Staff Spotlight: John Bracey Weighs In

I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed, but there is a bit of a chill in the air… even in Michigan! However although it is cold outside MCACA is still on its hot streak! In his FY 2015 budget presentation Governor Rick Snyder proposed an increase of $2 million “for the visibility of Michigan’s vital arts and culture sector, supporting arts education, encouraging creative and innovative works of art, and broadening cultural understanding.” This is the first time since the 1990’s that MCACA has had a proposed increase three years in a row. Of course there is still work to be done with the legislature, but we are very excited and are already planning on how we would use the increase. For those keeping track, the proposed Executive Budget will move us to nearly $10 million to grant.

In a couple of weeks I will be speaking at Sphinx Con… please don’t hold that against them it really is a great conference that all of you should consider attending (http://sphinxmusic.org/sphinxcon.html ). Honestly there are some really great speakers on the lineup, including some old friends, like Abel Lopez, that I am looking forward to seeing again.

At last year’s conference we gave some definition to the issue of diversity in the arts. This year we are to speak about solutions. Those of you who know me understand that someone telling me they had “a solution” would rankle. In fact, I proposed that the title of my talk should be “Solutions…seriously you’re asking me?” The wiser folks at Sphinx took the sarcasm out of the tittle, but the gist will be the same… if someone tells you they have your solution, grab your wallet and run away… in fact, fill your car up with gas… drive until you run out of gas… get out of the car, with your wallet, throw away your keys, and then run away. I’m thinking that Aristotle might show up in the discussion. It should be interesting and I hope I don’t tick off to many people. Please attend and keep in mind they are archiving the talks as well.

Lastly our mobile App for public art in Michigan is nearly ready. We are expecting to release it before the spring travel season…..which, given the current weather patterns, should be sometime in July. The app will allow the user to find and identify public art in Michigan. It will also link to a site that will allow some identified “curators” to create an itinerary that suggests “trips” to users that may want to see the public art. For example there may be the John Bracey WPA public art tour….. Should be fun!

John has been the Executive Director of MCACA since 2006.  Tune in next month to hear what's on Program Manager Alison Loveday's radar....

Board Banter: DeAnn DeForest Nixon

Council Member for MCACA
Arts Education Chair

What first sparked your interest in the arts? Music has always been part of the nurturing environment in which I was raised.  My sweet mother was an accomplished pianist and visual artist. Under her loving care, I began violin lessons at the age of four using the Suzuki method. I was privileged to be able to study and graduate from the Interlochen Arts Academy, and later studied at the University of Miami. I played in orchestras in Southern Florida, Disney World, and the Orchestra at Temple Square that accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I have been privileged to perform in the Lincoln Center in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. I believe the enriching experiences I have been blessed with have helped shape my love for and appreciation of the arts.

Shortly after I was married, I graduated from Brigham Young University and taught Music and German in the public school system and had many private students. With the birth of our second son, I left teaching  to raise our children and to support my husband John.  We have six children, ages four to seventeen.

I am inspired by many things in the arts. Little children inspire me by the creativity and sweet nature they possess; hearing a little child sing, dance, or play an instrument is magical. Beautiful sunsets up on Mackinac Island and nature inspire me.  Harp and string music are calming and relaxing. Most importantly, I'm inspired by God. He truly blesses my life.

Four highlights in the arts this past year were:

1. Seeing Yo Yo Ma for my birthday.
2. Visiting the Detroit Institute of Art with my daughter’s fourth grade class.
3. Attending a music teachers’ conference in Grand Rapids with my daughter’s junior high honors choir.
4. Touring the Broad Museum with my daughter’s preschool class was priceless.

Things I look forward to in the arts in 2014:

1. Playing my violin in the "Lamb of God" production in Kalamazoo.
2. Volunteering for the local elementary school in the "Meet the Masters" program. I enjoy researching artists and then presenting what I have learned to students.
3. Seeing the effects of the arts in the lives of our youth. They are bright and talented and gain great insights through the arts.
4. Attending the "Sphinx" competition in Detroit is always a highlight! I especially enjoy the junior division -- the students inspire me.

Four fun facts about me:

1. I love family history and finding interesting facts about my ancestors. Just ask me about my family from Michigan sometime -- I love to share!
2. I speak German and spent eighteen months in the Düsseldorf region of Germany.
3. I enjoy travel. One highlight this past year was visiting Guatemala and seeing Lake Atitlan and the ruins of Tikal.
4. My favorite food is warm chocolate chip cookies right from the oven.

I love the arts and serving with such talented and dedicated people on the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.  The arts will always be a part of me and I hope to instil the same passion for the arts in my children and in everyone I meet.

Creative State Michigan Report Unveiled

For the past two years, ArtServe Michigan’s Creative State Michigan report has made an undeniable case for how Michigan’s arts, culture and creativity are contributing richly to Michigan, its people, communities and economic opportunities.

New this year, they’ve introduced a two-part Creative State Michigan report, which expands the current data, and the results continue to prove the creative sector is a vital component of Michigan’s competitive advantage and resurgence, contributing billions of dollars to the economy statewide!

Thanks to Creative State Michigan, ArtServe and its advocates are well positioned to work with Governor Synder and the Legislature to secure $8.15 million in state arts and cultural funding for FY 2014. That’s a $2 million increase, and with your help there’s more we can accomplish!

Read the full report here.

Success Story: New Leaders 2013 Grantee Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings

With support from the MCACA New Leaders grant for retention and engagement, the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS), the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and Eisenhower Dance, hosted the 2nd Annual Arts Intern Summit on August 7, 2013 with a goal to facilitate a forum where interns could speak first-hand with arts professionals, and to make the dialogue accessible. Speakers were also encouraged to talk about their career paths and their leadership roles at their institution. The project was led by two young leaders under 30, Margo Strebig (DCWS Director of Communications) and Anne Ruffley (Development Associate).

The Summit welcomed five guest speakers: Denise Thal (Senior Vice-President for Operations & CFO, The Henry Ford), Oliver Ragsdale, Jr. (President, The Carr Center), Paul Hogle (Executive Vice President, Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Truly Render (Press & Marketing Manager, University Musical Society), and Natalie Bruno (Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Development, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings). 

The Summit was composed of three parts: a Q & A panel session, roundtable discussions in small rotating groups, and a networking lunch.  35 interns participated in the Summit, and 100% of respondents said that the topics discussed by the guest speakers were hugely relevant to their current situation.

Strebig and Ruffley say that they brought together a group of panelists and young people who may not otherwise meet in regular circumstances and hope to continue diversifying and attracting more interns from other institutions in the future.

“This was an interesting opportunity for not only the administrators to speak to the students, but for the students to really engage with each other”, Ruffley says.  “They already had a common bond in seeking careers in the arts. But as one of the panelists put it, ‘Meeting potential employers is icing on the cake’.”

Got a great idea for a project that either RETAINS, ENGAGES, or MENTORS youth ages 14 – 35 in our state?  Apply for a New Leaders Grant today!  Deadline Feb 28, 2014.