Creating Vibrant Communities through the Arts focuses on growth, innovation in tri-state region
The Indiana Arts Commission hosted its tri-state colloquium, Creating Vibrant Communities through the Arts, on June 6-7 at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind. The event sold out and hosted attendees from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
The colloquium, in partnership with Ball State University’s Building Better Communities program and with the support of the Ohio Arts Council and Kentucky Arts Council, focused on fostering growth and introducing innovation for arts organizations in order to better connect the arts and communities.
Creating Vibrant Communities through the Arts included sessions with presenters from Indiana and across the country who used best practices, planning tools and examples of community and arts engagement.
“[The arts can] raise an issue’s visibility, foster relationship and create an understanding across cultural and social boundaries,” CEO of Arts Engaged Doug Borwick said in his keynote address. “The arts are an underutilized resource in civic progress.”
Over the two days of the colloquium, attendees had the opportunity to attend three breakout sessions lead by various leaders of arts organizations, cultural districts and art-related initiatives as well as speakers and planning sessions.
“I learned a lot from the folks in the three sessions I lead,” Tracy Taft, executive director of the International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA), said. “I was really inspired by the few of the organizations I talked to and their projects.”
At the end of the colloquium, attendees had an opportunity to develop plans for the arts in their communities.
For the full story on the colloquium, click here.
Bedford, Indiana limestone sculptor to create 2013 Governor's Arts Awards
The Indiana Arts Commission announced recently the selection of Bedford, Indiana limestone sculptor William Galloway to create the 2013 Governor's Arts Awards.
Galloway began working with Indiana limestone in the 1980s, apprenticing under the renowned carvers Henry Morris and Clarence Hayes at the Bybee Stone Company in Ellettsvile, Indiana. Galloway achieved the position of Master Carver at Bybee and led projects including the carving of window tracery for the National Cathedral and statuary for the Iowa State Capitol.
Now working independently, Galloway maintains a reputation as one of the best sculptors in the Indiana stone belt. He founded Angelo Stone Company in 1994, and began receiving commissions from architects, individuals and stone carving companies. In addition to carving for buildings and monuments, Galloway creates stone art works based on original designs, such as "Dinosaur" and "Wings" benches, which reside at City of Bloomington parks.
"Stone carving is the dark horse of traditional Indiana art," Galloway said. "I was thrilled to be presented with the opportunity to offer a design proposal to the Governor's Arts Awards selection committee for this year's award. I am honored to have my proposal selected to represent this important award."
Inspired by Indiana's limestone tradition of making beautiful pieces that travel throughout the world, Galloway's proposed award piece is structurally based on the spires that he carved for the National Cathedral. Using the same techniques and materials used in the Cathedral's upper spires, Galloway will carve the heavy limestone into thin dancer-like figures, while maintaining the stone's strong central axis, producing a visually impressive award.
"Euclidian Geometry dominates architectural aspects of spatial stone carving," Galloway explained. "In this instance, strength, impressive 'stage presence,' and low handling weight were primary considerations. Then, there was the communication of the message that the award represents. The human figure in dance, cand be iconic, or possess a monumentalty not inclusive to its physical size. Dance elements became the vehicle to convey the message of special recognition and inspiration to create the awards."
Galloway was selected from a field of traditional artists from around the state invited to submit proposals to create the awards.
"This will mark 40 years since the inception of the Governor's Arts Awards, and it seems fitting that one of Indiana's oldest traditional art forms should represent this year's awards," said IAC Executive Director Lewis C. Ricci.
In 2011, Cicero glass artist Ben Johnson crafted the awards presented to renowned opera singer and educator Sylvia McNair, Bloomington; concert pianist and educator Alexander Toradze, South Bend; concert harpist and educator Susann McDonald, Bloomington; actor and educator Mark Fauser, Marion; volunteer and arts patron June Edwards; and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
The 2013 awards will be presented this fall during a special awards program at the Carmel Center for the Performing Arts.
For more information about the award artist, and to see samples of his work, please visit: http://www.gallowaystonecarving.com/.
Arts Commission seeks nominations for State Poet Laureate
The Indiana Poet Laureate represents the State of Indiana and the art of poetry through the development and implementation of programming to the education community and general public. The Poet Laureate makes formal presentations at various educational facilities and events, and offers advice to the Commission regarding ways to further the art of poetry in Indiana. Nominations for Indiana Poet Laureate should be limited to one, single-page cover letter and a resume or CV detailing the nominee's qualifications and accomplishments. No additional materials should be included with the initial nomination. Successful nominees must be current residents of Indiana and remain residents during their two-year term of service as State Poet Laureate. Nominees should be published poets, with experience in educational program development. Nominations must be submitted to the Indiana Arts Commission by email only and must be received by 4:30 p.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 1, 2013. Nominations should be sent to the attention of Susan Britsch: sbritsch@iac.in.gov. All nominations will be reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from Indiana's major institutions of higher education. The committee will be convened later this fall and will begin review of the nominations during the winter. For more information on the State Poet Laurerate program, contact Susan Britsch at 317-232-1281 or email sbritsch@iac.IN.gov. 
The Indiana Arts Commission is currently accepting nominations for Indiana State Poet Laureate.
Arts Commission hold s information sessions on proposed grant program changes
The Indiana Arts Commission recently held three public information sessions to review proposed modifications to its grant programs to arts organizations and cultural program providers.
The meetings were held February 13, 2013 via conference call and reviewed proposed changes to the IAC's Regional Arts Operating Support grants (AOS I, AOS II), Arts Project Support (APS), and Multi-Regional/AOS III grant programs. The proposed changes are the result of a year-long review by a study committee comprised of current and former Regional Arts Partners, current and former IAC commissioners, and IAC staff, and the information sessions are designed to elicit feedback from program participants.
The PowerPoint meeting presentation was posted on the IAC website prior to the conference call sessions. To download the PowerPoint meeting presentation, click here.
The IAC also noted participant questions from all three sessions, and responses to those questions. To download the direct transcript from the question and answer sessions, please click here.
The IAC wishes to thank all of the participants for their time and input in this process.
