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| Arts
Council Annual Meeting |
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| Annual
Meeting Helps Shape the Year to Come |
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On
Wednesday, May 21, the Arts Council held its first
ever annual meeting, an important step in our
growth as an organization. The very word "Council"
conjures images of an engaged community-one that
shapes itself through vital discussion, collaboration
and action. At the meeting, more than two hundred
people came together to dialogue about the Arts
Council's future, showing a sense of ownership
that will be indispensable for us as we seek to
be an accurate reflection of the cultural community
and an able agent for change.
The
Arts Council extends a special thanks to the
Pittsburgh
Banjo Club for donating a lively performance
at the post-meeting reception, to Ezra Smith for
his spoken word presentation, the New Hazlett
Theater and all of our other event sponsors
listed below.
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The
Annual Meeting outlined the past year's accomplishments
and unveiled a new
strategic plan to guide the Arts Council for the next
three years. Mitch Swain presented the plan, with help
of board members Kate Prescott and Bill Bodine, and then
opened the floor for attendees to voice ideas or questions.
The ensuing discussion will serve as a primer for further
discussions throughout the year, including the upcoming
Cultural
Policy public forum on June 12 . |
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The
second half of the evening brought an artful performance,
announced new programs and honored two long-time arts
advocates. Artist Leslie "Ezra" Smith delivered
a startling and thoughtful spoken word performance, adding
artistic depth to the business at hand. |
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Neal
Lucchi of HM Insurance Group gave details about the new
health coverage plan for artists, and Brian Lang of BNY
Mellon announced that the corporation will give $100,000
to the Arts Council for a new re-granting program, the
Audience Development Fund. This program will provide direct
grants up to $5,000 to arts organizations with an annual
budget under $500,000 for audience development initiatives,
including professional development and consulting. The
first deadline will be in fall 2008. |
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BNY
Mellon's Brian Lang announces the new
Arts Council re-granting program.
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Though
the next Work of Art Awards will not take place until
May of 2009, we could not close this gathering without
honoring two long-time arts advocates. Board Chair Jane
Werner presented this year's only Work of Art Award to
City Councilman Bill Peduto, for his support of artistic
community revitalization work in almost every pocket of
the city. Additionally, Philip Horn of the Pennsylvania
Council on the Arts and Robert Lettieri of Citizens for
the Arts in Pennsylvania presented the Arts Leadership
Award to State Senator Jay Costa, for his many years as
a champion of the arts in the Commonwealth. |
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State
Senator Jay Costa accepts an award from
Robert Lettieriof Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania.
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City
Councilman Bill Peduto accepts a Work of Art Award
from Arts Council CEO Mitch Swain
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The
Annual Meeting was a great celebration, but the conversation
needs to go on! To give you the chance to provide ongoing
and thorough feedback, we have posted the full strategic
plan on our website, along with a dissected version
at www.pittsburghartscouncil.blogspot.com.
Please visit this blog, spend some time reading the plan,
and let us know how your work fits into the big picture
we envision. Continue to Be a PART! |
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