2009 Arts & Cultural Advocacy Conference

ArtServe Michigan

2009 Arts & Cultural Advocacy Conference
Save the Date!! March 16th – March 20th

ArtServe Michigan is proud to announce its first virtual Arts & Cultural Advocacy Conference – a one-of-a-kind virtual conference where arts and cultural leaders and luminaries will share the latest advocacy thinking, ideas, innovations and their visions for arts and culture in the future. Plus they’ll offer field-tested strategies and proven solutions that you can take away and put to use.

Go to www.artservemichigan.org/artserve to learn more about the event and to register to participate in a free on-line demonstration of the conference after the holidays.

Ypsi-bred Producer Puts His Stamp on the Music Scene

Growing up in Ypsilanti, KT was exposed to a melting pot of cultures which would also mold his musical roots. “I grew up in a neighborhood where it wasn’t predominately black or predominately white, it was mixed with everybody… that helped me out because I had different experiences with [different cultures] and it helps to shape your experiences when it comes to making music because you’re not just making music for one crowd – you’re making music for everybody [to listen to].”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

2009 West Michigan Area Show seeks entries from regional artists

The annual West Michigan Area Show will be on exhibit at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts from February 28 through April 26, and regional artists are invited to take part. This juried competition is open to artists living in the following Michigan counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St. Joseph and Van Buren. Artists must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

U of M Museum of Art to Reopen in March

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec 02, 2008 -- On March 28, 2009, the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) will open a landmark 53,000-square-foot expansion and major restoration of its historic, 41,000-square-foot home, Alumni Memorial Hall. Designed by principal architect Brad Cloepfil and his team at Allied Works Architecture, the $41.9 million transformation more than doubles the space available for collections display, temporary exhibitions, programs and educational exploration.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Apply for ArtServe Michigan's 2009 Leadership Academy - Deadline extended to Dec. 3rd!

Apply for ArtServe Michigan's 2009 Community Arts Leadership Academy - while there's still time!

Deadline extended: Wednesday, December 3 (postmarked by)

Download an Application | CALA '09 | Academy Faculty

Previous: Curriculum, and Success Stories

Questions?
Contact program director Simόn Perazza at simon@artservemichigan.org

About CALA '09
The CommunityArtsLeadershipAcademy (CALA) is an intensive and challenging peer-to-peer leadership learning experience designed for Board and staff leaders of non-profit arts and cultural organizations as well as community leaders who value the importance of the arts and cultural sector in Michigan. ArtServe Michigan is pleased to offer this valuable program in partnership with the McCann Institute and its Founder/Director John McCann. For more information about the Academy and the Institute for Cultural Policy and Practice, please click here.

2008 Guvvy Pics up on Metromix!

Party pics: Guvvys

The 23^rd annual Governor’s Arts Awards, held on Nov. 13 at the Detroit Institute of Arts, celebrated arts, culture and creativity in Michigan. Sponsored by ArtServe Michigan, the 2008 Guvvy’s honored Bob James and Jack O'Brien, who won the International Achievement Award, Vincent York, who won with his educational program Jazzistry, Bill Ryan, who won Arts Educator, Heidi Kumao, who won Michigan Innovative Artist and Lois Teicher, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Credit:Vanessa Miller/Special to Metromix

The Guvvys: 23rd Annual Governor's Awards for Arts & Culture

23rd Annual Governor's Awards for Arts & Culture

THE GUVVY'S AWARDS

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

Each year, ArtServe Michigan hosts the Governor's Awards for Arts & Culture Gala and Ceremony, which celebrates arts, culture and creativity in Michigan. But the celebrate won't be complete without you. RSVP today...

Tickets Levels

• Patron includes Governor's Reception, Strolling Dinner, Awards Ceremony, After Party, Valet Parking and Program Book Listing. $300
• Strolling Dinner includes Strolling Dinner, Awards Ceremony, After Party, Valet Parking. $200
• Awards Ceremony and After Party includes Awards Ceremony, After Party. $50

To Purchase Tickets

1. Online - To purchase tickets online click here.

2. By Phone - Call RoseAnn Nicolai, Nicolai Events, at 248-582-8465

Questions?

Contact RoseAnn Nicolai at roseann@nicolaievents.com or by phone at 248-582-8465

"Live United: Give. Advocate. Volunteer."

Very inspirational message from the United Way... inspirational goodness is part of a balanced diet, so take a quick moment to be inspired :)

CCS2 Unconference 10/12

http://creativecitiessummit.com

Creative Cities Summit 2.0

http://creativecitiessummit.com

Media-Tech Career Prep event for students 10/24!

What's better than helping Michigan's artists to develop their careers into successful business models? Helping the NEXT GENERATION of Michigan's artists, our youth, to understand the types of careers that exist and how they can prepare to earn income doing what they already love!

This event looks like its going to be a wonderful opportunity for media professionals to give back and for students to understand the lay of the land as they prepare to begin their careers, we need more events like this across the state! For more details on the event and to register please click the link below:

http://m4summit.ning.com/

Participants in these sessions will learn and share the experiences of the media production workplace. This is a chance for students to discover the multiple technical and interpersonal skills needed to be employable in the careers responsible for the delivery of content for film, video, and Internet used for education, entertainment, and information. Teachers should encourage both female and male students to attend because Radio & TV (SIP 10.0202) is identified as non-traditional for females for the duration of Perkins IV legislation.

THIS WEEK: ArtServe Regional Meetings feat. The Pew Charitable Trusts' Presentation on the Cultural Data Project

ArtServe Michigan is working in partnership with various arts & cultural institutions across the state to gather together representatives from regional arts and cultural organizations.

The meetings will take place at seven separate locations between September 29 and October 8, 2008. All of Michigan's creative community members are encouraged to come out and take advantage of the event closest to you.

Monday 9/29 - Muskegon (Muskegon Museum of Art)

Tuesday 9/30 - Jackson (Armory Arts Village)

Thursday 10/2 - Saginaw (Saginaw Art Museum)

Friday 10/3 - Detroit (Mexicantown Mercado)

Monday 10/6 - Alpena (Alpena County Library)

Tuesday 10/7 - Petoskey (Crooked Tree Arts Center)

Wednesday 10/8 - Escanaba (William Bonifas Fine Arts Center)

For details about meeting content, the Cultural Data Project and to RSVP online, please CLICK HERE

Meijer Sponsors Boarshead Theater in Lansing

Meijer donated $75,000 to Boarshead Theater today sponsoring their 43rd season... CLICK HERE to read more

Boarshead was founded in 1966 and is Mid-Michigan's only professional resident theater- which attracts artists from all over the nation. Please click on the logo above to learn more.

Mosaic Youth Theatre

I first heard about Mosaic Youth Theatre earlier this year when The Mosaic Model (click the link to download this study at no charge) was realeased earlier this year. This 3-year study completed by the University of Michigan along with other partners, identified amazing results, in the form of unprecedented high school graduation rates and other forms of youth success, which has been consistently achieved through the work of Mosaic Youth Theatre. They recently held auditions for their FREE training programs, which are open to youth 11-18 from across Metro Detroit. Please click the logo below to learn more about this amazing program.

...Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is founded on the richness of difference. Our young artists come from city and suburban schools, and a variety of social, economic, racial, cultural and religious backgrounds. Through our professional performing arts program, these young artists blend their ideas and talents and achieve excellence in their theatrical and musical performances. Yet, their success is perhaps best measured by how they excel in life. Mosaic proudly reports that more than 95% of its youth ensemble members graduate from high school and go on to college.

Youthville, Detroit: MI's Largest HD Student-Run Production Studio!

YouthVille Detroit is dedicated to enhancing the lives of youth and furthering positive youth development in Detroit.

I can't wait to see this place for myself, I just met some folks that work here and they tell me they have the largest student-run HD video production studio in Michigan!

EVENT: Fire & Ice Festival 9/13-9/14 in Port Huron, MI

Art Education Festival and Fine Arts Fair

FREE art education festival with children’s activities, artists demonstrating their skills in pottery, wood, and glass and clay games for all attendees including artists, local businesses and the community of art patrons.

Festival Dates & Time
Saturday, September 13, 2008
10am - 5pm
Concert to follow at the County Stage hosted by the Blue Water Musicians Network
Sunday, September 14, 2008
11am - 4pm

http://studio1219.com/fire/

ARTICLE: ArtServe's own Laura Witkowski reviews Invincible Emcee's latest work!

ArtServe's office administrator, Laura Witkowski, really is a super hero artist. By day, she manages the logistics and work environment for this motley crew of eight ArtServe Michigan staff members. After work, she sheds this mundane "Clark Kent" disguise to become Laura Witkowski, writer extraordinaire! Her work was just published in "Between the Lines", a publication owned by Pride Source.

Click the pic of Michigan female rapper, Invincible (below) to read Laura's review of her recently-released album "ShapeShifters"!

FUNDRAISER EVENT: Anton Art Center 9/18 6-8pm

The Anton Art Center's major annual fundraiser, ArtParty, is right around the corner! Now in its 17th year, ArtParty will be held Thursday, September 18th, from 6-8 pm on Macomb Place in front of the Anton Art Center. ArtParty features a tented "Taste of Macomb County," with over 30 restaurants and caterers giving out food and drink. Our Honorary Chair is couture gown designer Katerina Bocci, and some of her newest designs will be modeled during the event.

Advance purchase tickets are $40. ArtParty also features a raffle, and this year's top prize is a diamond ring valued at over $6,500.

For more info check out the The Anton Art Center

VIDEO: DPTV Documentary on '07 Guvvy Awards

The 2007 Michigan Governor's Awards for Arts & Culture: Recipients of the 2007 "Guvvys", their artistic works and their civic involvement in supporting and advancing the arts are showcased at the Governor's Awards ceremony in November at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit media personality Karen Dumas hosts the one-hour program.

Click here below to watch the video on DPTV's site

Also click the following links to see more photo and video highlights from the 2007 Guvvy Award Ceremony

ARTICLE: Boyne City Chosen for Cultural Enhancement Program

Boyne City chosen for cultural enhancement program
Petoskey News-Review - Petoskey,MI,USA
"This is part of a state-wide effort to figure out just what impact the arts have on a community and how to make that part of an economic development plan. ...

EVENTS: Michael Moore 9/18 & Sir Ken Robinson 9/25 at UM (A2)

The University of Michigan's School of Art & Design, will be bringing in filmmaker Micheal Moore (9/18) and internationally-recognized leader on creativity Sir Ken Robinson (9/25) to speak as part of their Distinguished Visitor Series.

The Distinguished Visitors Program brings respected emerging and established artists/designers from a broad spectrum of media to the School to conduct a public lecture and engage with students, faculty, and the larger University and Ann Arbor communities.

Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place on Thursdays at 5pm at the historic Michigan Theater (603 E. Liberty Street) in downtown Ann Arbor, and are free of charge and open to the public.

Click for more details on the UM School of Art & Design's Distinguished Visitor Series.




"Shooting Democracy": Michael Moore is an Academy-Award winning filmmaker, author, actor and political commentator. He is the director and producer of three of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, and Bowling for Columbine. He has also written and starred in the TV shows TV Nation and The Awful Truth, which continue his trademark style of presenting serious documentaries in humorous ways. In 2005 Time Magazine named Moore one of the world's 100 most influential people. Sponsored by Screen Arts & Cultures.




"Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative"
Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He works with governments, corporations, educational systems and cultural organizations throughout the world on the creative challenges facing business and education in the new global economies. The UK Government invited Robinson to establish and lead a national commission on creativity, education and the economy; he was a central figure in developing a strategy for creative and economic development as part of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland; and he is currently mentoring the development, the Oklahoma Creativity Project, a statewide strategy for innovation, as well as advising and working with school districts and with cultural and corporate organizations across the United States. In 2005 Robinson was named one of Time/Fortune/CNN's Principal Voices.
Sponsored by Arts on Earth, University Musical Society Education

FREE EVENT: For Arts Educators on 8/25 10a-noon @ Scarab Club in Detroit

The Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan has announced the following opportunity for Cultural Arts Educators:

"We are very fortunate to have John Williams (South East Macomb Educational Consortium and Career Pathways founder) presenting our next free GLEC and Michigan Standards Seminar on August 25, 2008 from 10 a.m.-12 noon at the Scarab Club in Detroit--public parking lot adjacent ($5--pay attendant at booth).

He will talk with us about the current state of Career Education in the state and nation and speak in particular about how our wonderful Cultural Arts organizations are prime examples of how to incorporate and understand careers in many fields including programs such as mentorships, internships, and community-service base projects!

Please RSVP by August 21 (see Amy's contact info below), if you plan to attend.

Amy J. DeWys-VanHecke
313-330-8324
amy@culturalalliancesemi.org"

ARTICLE: Thomas P. Furtaw's passing (senior advisor to Attorney General and guitar player)

This article is sad, Thomas sounds like he was a very good person and indeed "everything a lawyer should be". But I also posted this article because it demonstrates how the arts really are EVERYWHERE, when an artist/musician can be so high-up in the Michigan state government arenas of politics and law.

Thomas P. Furtaw, the son of a Grosse Pointe Park cop who rose to become one of the most influential lawyers in Lansing as a senior adviser to Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, died suddenly Friday night. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Also, check out the music of Thomas Furtaw's band SPITTING NICKELS

RESOURCE: Social Media for Dummies

The folks at BrainGain Marketing based in Troy, MI have launched BrainStorm, a new online resource to help many of us 'net novices and web-tool wallflowers become more savvy when it comes to utilizing "social media" (tools which allow us to have "online conversations" such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

BrainGain understands that the world of new media can be an intimidating one. That's why we invite you to check out BrainStorm - BrainGain's redesigned blog all about "Social Media Savvy" to help you step into the world of new media and Marketing/PR 2.0.

While browsing through BrainStorm, I immediately followed a link to a great resource called The Common Craft Show. These guys explain everything from Social Networking to Zombies "in plain english". Check out their short introduction to blogs, how they work and why they matter below!

RESOURCE: Strategies for Sustainable Development (PDFs)

Strategies that help communities better control their destiny are more important now than ever.

"What simple, but effective, concepts or strategies are recommended for Michigan communities?"

Presenters respond uniquely from their respective philosophies and their collective thoughts are now being presented as the Strategies for Sustainable Development Series, available (in pdf format) on the Consumers Energy website.

Click here to view the PDFs.

I attended the Smalltown and Rural Development conference this year at Crystal Mountain and this group is a great resource communicating the many different ways communities can take control of their own destinies and future economies. I believe the strategies discussed are useful to all communities regardless of urban, suburban or rural location.

EVENT: Creative Cities Summit 2.0 Announces “The Big Creative Three”

The producers of the Creative Cities Summit 2.0 (CCS2) announced a special panel discussion featuring Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class, John Howkins, author of The Creative Economy, and Charles Landry, author of The Creative City. The panel will be moderated by Carol Coletta, President of CEOs for Cities and host of the nationally syndicated NPR radio program, Smart City Radio.

Click here for more information on CCS2 and this announcement.

Check out Dr. Richard Florida speaking at The University of California below:

Slippery Language: Art, Creativity, Imagination, Innovation

Below is something I wrote yesterday as part of a writing exercise for an Arts Education workshop I attended (Strand 12: Creative Strategies for Differentiating Teaching and Learning through the Arts at the MI Teaching for Learning conference) in Lansing. The group began discussing slippery language (e.g. “Arts” compared with “Creativity”, “Imagination”, “Innovation”) which can have the potential to isolate the Arts in a bubble so that the general public is able to easily dismiss any connection between arts education/creative learning and the role they play in educating our youth to generate solutions to some of society's larger issues and challenges.

Let me first state that the following writing sample is my own - It is not intended as an official ArtServe Michigan communication piece and DOES NOT necessarily reflect the views of ArtServe Michigan or the core values of the organization or its mission.

It was, however, posted here in hopes of generating discussion around the critical issue of language facing the creative community here in Michigan. For instance, how different entities such as government, industry and the general public may react to the word ART in comparison with the buzz words of late such as CREATIVITY, INNOVATION or INVENTIVENESS - feel free to comment!


"Wordplay is so interesting...

Art vs. Design vs. Media vs. Industry

Freedom Fighter vs. Terrorist
Crime vs. Business
Liar vs. Hero
Anger vs. Outrage
Activism vs. Anarchy

Who flicks the pen that can switch perceptions from left to right?
From black to white?

Reality remains the same
But it is PERSPECTIVE that rules the world
(and has the power to change it)

Words...
Can put you to sleep when they do not stir you
Or connect to your spirit/dreams/fears
And yet can organize for change...

Words...
Can hurt or uplift...
But when played safe they do nothing but anesthetize
So we don't feel the pain of the changes that are affecting our families
Or at least all at once...

Words...
Are weapons and medicine
And should be wielded with the same power as swords and shields
Not turn into background noise like static on a TV
Or a bubbling brook in the woods...

Words have power!
Words are alive, evolving and never static...
Language is shifting...
We must stay up to date
Or we will disarm ourselves of this power."

"Invincible", female emcee (rapper) uses her art to address Detroit's issues

Click on the above image to read this month's Metro Times article on Invincible and her remarkable work as an activist/artist. Also be sure to check out the music/documentary video for "Locusts" at the bottom of this post, which addresses the unseen and many times ugly side of urban development.

I first met Invincible back when I was attending UM-Ann Arbor, somewhere between '97 and '98. We hung out with a lot of the same crowd, went to same parties, that kind of thing and she was "flowing" (rapping) even back then. Since then, she has obviously been doing some truly AMAZING things in both the worlds of activism as well as Hip-Hop. If you think you know what Hip-Hop is, no matter whether you are a fan or a critic, think again!

Excerpt from the linked Metro Times article:
Here's the deal: Invincible is one of the best emcees in the country, as many will tell you, gender notwithstanding, though the odds are stacked against her: 1) She's a woman working a male-dominated genre 2) She's gay and 3) She's overtly political — her sympathy for the Palestinians, for instance, flies in the face of many of her Israeli family members' (and this country's) principles. Politicking in a pop world often spells fiscal failure.

She's dedicates much of her life to grass-roots activism for community change — mainly through the nonprofit group Detroit Summer — from workshops inside Michigan schools to a federal prison in California, from a juvenile center to a West Bank group tour.

Lansing-area Online Marketing Firm Hosts Contest for Nonprofits

I read today that a Lansing-area Online Marketing Firm is hosting a contest for nonprofits:

Are you a non profit organization that could use some help marketing your web site? Netvantage Marketing is accepting applications to provide six months of free search engine optimization and web analytics services to qualifying companies.

Just click to read the article or to download the application from Netvantage's site.

RESOURCE: Publius, Aug.5 Primary Ballot and Info

Publius and The League of Women Voters of Michigan have teamed up for for this nonpartisan collaboration, http://lwv.publius.org, which provides ballot information for the August 5 primary.

At http://lwv.publius.org Michigan voters can find:
· Individualized ballot information, including salaries for many offices
· Candidate information, including campaign websites
· League of Women Voters of Michigan candidate survey responses
· Current voter registration status
· Maps to polling locations

ARTS ED: Opera Written by MI Children!

Please find some of the press coverage that InsideOut Literary Art Project and the Michigan Opera Theater have received for the Hanstein Elementary School's third and fourth grade students' original production of the opera The Ringer of the Moon:

Listen to Principal Bernadine Carroll and the students from Hanstein Elementary School talk about the first ever opera written by children. (Note: The link brings you to a DPS radio show, where you will find the opera segment in the middle.)http://www.wrcjfm.org/ondemand/dps/ondemand.htm

Read more about the students' original production of the opera The Ringer of the Moon in the Detroit Free Press.

ARTS ED: GR-area Students Create Poetry Ezine

The Grand Rapids Humanities Council has announced the launch of a new web venture called Through the 3rd Eye, an ezine full of poetry, commentary, and literary news and created by area students, ages 13-21, under the mentorship of Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Rodney Torreson. The site was made possible in part by a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

http://throughthe3rdeye.com/

Traverse City Film Fest begins today! 7/29-8/3

Arguably the most amazing film festival currently here in Michigan, the Traverse City Film Festival is the brainchild of Michael Moore and has transformed his adopted-hometown into a mecca for film buffs nationwide. Last Sunday's edition of the Detroit Free Press had FOUR articles on this Film Fest alone!

As wonderful as we think it is that Madonna is coming home to Michigan for the TCFF, the real stars of the show for us are our friends from The Art Place in Suttons Bay who are offering three great Animation and Film workshops for youth of all ages, in official partnership with the TCFF. Go TAP! :)

ARTS ED: Visual, Performing and Applied Arts in MI High Schools

This blog is an incredible resource of information for those in Michigan trying to cultivate creativity in our children through the public school system. It is dedicated to doing this by using the Michigan Merit Curriculum Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts Credit , which is now required for high school graduation here in our state.

A learning community to maximize Michigan's capacity to support creativity through the 1-credit graduation requirement in the visual, performing, and applied arts.

http://mivpaa.blogspot.com/

MI Artist Uses Art to Rescue "At Risk" Youth

This documentary is great. Hector Perez has close ties to my family. Growing up in the Sunnyside neighborhood in Adrian, Hector was a young vato, or hoodlum, heading down a dangerous path and messing with herion. My father, Julio Perazza, was a counselor with the Upward Bound program at the time where he introduced Hector to the art of photography. Hector is now a very successful and inspirational artist and motivational figure in his own right, but he still remembers the difference the arts made to him during that pivotal time:

"... I was just dreaming about your father and the day I told him that I was messing with 'tecate' or Mexican heroin. He came down from Detroit to Adrian's Upward Bound. I grew up in Sunnyside ... Your father was a counselor. So he was the first person to show me his Pentax. He took the time to share his passion, so I felt special ... that moment of SLR instruction fed my curiosity about something positive rather than the tecate. Your father had a magnetic personality..."

I can't help but think that the hand my father reached out to Hector several decades ago, helped to inspire the amazing ways Hector is currently giving back to "at risk" youth :')

RESOURCE: Metropolitan Group

Nonprofits from all sectors are being forced to think broader not only in terms of partnership potential but also the pivotal role that 'public will' plays and who they need to get 'buy-in' from in order to achieve the necessary momentum to actually affect change. The Metropolitan Group are experts in terms of assisting nonprofits with these daunting taks:

Metropolitan Group is a social change agency that crafts strategic and creative services that empower social service organizations to build a just and sustainable world.

Click here to see their section on Heritage, Arts & Culture.

RESOURCE: ArtsManager.org

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. has put together an amazing FREE online resource at ArtsManager.org, I just joined up in order to gain access to their Resource Center and learn from other arts managers around the country:

"Get on board the fastest growning online community for arts managers and join the discussion now!"

http://www.artsmanager.org/home/

ARTICLE: Young Michigan Talent's List of Demands

This is a great article written by a young professional in Michigan about young professionals in Michigan and what they need from the rest of us in this state!

http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/millennials15208.aspx

RESOURCE: Playnation an Online Video Gallery

The Gistter project at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair was a great success! The site is now filled with tons of great content, browse the content and feel free to leave comments (you can leave "anonymous" comments also if you like). That's what Web 2.0 is all about: inserting yourself and your perspective into the content so it becomes a two-way street and stimulates more discussion and movement across the web.

We shared a tent with an awesome project called Playnation. The folks were with a UMTV partnership called Playgallery, "a gallery for time-based work on tv and on the web" and they set up an animation station which allowed fair goers of all ages to make their own animations right there on the spot. I've embedded one of their clips below:

ARTS ED: Art video game

This group began "following" me using Twitter, so I decided to check them out. Apparently they have a very basic video game that deals with 2 players: Art Dealer and Art Critic. All one needs is a keyboard and mouse to play it seems, not going to raise the eyebrows of young gamers, but teachers may be able to use it to engage their students in a different way. Tell me what you think after you check it out here at http://ttt-games.com:8080/ttt/art-game.html

ANN ARBOR: A2 Art Fair Goes Techie! 7/16-7/19

ArtServe MI has launched GIST, a new arts dialogue project which will allow people to text comments and share impressions of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair via the web. Get Gisting during the fair – sign up to follow and participate via Twitter (http://twitter.com/gistter) and contribute content (images, videos, text, audio, etc) to the blog (http://gistter.blogspot.com/). ArtServe MI's mobile messengers will walk the site on the hunt for hot activities. Located alongside the New Art New Artists tent, Gist will be onsite each day from 10 am – 6:00 pm, so whether you are a technophobe or technophile there’s no excuse to not get Gisting. Michigan has an abundance of vibrant, diverse, and dynamic arts and cultural communities; Gist is one way to let everyone know about it. For more information, visit http://www.artfair.org/

RESOURCE: Staying Legal for Michigan Nonprofits

A one-stop shop for state and federal laws and regulations affecting Michigan nonprofits, great resource! http://www.stayinglegalmi.org/

DETROIT: Concert of Colors 7/17-7/20 FREE admission!

The Concert of Colors takes place July 17th-July 20th, 2008 and is metro Detroit’s free annual diversity music festival. It is presented by ACCESS/Arab American National Museum, New Detroit Inc. and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) with the goal of bringing together metro Detroit’s diverse communities and ethnic groups by presenting musical acts from around the world. Over its 15-year history, the festival has become a beloved highlight of metro Detroit’s summer festival season.

This year's Forum on Community, Culture, and Race entitled "The Rhythm That Beats In All of Us" takes on a different format in its third year focusing on drummers from the different ethnic communities in the Detroit area. The Forum opens at the Music Box in the Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Avenue, in Detroit, on Friday morning, July 18, 2008.

ARTS ED: NEA invites MI team to Nat'l Conference

Arts/education conference invites team from Michigan
The National Endowment for the Arts has chosen a team of educational and cultural leaders from Michigan to participate in the second Education Leaders Institute in Chicago this week. The six-member team includes Steve Hamp, chairman of the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan, and Cindy Ornstein, board member of Wixom-based ArtServe Michigan. The Michigan team will consider fundamental changes to how arts, creativity, culture and education in Michigan can better prepare students.

http://crainsdetroit.com/article/20080714/SUB/807140344/1076

ARTS ED: High School for the Recording Arts

I learned about the High School for Recording Arts program at a “HipHop inside K-12 Education” session at the Americans for the Arts conference in Philadelphia, PA last month. The program has had tremendous success with many students that other schools had either failed or given up on. Many of the students were dropouts before enrolling and the program now boasts incredible retention and graduation rates. The kids get access to professional equipment to produce their own projects and learn the business of the recording industry hands-on AS LONG as they are able to keep up a certain grade point average with their regular high school classes. This program is currently ongoing in Minnesota and in the session they mentioned that another location will be opening soon in NY. We need programs like this in MI!

DETROIT: White Stripes' White pens poem about Motor City

Singer-guitarist Jack White has penned a poem expressing his strong feelings for Detroit to clear up any misconceptions about how the White Stripes frontman feels about his hometown ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080707/ap_en_mu/people_jack_white&printer=1;_ylt=ArnowErdTNe1UJJcDV0wVTQnHL8C

TRAVEL: SW Detroit Celebrating Trino the Poet

Thursday April 24, 2008
I have family ties to the community and because of this I knew poet Trinidad "Trino" Sanchez, Jr. very well and was saddened to hear of his passing last year. Matrix Theater company hosted an event which unfortunatley I did not make it to, but I met with local artists and residents at the after-event and was pleased to make new connections and re-connect with others I hadn't seen or talked to in several years.

I brought a video I shot of Trino reading his poetry at the Creole Gallery in Lansing. We watched the DVD at the after-event and all those who knew Trino were thrilled to see his face, humor and words come across in the video. I will be reproducing the DVD and sending complimentary copies to his wife (widow?) and Jose Cuello, Associate Professor of History at Wayne State who archives all things Latino arts.

A wonderful and emotional reconnection, that was long overdue for me.

TRAVEL: SW Detroit's COMPAS, Western HS

Friday April 25, 2008
I traveled to Western High School where video production students interviewed me and asked what it takes to be a successful artist. I emphasized the entrepreneurship side of being an artist and the fact that being an artist and a business owner are one in the same when you have to live off of revenue related to the art you produce.

I then met with Ismael Duran, the new Executive Director of COMPAS, the new performing arts center located in Southwest Detroit, who gave me a tour of the region as well as Mexicantown, letting me know about all the new development projects happening in the area on behalf of organizations such as Bagley Housing, SWSB, Skillman Foundation and Southwest Solutions.

The first thing Canadian tourists will see when coming over the Ambassador Bridge will be this slice of Southwest Detroit and the collective strategic efforts are coming together nicely to seize upon this opportnity in the near future, keep up the good work Southwest Detroit!

TRAVEL: Artserve Regional Meeting in Marquette

Sunday May 4, 2008
I traveled from Lansing up to Marquette today and remembered along this drive just how beautiful our land of Northern Michigan is. Rolling hills turn into lakeshore which then turned into thick forestry.

Monday May 5, 2008
We held ArtServe's third regional meeting at the U.P. Children's Museum and what an amazing place to gather a wonderful group of people! The local news channel showed up to ask some questions but not sure if we made it on the tube or not. Anyone know?

TRAVEL: ArtServe Regional Meeting in Flint

Friday May 2, 2008
Today I traveled to Flint where we held the 2nd Regional Meeting at the Greater Flint Arts Council. About 20 attendees networked after an Advocacy Update presented by Mike Latvis, ArtServe's Director of Advocacy.

Greg Fiedler, then took me on a tour of Flint and filled me in on all the background information regarding the downtown redevelopment efforts on the part of (Uptown Development???) and the expected benefits related to UofM Flint becoming a residential college soon. From what I saw the future looks very bright indeed, keep up the good work Flint!

TRAVEL: Oak Park Community Recognition Luncheon

Wednesday April 30, 2008
I attended this luncheon today and found out about the great work being done by the Oak Park Business and Education Association including mentorship programs among other efforts. While there, I met Kyesha Lane, the Community Liaison with Congressman Sander Levin's office, who just started recently and brings a refreshingly grassroots-background to the position.

TRAVEL: Small Town and Rural Development Conference in Thompsonville

Tuesday April 15, 2008
Drove up to Crystal Mountain resort in Thompsonville, MI for the Small Town Rural Development Conference and after checking in I walked off the long drive by touring the Michigan Legacy Art Park. I shot some video of the outdoor art work as the sun was setting, beautiful set-up they have there!

Wednesday April 16, 2008 The conference began today and I had the chance to attend some very exciting workshops including one on Youth Entrepreneurship put on by the folks from the Generation E Institute, and others.

Thursday April 17, 2008
Today the workshop wrapped up and I sat with some great folks from Evart, MI who let me know they have a glowing cemetary among other potential tourist attractions.

MCACA Workshop (Escanaba)

Friday March 28, 2008
Met Mollie and Pasqua of the Bonifas Art Center and learned about all the wonderful work they are doing with that space and also the crunch they are feeling in terms of funding.

MCACA Workshop (Marquette)

Thursday March 27, 2008
Great chance to visit the U.P. and see the city of Marquette, they sure have a lot going on there, wish I had more time to roam the downtown and visit the shops!

MCACA Workshop (Gaylord)

Wednesday March 26, 2008
A good turnout at this workshop where I had the chance to meet several folks from the area including a group called ISLAND (... Natural Design)

MCACA Workshop (Detroit)

Thursday March 20, 2008
I attended the workshop at the Detroit Historical Museum and presented information on behalf of ArtServe. I met Jennifer, the new director of The Art Center in Macomb. I also had the honor of meeting a young businessman named Bobby Johnson who is working along with his wife to get a magazine called Detroit Fashion Pages (http://www.detroitfashionpages.com/) off the ground. They are considering applying for nonprofit status and using the magazine as an educational resource for fashion-minded youth and also as a communication tool where a spotlight can be shown on local artists and their products.

Advocacy Day (Lansing)

Wednesday March 19, 2008
A wonderful event with world-class speakers, dancers and information provided by ArtServe.

MCACA Workshop (Grand Rapids)

Monday March 17, 2008
I attended the workshop at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and presented on behalf of ArtServe. A man working with the Huron Valley Arts Council was worried about ArtServe's new direction and voiced this during my presentation. We talked afterward and I let him know that we are still offering support for arts & cultural organizations through various resources and that he should be keeping an eye out to take advantage of programming as we begin to roll it out. He left happy and I was happy to put his fears at ease.

EXPENSES
Mileage: YES, Lansing to GR roundtrip
Parking: YES, put on AMEX or no? Find receipt
Meals: YES, breakfast & lunch, find receipt

MDA conference in Clare, MI

Friday March 14th, 2008
I attended the Michigan Downtown Association's conference in Clare, MI. I met several staff from DDAs including a woman named Regina from Inkster who was coordinating a Jazz Fest and was interested in working with ArtServe to get in touch with artists in and around her area.

MCACA Workshop (Kalamazoo)

Thursday March 13, 2008
Attended the meeting at the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, presented on behalf of ArtServe Michigan and met Anne Bersquist for the first time. A full house!

MCACA Workshop (Bay City)

Wednesday March 12, 2008
The second presentation I've done on behalf of ArtServe. I met Joy Butler for the first time here and the meeting was held inside an old Masonic Temple.

MCACA Workshop (Ann Arbor)

Tuesday March 11th, 2008
I attended this event and met Tamara Real and first heard about the Artists' Census project. This is also the first time I presented on behalf of ArtServe.

MCACA Workshop (Lansing)

Friday March 7th, 2008
Neeta and I attended MCACA's first grant information workshop. Neeta presented ArtServe to the attendees as I took furious notes.