Proposed budget includes $6.15 million to promote the arts

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Erik Gable

The following statement was released today by ArtServe Michigan:

Moments ago, Governor Snyder released his Fiscal Year 2013 Executive Budget Recommendations calling for $6,150,000 for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA).

The recommendation represents an investment of $5 million in state General Fund / General Purpose dollars and $1.15 million in federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts. Overall, the recommendation means an increase of $3,582,600 from FY12 to FY13 – nearly quadrupling the state’s investment in arts and culture.

The Governor explains, “This increased funding will help enhance the “Quality of Place” for local communities in Michigan through increased investments in arts and cultural programs.” This recommendation and comment affirm his earlier commitment to increase support for the MCACA as he clearly recognizes the importance of arts and culture to Michigan’s economy, communities and citizens.

It’s amazing to think of how far we’ve come in the last three years. It is almost three years ago, to the day, that Governor Granholm recommended the elimination of the MCACA. The increase represented in today’s budget is no doubt a result of the impact, hard work and dedication of every arts and cultural organization, artist and advocate in Michigan.

Today’s increase certainly validates the work ArtServe has been doing behind the scenes with legislators and administration officials, while conducting the research needed to help make the case for the impact of arts and culture.

Help us keep this momentum going!

Please consider supporting our Public Policy work in Lansing
•    Make a contribution ($10, $25, or whatever you can afford)
•    Become an organizational member of ArtServe

Your support will help ensure that ArtServe is able to continue its work to make the case for arts and culture and keep us at decision making tables in Lansing.

While we should all take a moment to celebrate this news, our work is not yet done. As you know, this is just the first step in the budget process as each house will now review the Governor’s budget and provide their respective recommendations. Know that ArtServe will keep you up to speed as we progress through the budget process.

As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to reply to this email or call Mike Latvis directly at 248-379-5897.

MCACA is one of the many organizations that has generously supported Art-A-Licious in our efforts to enhance the arts and cultural scene in Adrian.

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Artists sought for 2012 Art-A-Licious festival

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Erik Gable

Exhibiting artists are being sought for Adrian’s sixth annual Art-A-Licious festival, which takes place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 21 and 22, in downtown Adrian.

Each year, more than 70 artists from across the region exhibit and sell their work at the festival. Members of the Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts and past Art-A-Licious exhibitors do not need to go through a jury process, but for new exhibitors, there are two jury dates: April 27 and July 13.

Art fair hours during the festival are from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Artists must commit to having their booths open and staffed for the entire time.

In the past six years, Art-A-Licious has grown from a handful of artists’ tents on a single city block to more than 70 artists, four blocks and two stages of free live entertainment. Organizers are ramping up their marketing efforts this year and hope to draw the largest crowd yet.

Applications may be emailed to Darlene Southward at scwp@tc3net.com or mailed or delivered to the LCVA Gallery at the Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, MI 49221.

For complete rules and to download an artist application, go to artalicious.org/application. For more information, contact Darlene Southward at scwp@tc3net.com or 517-486-5656.

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Group plans Adrian First Fridays events in downtown Adrian

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Erik Gable

Adrian First FridaysA group of volunteers is working with City of Adrian staff to create a new monthly event to bring people to downtown Adrian for food, music, art and fun.

Adrian First Fridays will start at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. Plans are for First Fridays to be anchored by two recurring attractions — an open mic night for poetry and acoustic music and an art walk with installations in a dozen or more downtown locations — with additional attractions and events planned for different months depending on the season.

The first Adrian First Fridays event will take place on March 2 and will coincide with the annual Wine About Winter celebration sponsored by downtown businesses and the Downtown Development Authority. In addition to artwork on display throughout downtown, many businesses will be hosting wine tastings and offering other refreshments and appetizers. Live music will be performed at several locations. Artwork and music for the event will be presented by a number of professional and amateur artists, including Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts members and students from Adrian College and Siena Heights University.

“I am really excited about this project,” said Chris Miller, DDA and economic development coordinator for the city of Adrian. “It’s exactly the kind of event that works best when it grows organically from the community as this effort has, and it’s going to be fun. Downtown Adrian is on the move, and this kind of series provides many ways for the community and folks outside of our community to appreciate what remarkable places Adrian and Lenawee County are.”

The theme for April’s installment will be “Forever Young.” In recognition of April being named the Month of the Young Child, that month’s First Friday event will include a variety of family-friendly activities for both the young and the young at heart. For more information about Adrian First Fridays or how to showcase your work at one of our events, go to downtownadrian.org or facebook.com/AdrianFirstFridays or call 517-264-4804.

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First of two Empty Bowls lunches is Monday

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Erik Gable


The first of two Empty Bowls fundraising events to benefit the Salvation Army is coming up on Monday, Jan. 30. The lunch event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Evans Street Station, 110 S. Evans St., Tecumseh.

Attendees will purchase handmade bowls to be filled with soup and then taken home at the end of the event.

The next lunch will be at First United Methodist Church, 1245 Maple Ave., Adrian, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12.

Bowls will be priced at $10, $20 and $30.

For more information, contact Pi Benio at 264-3901 or pbenio@adrian.edu.

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Public classes in wheel throwing and sculptural ceramics offered at Siena Heights

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Art-A-Licious

Ceramics classesTwo six-week non-credit courses in wheel throwing and sculptural ceramics will be offered between Feb. 11 and March 17 at Siena Heights University‘s Studio Angelico.

Classes are open to adults ages 18 and up, are meant for all levels of experience, and are limited in size for more personalized instruction.

Class times with instruction will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and additional open studio times with an instructor will be available on Thursday nights from 6 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $160.

Instructors will include local artists Dennis Swartzlander (wheel throwing) and Cody Sieler (sculptural ceramics). To register or for more information, contact Tim VanBeke at 865-414-5662 or tvanbeke@sienaheights.edu.

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Siena Heights offers visual arts classes for grades 4-6

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Art-A-Licious

Students in grades 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in visual arts classes at Siena Heights University.  These classes will be offered by art teacher Annie Howard and teaching artists enrolled in the SHU arts education course.

The classes will be offered from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on March 20 and 27 and April 10 and 17.  All classes are free and will be held in Studio 11 of the Siena Heights fine arts building. Class size is limited. For more information contact Joni Warner at 264-7901 or Amy Sturtevant at 264-7890.

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Culver’s calendars raise money for Adrian Symphony

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Erik Gable

CCulver's calendarulver’s of Adrian, 1360 S. Main St., is selling these 2012 calendars to raise money for the Adrian Symphony Orchestra. Each calendar costs $5, and the symphony will receive $4 of the purchase price.

Each month comes with two coupons at the bottom of the page, so in addition to helping the symphony, you should be able to make your money back by around St. Patrick’s Day!

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Report: Arts and culture a $2 billion part of Michigan’s economy

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Erik Gable

If you’re reading this blog, it’s probably because you enjoy events like Art-A-Licious. But did you know that besides being fun, Michigan’s cultural offerings were responsible for more than $2 billion in consumer spending last year?

That’s the conclusion of a report by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. that tracked the role of history, art and culture on Michigan’s travel industry. Sherri Welch of Crain’s Detroit Business sums up the report here, noting that spending on these activities accounted for about 17 percent of leisure and tourism spending in the state.

Besides the money that visitors spend on these activities themselves, events like Art-A-Licious draw customers to businesses in the areas where they take place. One downtown Adrian store told us that 2011′s Art-A-Licious resulted in their single biggest day for sales since Christmas. And we’re committed to improving on this record.

One of our major priorities for the 2012 Art-A-Licious festival is to increase our exposure outside of Adrian and Lenawee County, pulling more visitors — and more money — into our community. We’re working hard on plans to make that happen. We’re grateful for our many financial supporters, as well as for all of the people who have supported Art-A-Licious by volunteering their time or patronizing our artists. With your help, we can make Art-A-Licious bigger and better — and give our community’s economy a boost in the process.

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Siena Heights conducting national search for marching band director

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Art-A-Licious

Siena Heights University plans to start a marching band in the fall. (Image from sienaheights.edu)

A new ensemble will soon join the Lenawee County music scene. Siena Heights University plans to begin a marching band program next fall and is currently conducting a national search for a band director.

“Creating a marching band at Siena Heights will attract high-quality, dedicated, and inspired students to the university,” said SHU music program director Beth Tibbs, who is co-chairing the band director search committee. “We are excited for the new energy that the band will bring to Siena Heights.”

“With all that has recently happened on our campus, including the launch of our football program this fall, now is the right time to begin marching band at Siena Heights University,” said Sister Peg Albert, the president of Siena Heights. “We are excited to bring this new opportunity to our campus.”

SHU hopes to have a band director in place by January 2012, and this person will be responsible for building the band program, which will be on the march in fall 2012. The director will be a full-time faculty member and will be in charge of marching band in the fall semester and concert band in the winter semester. The director will also teach at least two additional classes for the expanding music department.

“In addition to encompassing prospective music students, the marching band will create an environment that embraces the mission and reflects the diversity of our academic community,” Tibbs said.

Prospective band students who want more information about the marching band program can contact Beth Tibbs at 517-264-7896 or etibbs@sienaheights.edu. Information is also available from the SHU admissions office at 517-264-7180 or admissions@sienaheights.edu.

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Winter session of Community Clay starts Jan. 14

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Art-A-Licious

Community ClayThe Adrian College Art and Design Department has announced the winter session of its Community Clay program. Beginners through experienced clay students will design and cast tiles to create their own original designs through a variety of decorative techniques.

Participants will work with three different clay bodies in a multitude of firing atmospheres, including reduction, electric, salt, soda and wood. In addition, students will also be exposed to the potter’s wheel. Adrian College professor Pi Benio will teach the winter session with support from Interlochen ceramics staff member and Adrian College graduate Chris Reed.

Enrollment will be limited to the first 15 registrants. Classes will be held Saturdays from
9:30 a.m. to noon, Jan. 14 through Feb. 18, 2012, in the fully equipped ceramics studio in Mahan Hall on the campus of Adrian College. Generous studio time will be available during the week to these students. Cost for tuition, studio time and all materials is $160. Half scholarships are available for high school students.

For more information, call 517-264-3901. To register, contact the Adrian College Office of Conferences at 517-265-5161, ext. 4382, or email dhein@adrian.edu. Checks made pauable to Adrian College Office of Conferences may be mailed to 110 S. Madison St., Adrian, MI 49221.

(Post image courtesy of Stock.Xchng.)

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