Art in the News - 2015
Read the latest arts news
The Oklahoma Arts Council, in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs, announced a new pilot program that will provide visual art, creative writing, and photography workshops led by veterans who are experienced Oklahoma teaching artists at the Norman Veterans Center. They expect to reach over 300 individuals with this new arts education program.
The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. - Douglas MacArthur
Nothing could have been finer than the arts in Carolina during the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) held in October at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Presented by the Veteran Administration, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and the American Legion Auxiliary, this year’s event was hosted by the Durham VA Medical Center.
On October 26, 2015, the Massachusetts Legislature passed House Bill 3667, which would establish a statewide public art commission. State Senator Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow), Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chairman, championed H.
Earlier this year, Reddit announced that its famous Ask Me Anything (AMA) question and answer with the Reddit community and a famous celebrity would be videotaped for Youtube. In their first video, AMA stars Astrophysicists and television host Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is interviewed on his love of the arts.
The Houston City Council approved the city's Arts And Cultural Plan on Wednesday, October 14. An arts and cultural plan has not been adopted in 22 years—since 1993. Houston Mayor Annise Parker called the plan “overdue.” The plan lays out local community concerns, provides a vision for the future of Houston’s arts and culture sector, and provides a list of recommendations to achieve long-term goals.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted HR 537, “A Resolution recognizing the month of October 2015 as 'National Arts and Humanities Month' in Pennsylvania,” on Tuesday, October 20. Introduced by State Representative Stan Saylor, the noncontroversial resolution had 45 co-sponsors and states “...therefore be it RESOLVED,The House of Representatives recognize the month of October 2015 as "National Arts and Humanities Month" in Pennsylvania, call upon residents to celebrate and promote the arts and culture in our nation and encourage greater participation by residents of this Commonwealth in the arts and humanities in their local communities.”
On October 7, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 189 into law; the legislation will allow the California Arts Council (CAC) to designate areas cultural districts. The bill’s sponsor Assemblymember Richard Bloom said, “Designating areas with vibrant creative communities as Cultural Districts will not only celebrate California’s diverse cultural landscape, but will also help to draw economic development and tourism to local economies.”
The New York City Council announced on October 11 that it would double its investment—now $3.2 million—for the city’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative. Established last year, the Initiative funds 77 groups that focus on the cultural history and traditions of immigrant communities throughout New York City’s five boroughs.