Once every five years, the Office of Raleigh Arts, United Arts Council and Town of Cary jointly sponsor the Americans for the Arts’ national Arts & Economic Prosperity study. Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, based on data from 2010 and 2011, established that non-profit arts and culture organizations in Raleigh are a $143 million industry that supports almost 5,700 full-time equivalent jobs.

Arts & Economic Prosperity V will gather budget and employment information from nonprofit arts and cultural groups throughout Wake County and other data from the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2015. The study will also compile data from more than 1,200 audience intercept surveys collected at Wake County arts and cultural events during 2016. Survey takers will be asked about spending related to the arts in order to calculate the impact of arts activities from attendee spending.

Look for the Americans for the Arts surveys at arts events around Raleigh and Wake County and be sure to participate!

Read the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV report

Tomorrow, Triangle Art Works is hosting a workshop on Fair Use, a legal doctrine that sometimes allows for copyrighted works to be used by others without a license and without legal liability. Join a group of Triangle attorneys at The Frontier in RTP for a discussion on when music, visual images and written text may or may not be used with permission.

Thursday, February 25 from 6-8pm
Learn more and register

The Disappearing Frogs Project invites you to two unique evenings celebrating the convergence of art and science with a very special guest: author, conservationist and award-winning National Geographic photographer Robin Moore.

Thursday, February 25 at 6pm  
NCSU Crafts Center
Thompson Hall, 210 Jensen Drive, Raleigh
Exhibit on view through March 3

Friday, February 26 at 7pm
Quail Ridge Books
Ridgewood Shopping Center, 3522 Wade Avenue, Raleigh

Artists Reception: 
First Friday, March 4, 5-7pm

Excavations from Nothingness featuring works by Harriet Hoover and Wendy Collin Sorin is on view through March 18. Mark your calendars for the artists reception on March 4 – come meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments and entertainment!

Image: Harriet Hoover, Ibis Again, 2014, paper collage

Block Gallery
Raleigh Municipal Building | 222 W. Hargett St. | 919-996-3610
Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter 

More than 100 Wake County students ranging from kindergarteners to high school seniors will be represented in the 23rd annual Gifts of Gold arts celebration, a collaboration between the City’s Office of Raleigh Arts, Wake County Public Schools and the Wake Education Partnership.

On March 8-9, two- and three-dimensional student artworks submitted by Wake County art teachers will be showcased at a temporary art gallery in the lobby of Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Learn more

Awards Ceremony | Tuesday, March 8, 4:45pm
Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South St., Raleigh

Image: 2016 Gifts of Gold Best in Show – Sydney Vaught, Frida

The BlueCross BlueShield Foundation partners with BoardSource to provide quarterly training for board members and nonprofit management across North Carolina. BoardSource will lead four training sessions in Durham March 22-23. Topics include board development, building relationships between board and executive leadership, improving meeting effectiveness and assessing board performance. Registration is limited and each session costs $10.

Learn more and register

The Raleigh Arts Commission’s Technical Assistance Grant program is now accepting applications for its spring funding cycle. Designed to strengthen Raleigh arts organizations’ abilities to carry out the business of making art, the program provides funding in three grant categories: Universal Access (making the arts more accessible for people with disabilities), Professional Development (training for nonprofit staff and board members) and Organizational Development (for strategic planning, cultural equity training, program assessment and other organization-wide projects).

Deadline for grant applications for the spring funding cycle: April 1
Learn more

Artist Matt McConnell has been busy creating public art enhancements for Fayetteville Street’s Exchange Plaza. Starting next week, his planters and railings will be installed, each designed with a tree motif in mind. Here’s a sneak peek of the planters – a beautiful addition to the site!  

Image: Matt McConnell planters

Upcoming Events
Learn about Katy's upcoming events

Blog Excerpt: Ignoring the Truth
This past week, socked under by a killer virus that would not abate, I sought refuge in reading true crime in front of the fire. I do not read just any true crime book that hits the racks, mind you, and you should not either. A large percentage of them consist of breathless prose highlighting the more lurid aspects of a crime, much like the detective magazines of (not-so-) old. But I do read good true crime because of the amazing psychological insights into human behavior that thoughtful reporting on a case can provide. This means I primarily read (or re-read) Ann Rule, who, until her death last year, stood head and shoulders above all other true crime writers. Read more

Follow Katy on Twitter @PiedLaureate 

Piedmont Laureate Events | Piedmont Laureate Blog
Piedmont Laureate Program

The City of Raleigh Arts Commission is accepting nominations for the 2016 Medal of Arts awards, the City’s highest arts honor. Nominations should describe extraordinary lifetime artistic achievement or support of the arts by an individual or group.

Questions? Contact Belva Parker, 919-996-3610

Deadline for Nominations: Thursday, March 31
Guidelines and Nomination Form 

PULLEN ARTS CENTER 
IMPROVEMENT PLAN
We have two upcoming opportunities for you to be involved in the Pullen Arts Center Improvement Plan. Please join us and share your thoughts!

Hot Chocolate with the Citizen Planning Committee 
Pullen Arts Center | 105 Pullen Rd., Raleigh
Friday, March 4 | Drop in between 9am-12pm
If you want to be involved but prefer a more informal setting, stop by and have hot chocolate with the Citizen Planning Committee (CPC). The CPC is a group of citizens working to bring your ideas and aspirations for the future Pullen Arts Center into the planning process. While the group is made up of representatives from many stakeholder groups, several are participants in classes and studio members here at Pullen Arts. 

3rd Public Meeting 
Pullen Community Center | 408 Ashe Ave, Raleigh
Thursday, March 24 from 6-8pm
At our 3rd Public Meeting we will reveal the final site plan layout for Pullen Arts Center and the conceptual diagramming of the future building. 

Image: Pullen Arts Center cast ceramics program, early 1960s

GIVE PLAY SCHOLARSHIPS 
Do you know anyone aged 11-16 who would really enjoy the opportunity to participate in camp this summer? The City of Oaks Foundation’s Give Play Scholarship program provides funding to remove barriers to participation in many outdoor and nature-based camps, including Art4Fun II – Art & Nature Camp. Applications are available online in English and Spanish and are being accepted through April 15. Scholarships are awarded first to applications received between January 15 and February 28, then to applications received between March 1 and April 15. Scholarships will be awarded as applications are received and will be based on availability of funds and/or availability of spaces in eligible camps. Learn more

BROWSE WINTER/SPRING CLASSES
Register online, by mail or stop by Pullen Arts Center.

PULLEN ARTS CENTER
105 Pullen Road, Raleigh | 919-996-6126 

GALLERY
Raleigh Room: Lynn Morris, photography
Hall Gallery: Niki Litts, painting
Display Cases: Pamela Reading and group, embroidery; Bird Wilson, glass

Image: Niki Litts, Happenstance & The Practice

CLASSES 

Youth

Art – Art-Rageous Prints
Age: 7-10 yrs. Instructor: Michelle Davis Petelinz.
Course Fee: $70
#181679 Mar 7-Apr 11 M 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Pottery – Flowers and Flower Pots
Age: 7-14 yrs. Instructor: Lynn Kurisko.
Course Fee: $48
#181967 Feb 29-Mar 14 M 4:15 PM-5:30 PM

Teen

Drawing – Figure Drawing for Teens
Age: 11-15yrs. Instructor: Shaina Belton 
Course Fee: $70
#184107 Mar 8-Apr 12 T 4:30-6:30pm

Adult

Fibers – Embroidery Illustration
Age: 18yrs. and up. Instructor: Amy Richards
Course Fee: $80
#182094 Jan 12-Feb 16 Tu 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Music – Beginning Guitar
Age: 8yrs. and up. Instructor: Billy Kaiser.
Course Fee: $95
#182106 Mar 7-Apr 11 M 6:30 PM-7:30 PM

WORKSHOPS

Painting – Workshop: All About Watercolors
Age: 16yrs. and up. Instructor: Suzanne McDermott
Course Fee: $60
#182269 Feb 27 Sa 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

BROWSE WINTER/SPRING CLASSES
Register online, by mail or stop by Sertoma Arts Center.

SERTOMA ARTS CENTER
1400 W. Millbrook Road, Raleigh | 919-996-2329

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