edition of the NAMTA Artists & Art Materials Study. The study will be available to nonprofit art associations, colleges, galleries, and NAMTA members in 2015. NAMTA is an association of hundreds of independent and family-owned art materials retailers and brands.

Take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NAMTApro.

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Conference Will Explore Dance, Theatre and Diversity

Join Rachel S. Moore, Tim Dang, and many other arts leaders at the Dance and Theatre sessions planned at the Third Annual SphinxCon, January 30 - February 1, 2015. The Dance session will be led by Rachel S. Moore, CEO of American Ballet Theatre. This session will encourage individuals and small organizations, fighting for the same purpose, to unite and form a coalition in pursuit of a more diverse dance field and audience. Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, leads the conference's first Theater session with a look into the future. "2042: See Change - Reality Confronts the American Theatre," will explore how to further promote diversity in the theatre audience.  Other presenters will include Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Jesse Rosen, President and CEO of League of American Orchestras, and Maria Rosario Jackson, Senior Adviser, Arts and Culture Programs, Kresge Foundation, and many more. Deadline for early registration ($70) is 11:59 p.m. (EST) December 12, 2014. For more information about the conference, please visit: www. SphinxCon.org.  Back to Top

If You Want to Be a Musician, Listen to Music - Even What You Don't Like

Listening to and trying to understand as much music as possible, even music you don't enjoy, is an incredibly important part of becoming a better and better musician. Differing genres make use of different musical processes and ideas, and listeners raised in different traditions pay attention to different markers. Click here to learn more. (source: New Music USA)

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Earlham College Exhibition to Turn Weapons of Violence into Artworks of Peace

Leeds Gallery at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, announces a juried exhibition Swords into Plowshares: Art Transforming Violence. Earlham College seeks art that transforms weapons and re-purposes them, rejecting violence, and moving the viewer. They are especially interested in art that speaks to this passage from Isaiah 2:4: 'and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore'. The deadline for acceptance of entry materials is March 1, 2015. This is not a postmark deadline. The exhibition will be May 18 through June 10, 2015 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.), with an opening reception May 18, 2015 from 3 - 5 p.m. To view the prospectus for the exhibition, visit: http://www.earlham.edu/plowshares/. Back to Top

Artist Opportunities

Call for Musicians, Outdoor Concert Series, Bloomington, IN
The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is seeking musicians to apply to participate in the 2015 Performing Arts Series, which takes place May through August in City parks throughout Bloomington. Performers are selected based on type and quality of performance, availability, past performance record, cost and sponsor interest. Those interested in applying to perform next summer must submit an artist application online; the link to the application is available at bloomington.in.gov/concerts. Applicants must send to the Parks and Recreation Department current photos, links to online music or mp3s with at least three examples or original music, and recent publicity that has been printed for the group. Applications and a $10 application fee must be received by the Bloomington  Parks and Recreation Department no later than 5 p.m. December 15, 2014. Applications will be accepted until all performance dates are filled. for more information, contact Greg Jacobs at 812-349-3725 or email jacobsg@bloomington.in.gov.

Call for Artists, Request for Proposal, Poster Design, Indiana CPA Society, Indianapolis, IN
The Indiana CPA Society seeks to produce an artful poster to commemorate its 100th anniversary. The poster will be distributed to members and other partners and peers in the state and national CPA community. The posted is intended as a gift that can be displayed in a variety of professional office settings. Agency / individual shall provide an original graphic or artistic theme depicting the spirit of the 100 Year celebration of the Indiana CPA Society. The tone of the poster should be appropriate to hang in a professional office setting. Key words or themes incorporated into the design include: collaboration, collegiality, leadership, vision, change, professionalism, integrity, trust, and history. The design of the poster must include the following information: Indiana CPA Society, 100 Years and Counting, and all designs must include preexisting Indiana CPA Society and INCPAS 100 Year logos. Poster design should include a minimum of two (2) printed colors. Submission must include the company or individual's name, name of contact person, mailing address, telephone number, at least three (3) links to examples of respondent's work, total requested compensation including all fees and expenses. Send projected cost for services in the RFP response. The design, copyright, and original source files must remain with the Indiana CPA Society for use as the organization sees fit. Submissions, including cover letter, link to samples, submission and cost estimate must be submitted by 5 p.m., Thursday, December 18, 2015. The selection process will occur  during the second week of January, 2015. Direct all questions to Jess Halverson, 317-726-5027 or email jhalverson@incpas.org. Submissions may be emailed to this address, or sent postal to Jess Halverson, Indiana CPA Society, 8250 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., #100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Request for Qualifications, Millersville at Fall Creek Preserve Public Art Project, Indianapolis, IN
The Arts Council of Indianapolis, in partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), is requesting qualifications from artists or artist teams who are interested in creating outdoor public artwork for the indicated site. This RFQ is an open call to experiences public artists living in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio or Kentucky. KIB's IPL Project Greenspace is a grassroots-driven effort that helps transform vacant lots and underused spaces into natural, beautiful and functional pocket parks. As part of the 2015 initiative, public art will be incorporated into the pocket park planned for Millersville at Fall Creek Preserve, a site near E. 56th Street and Emerson Avenue. An optional informational meeting will be held Tuesday, December 9, 2015 at 5 p.m. at the KIB offices, 1029 E. Fletcher Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Tammy Stevens, Program Manager, at KIB, tstevens@kibi.org. For complete details, please visit: http://www.indyartsguide.org/classifieds/detail/30308. Deadline for submissions is 5:00 PM (ET) Friday, December 19, 2014.

Request for Proposals, Urban Design / Public Art Opportunity, Syracuse, NY
The Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency (SURA), a public benefit corporation of the City of Syracuse, New York, seeks a qualified, multidisciplinary team to plan, design and develop construction specifications for a public art space in the center of Downtown Syracuse. The project will transform an underutilized plaza and green space into an active and inviting public space, encompassing urban and landscape design and context sensitive public art. This is a two-stage proposals process. In the first stage, respondents are requested to present their qualifications that demonstrate experience and expertise in the areas of urban and landscape design, context-sensitive public art, and public participation. Because public art is an integral component of this project, a public artist must be part of the project team. For RFP documents and more information, please go to http://www.syrgov.net/SURA.aspx. Deadline for submission is Monday, December 22, 2015.

Call for Proposals, New Albany Public Art Project, New Albany, Indiana
Artists, submit your proposal to create a public artwork about sustainability to be installed in New Albany, Indiana in Spring 2015 for the first year of the New Albany Public Art Project: Today & Tomorrow Series. Click here to download the prospectus and submit your proposal online. Please note that all proposals must be submitted online through the link provided. Deadline for submission is 11:59:59 p.m. (Mountain Time) January 5, 2015.

Call for Proposals, West Lafayette Post Office Mural, West Lafayette, IN
The City of West Lafayette's public art program, administered through its Public Arts Team (PAT), is undertaking a mural project on the east side of the West Lafayette Post Office. The Public Art Team is collaborating with the building owner and the U.S. Postal Service on the project, with funding provided by the West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission. The Public Art Advisory Group seeks an artist / art teacher to create a permanent public artwork on the east wall of the post office. The entire wall to the right of the entrance is available for decoration and the committee requests that a least 60% of the area be covered. The size of the wall is approximately 100 feet by 15 feet. Artwork should not exceed the building facade. Exterior latex paint should be used. Two to five high school art students will be available to help with implementation. Installation shall take place next year and should be completed by September 1, 2015. Projects up to $5,500 will be considered. Budget should be appropriate to the scope of the project and should include all supplies and prep work. For more information, or to receive a copy of the RFP and submission form, contact Beverly Shaw at bshaw@wl.in.gov. Deadline for proposals is 4:00 p.m. (EST) January 15, 2015.

Request for Qualifications, Outdoor Sculpture, Art Spaces, Inc., Terre Haute, IN
Art Spaces, Inc. - Wabash Valley Outdoor Sculpture Collection is issuing a request for qualifications for a site-specific project to be located in Deming Park in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana. The sculpture will be located in Deming Park on a hillside adjacent to the Clark-Landsbaum Holly Arboretum. Artist budget for the project shall not exceed $70,000. The budget will include research, design, materials, fabrication, shipping, engineering, insurance, taxes and any other expenses related to the project not listed as the responsibility of Art Spaces. On the Art Spaces website you will find links to images of the proposed site, a map of Deming Park, additional information about Art Spaces and the sculpture collection, and this project. Send to info@wabashvalleyartspaces.com or to Art Spaces, Inc., 669 Ohio Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Deadline for submission is Friday, January 16, 2015.

Call for Artists Portfolios, Kremp Gallery, Jasper, IN
The Kremp Gallery will be reviewing portfolios for solo and group shows for 2016. This open call to artists working in all medias. No fees included. Professional, non-student artists only please. Artwork must be presented in a professional manner. The Gallery provides invitations, press releases, honorarium, insurance coverage on-site, and reception where needed. The artist is responsible for framing, shipping and / or delivery. Commission of 30%. Minimum of 10 images for solo show, more for group show, along with artist statement and curriculum vitae. Digital images should be on CD or emailed. No online submissions. There are also paid opportunities for workshops / gallery talks in conjunction with the exhibit. Deadline for submission is March 13, 2015. If interested, please mail materials and a SASE to Emily Colucci, Visual Arts Coordinator, Jasper Arts Center, 951 College Ave., Jasper, IN 47546. Questions or concerns should be directed to Emily Colucci at 812-482-3070 or email visualarts@ci.jasper.in.us. Visit www.jasperarts.org for more information.

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Job Opportunities

Artistic Director, Sphinx Music, 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.

Deputy Director, Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia, WA
The Washington State Arts Commission currently seeks candidates for their Deputy Director. Successful candidates should have experience in budget, finance, and agency operations. The deadline to apply is December 21, 2014. To view a complete job description and information on how to apply, please visit: http://bit.ly/1FLEJOB.

Portrait and Figure Models, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN
The Indianapolis Art Center is currently calling for experiences portrait and figure models. Models are needed for sporadic assignments that can occur on any day of the week, typically in three hour blocks of time. Most classes run during the following times: 9 a.m. -12 p.m.; 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. ; and 6 - 9 p.m. Previous modeling experience strongly preferred. Must be able to hold poses for 20 minutes and longer. All body types, genders, races and ethnicity sought. The model is responsible for providing the Indianapolis Art Center a complete invoice at least monthly for all services provided. Models will be paid $12 per hour for work as a nude / semi-nude figure modeling, and $10 per hour for portrait / clothed modeling. Models must send contact information, including name, address, phone, and email; explanation of previous modeling experience; letter of reference regarding modeling experience; photographs including head shot and full body shot; height, weight, and age; gender, race, ethnicity; muscle tone; piercings; tattoos; and other distinguishing marks or features. Models should send required information to Kelly Oden at KOden@indplsartcenter.org. This is an independent contract role and as such, models will not be employed by the Indianapolis Art Center. Indianapolis Art Center will not provide fringe benefits or any other employment related benefit. Model is responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes and must provide Indianapolis Art Center with a completed W9 Tax Form.

Patron Services Representatives, Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN
The Center for the Performing Arts seeks outstanding individuals for part-time Customer Service positions in the Ticket Office. Candidates should have excellent communications skills and enjoy interacting with the public. These positions require the ability to work evenings and weekends along with varying schedules. Knowledge of the arts and experience using Tessitura or other ticketing software programs are pluses, and sales experience is helpful. To apply, email cover letter and resume to: tickets@thecenterpresents.org. No phone calls please.

Manager of Volunteer Services, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
The Manager of Volunteer Services maintains reporting systems and tour evaluation, and supports all logistics for the Volunteer program. He/she actively recruits and oversees the orientation of new volunteers; trains, ensures appropriate placement of and provides support for volunteer staff throughout the institution. He/she sets standards for and monitors volunteer performance and development. Basic work week is 37.5 hours per week, with some night / weekend event presence needed. Click here for the complete job description, qualifications, and how to apply.

Accounting Associate, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN
The Accounting Associate works closely with the Vice President of Administrations / CFO regarding banking month and year-end closing, balance sheet accounts reconciliations, sales tax return preparation, bank account and bank deposit reconciliations, revenue tracking, accounts receivable and inventory related accounts payable entry and reconciliations. To see the full job listing and how to apply, click here.

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