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ArtsErie News

ArtsErie to host regional Poetry Out Loud competition on February 16 at Allegheny College

posted on: Thursday, February 14, 2013

Five high school students from Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties to participate


ArtsErie and the PA Council on the Arts are proud to present the 2013 regional competition for the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest on February 16 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Vukovich Center for Communication Arts at Allegheny College in Meadville. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, which encourages the study of poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. The winner of this year’s regional competition will go on to compete at the state finals on March 11 at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. 

Participating students are: Sara Cruz, Fairview High School, Fairview, Erie County; Annette Hilton, Meadville High School, Meadville, Crawford County; Kyle Kuhns, Maplewood High School, Guys Mills, Crawford County; Rosie Pregler, Mercyhurst Preparatory High School, Erie, Erie County; and Marissa Works, Hickory High School, Hermitage, Mercer County.

James West will speak on behalf of the PA Council on the Arts. PA State Rep. Michele Brooks will attend. Ron Hayes, Erie County Poet Laureate, will serve as one of the judges, along with Lora Zill, ArtsErie Poetry Out Loud Coordinator; Donna Baker, English teacher, Conneaut Valley High School; and Jan Hyatt, coordinator, Creating Landscapes Educational Programs for Children, Teens, and Young Adults.

ArtsErie and EDACC launch combined campaign, website

posted on: Tuesday, February 05, 2013

ArtsErie and the Erie Downtown Arts & Culture Coalition (EDACC) kick off another joint campaign on Tuesday, February 5 at 5 p.m. at the expERIEnce Children’s Museum. For the second year in a row, ArtsErie and EDACC are working together to make arts and culture happen in Erie’s downtown and throughout the region. The 2013 Combined Arts & Culture Campaign raises funds to support ArtsErie project grants and the eight EDACC organizations. Each beneficiary will receive a portion of funds raised – ArtsErie’s allocation is 20% and EDACC’s allocation is 80%.

In recent years, ArtsErie competitive grants have supported more than 30 projects annually, including the annual art show at the Barber National Institute and music and art at the Downtown Edinboro Art and Music Festival. EDACC, which supports its eight member organizations – Erie Art Museum, Erie County Historical Society, Erie Playhouse, Erie Philharmonic, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Dafmark Dance Theater, Flagship Niagara League and Lake Erie Ballet – collectively provides upwards of 1,000 productions, exhibitions, concerts and educational opportunities for an audience of more than 30,000 each year.

 

Donors Can Now Give Online

Making a donation to the 2013 Combined Arts & Culture Campaign is even easier with the creation of a new website, www.erieartsandculture.org (to be launched at the event). Viewers can make a secure donation online, find more information about the campaign, and link to websites of the participating arts and cultural organizations.

 

How to Donate

To support arts and culture in Erie, visit www.erieartsandculture.org. Donors can make a gift online or download the pledge form and mail with a tax-deductible contribution to: Combined Arts & Culture Campaign, P.O. Box 9684, Erie, PA 16505.

 

For more information about the 2013 Combined Arts & Culture Campaign, please visit www.erieartsandculture.org. Questions about making a donation online can be directed to campaign@erieartsandculture.org.

 


ArtsErie announces new Executive Director, Amanda Brown Sissem

posted on: Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Sissem to lead local arts organization

ERIE, PA — Erie native Amanda Brown Sissem has been named executive director of ArtsErie. The organization provides leadership, financial support, education and advocacy for arts organizations and artists throughout the region. She will begin working in her new role on November 19.

“It's a time of both opportunities and challenges for arts organizations and artists, which demands renewed commitment and leadership from ArtsErie. We look forward to the perspective and experience that Amanda will bring to our organization and our community,” said Matthew W. Fuchs, Chairman, ArtsErie Board of Trustees.

Sissem previously served as a program officer at The Erie Community Foundation. While at the Foundation, she helped operate ECF’s $2M competitive grants program with special focus on strategic grants in the Erie Vital Signs areas of Cultural Vitality, Education, Economy and Brain Gain.

She co-administrated two, federal nonprofit capacity-building programs, ReTool Erie and the Erie Capacity-Building Collaborative. Her work included providing financial assistance, training and coaching services to strengthen nonprofits and increase their impact to the community.

“I’m honored to have been chosen for this exciting role. The power of the arts to inspire, educate, heal, fuel innovation and drive economic growth is undeniable. Leading an organization with the mission to nurture this power to enrich lives is a great opportunity,” said Sissem.

Sissem will succeed Susan Breon, who has served as interim executive director since Char Mashyna left the organization in May.

Sissem holds an undergraduate degree in social work from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in nonprofit management. She is a member of the Junior League of Erie. She resides in Millcreek with her husband and two children.

About ArtsErie
ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. The organization changed its name from the Arts Council of Erie in 2008. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.ArtsErie.org.

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ArtsErie to Announce New Executive Director

posted on: Monday, October 29, 2012

News conference scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 30

ERIE, PA — ArtsErie will introduce its new Executive Director in a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m. at the Waldron Center, 124 West 7th St., Room 219, at Gannon University. (This room is on the second floor closer to the 7th St. side of the building and stairs.)

Search Committee Chairman Tom Aaron and the new director will be available immediately following the announcement for interviews.

 

About ArtsErie
ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.ArtsErie.org.

 


ArtsErie invites community to Fall for the Arts on October 30

posted on: Friday, October 19, 2012

2012 honorees for ArtsErie Arts Appreciation Awards announced


ERIE, PA — Each year ArtsErie honors individuals and groups for their contributions to the arts community with ArtsErie Arts Appreciation Awards. The awards will be presented at ArtsErie’s “Fall for the Arts” annual meeting and awards ceremony, to be held this year on Tuesday, October 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Barber National Institute (100 Barber Place, Erie).

At the event, ArtsErie will present four Arts Appreciation Awards, including a brand new award for Artist of the Year, named in honor of the late conductor Bruce Morton Wright in recognition of his lifetime of achievements and Erie’s broad diversity of arts and artists. Wright, the founder and conductor of the Erie Chamber Orchestra, passed away in 2011. 

Local artist and teacher Tom Ferraro will receive the first Bruce Morton Wright Artist of the Year Award. This award recognizes an individual artist of any media who has had a significant impact on the arts and culture landscape through personal commitment and leadership. The new honor was instituted as a means to acknowledge a local artist for his or her contributions to our community or for providing a mentoring role in helping other artists. 

This year’s other honorees are as follows:  

Erie Philharmonic will receive the Leadership in Arts Award. This award recognizes a business, government, or foundation that (1) has exhibited long term art support, or (2) whose work has had a significant impact on the region’s arts/cultural landscape, or (3) has demonstrated a successful collaboration between an arts organization and business.

Dr. Robert and Betsy Guelcher will receive the Applause Award. This award recognizes a dedicated individual(s) or group whose outstanding volunteerism and contributions, either currently or in the past, have supported ArtsErie or the arts in our community. 

Teaching artist Mike Bocianowski will receive the Imagine Arts-in-Education Award. This award recognizes an educator, instructor or individual whose efforts have made an outstanding contribution to the enhancement of arts education by consistently inspiring and encouraging arts excellence in their students or an education affiliate (PTA, Board of Ed., Performing Arts/Music School) or other organization that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to evoke interest and understanding in the arts both having worked over time to implement excellence in and for arts education.

This year’s awards were created by potter Dave Mosbacher.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m.; the awards presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. A reception will immediately follow, with live musical entertainment by Nova Free Jazz Trio.

“Fall for the Arts” is sponsored by the Barber National Institute, MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and BNY Mellon. Nominations are accepted annually from members of the community and voted upon by the ArtsErie Board of Directors.

For more information or to inquire about purchasing tickets, priced at $15 each, please contact ArtsErie at (814) 452-3427 or info@ArtsErie.org, or purchase online at this link



Nominations Open for ArtsErie’s 2012 Arts Appreciation Awards

posted on: Wednesday, August 01, 2012

New award announced to recognize local Artist of the Year

ArtsErie salutes individuals and groups for their contributions to the arts community by presenting ArtsErie Arts Appreciation Awards each year. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to use the nominating form on the ArtsErie website to submit nominations in any of four categories prior to the August 17, 2012 deadline.

This year ArtsErie announces a new recognition, the Artist of the Year Award.
The Artist of the Year Award recognizes an individual artist of any media who has had a significant impact on the arts and culture landscape through personal commitment and leadership. This new honor was instituted in 2012 as a means to acknowledge a local artist for his or her contributions to our community or for providing a mentoring role in helping other artists.

In addition, nominations may be submitted to honor achievements in any of three previously established categories:

The Leadership in Arts Award recognizes a business, government or foundation that (1) has exhibited long-term support, (2) whose work has had a significant impact on the region’s arts/cultural landscape or (3) has demonstrated a successful collaboration between an arts organization and business.

The Applause Award recognizes a dedicated individual or group whose outstanding volunteerism and contributions, either currently or in the past, have supported ArtsErie or the arts in our community.

The Imagine Arts-in-Education Award recognizes an educator, instructor or individual whose efforts have enhanced arts education by consistently inspiring and encouraging arts excellence in their students or an education affiliate (PTA, School Board, Performing Arts/Music School, etc.). The nominee can also be an organization that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to promote interest and understanding in the arts and excellence in arts education.

In 2011, ArtsErie saluted the Erie Art Museum (Leadership Award); Mercyhurst University (then Mercyhurst College) and Michael Fuhrman (Applause Award); and Madelyn Simmons, educator in Wattsburg Area Elementary Center (Imagine Award). A complete list of past Arts Appreciation Award recipients is available online.

Awards will be presented on October 30, 2012 at ArtsErie’s Fall for the Arts celebration.

About ArtsErie
ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy.


2012-13 Arts project funding available from PA Partners in the Arts

posted on: Monday, May 14, 2012

ArtsErie to host free workshops in Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, and Warren Counties to assist prospective applicants

ArtsErie announces the workshop schedule for the 2012 Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) Project Stream grants. The PPA program provides opportunities for arts organizations, individual artists and community-based groups to apply for up to $3,000 in funding to support performances, exhibitions, and other arts projects that are presented to the public and take place between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013. Grant applications are due Friday, June 29, 2012. ArtsErie supports the program in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango and Warren Counties.

The workshops are designed to provide detailed information on the program, and to guide prospective candidates through the application process. In addition to the PPA program, workshops in Erie County will also provide information on the ArtsErie grant programs due Wednesday, August 15, 2012.

 

ArtsErie PPA Grant Workshop Schedule:

  • Corry: Thursday, May 24, 7 pm
    Corry Higher Ed Council, 221 N. Center St., Corry
  • Meadville: Tuesday, May 29, 5:30 pm
    Meadville Council on the Arts, 910 Market St., Meadville
  • Oil City: Wednesday, May 30, 4 pm
    City Hall Council Chambers, 21 Seneca St., Oil City
  • Erie: Tuesday, June 5, 5:30 pm
    Cathedral of St. Paul, Downey Hall, 134 W. 7th St., Erie
  • Sharon: Thursday, June 7, 5:30 pm
    Shenango Area Chamber of Commerce, Founders Room, 41 Chestnut St., Sharon
  • Warren: Monday, June 18, 7 pm (rescheduled from June 4)
    Allegheny Center for the Arts, 217 Liberty St., Warren 

 

Please contact ArtsErie at info@artserie.org or by phone at (814) 452-3427 to register for one of the workshops. All workshops are free and open to the public.

PPA Project Stream guidelines and grant applications will be available online at http://ppa.egrant.net. Applications must be submitted electronically through the eGrant system on or before Friday, June 29, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

When You’ve Finished the Application:

  • Review your application and click the Submit My Data button on or before Friday, June 29, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. 
  • Click on ‘Print PDF’ to generate a PDF file for printed copies of your application.
  • Have the original signed in BLUE ink by an authorized representative.
  • Submit the original and 1 copy of the application, 3-hole punched, to ArtsErie, 3 E. 4th Street, Erie, PA 16507-1426.  
  • Copies must be hand delivered by 4:30 PM on June 29, 2012 or postmarked by that date. NO EXCEPTIONS! 

Read more information on our PPA grant page.  

The PPA program is a partnership initiative between local arts organizations and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), a state agency. State government funding for the arts comes through an annual appropriation by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. ArtsErie administers the PPA program in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

 

About ArtsErie
ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of Northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education, and advocacy. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.artserie.org.

About the PA Council on the Arts
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is a state agency under the Governor’s Office that works to foster the excellence, diversity and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania and to broaden the availability and appreciation of those arts throughout the state. For more information on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, visit www.pacouncilonthearts.org


ArtsErie Begins Search for Executive Director

posted on: Monday, May 07, 2012

ERIE, PA — ArtsErie’s Board of Directors today announced that Char Mashyna has resigned as executive director of ArtsErie. The board has named Susan K. Breon as interim executive director, effective immediately. Breon is actively involved in the Erie arts community, serving as past board member of the Arts Council of Erie (ArtsErie) and currently as a board member of the North East Arts Council and a member of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

 

ArtsErie board chairman Matthew Fuchs stated, “As interim executive director, we feel that Susan possesses the leadership skills, understanding and expertise that will allow ArtsErie to continue its mission of nurturing the arts and enriching the lives of everyone in Northwest Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. As the board begins its search for Char’s successor, we have complete confidence in Susan’s abilities to oversee ArtsErie.”

 

As ArtsErie executive director since 1999, Mashyna was previously responsible for growing ArtsErie in both size and scope; administering arts funding to multiple counties throughout Pennsylvania; leading advocacy efforts; and coordinating the implementation of CultureSpark, the Erie County Cultural Master Plan.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Matthew Fuchs, ArtsErie Board Chair, 814-870-7612 

 


ArtsErie to host area legislative visit at 'One World Tribe' music residency

posted on: Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Site visit to showcase Art in Action program at First District Elementary School

 

ERIE, PA — On Thursday, May 3, M. Holly Nowak, ArtsErie's Arts in Education director, and Delta Zahniser, principal, First District Elementary School, Meadville, will host three area legislators’ representatives at a site visit to a fourth-grade music residency with world music ensemble One World Tribe. The following three representatives from area legislators' offices will be present: Brad Moore, district director for U.S. Representative Mike Kelly; Kyle Hannon, regional representative for U.S. Senator Bob Casey; and Sheila Sterrett, regional manager for Senator Pat Toomey. The event is not open to the general public.

 

One World Tribe is a world music ensemble, consisting of musicians and dancers from many different countries and disciplines. The group's residency work provides insight into the music, dances, languages and cultural traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean supporting subjects such as Math, History, Geography, Language Arts and Social Studies.

 

First District Elementary School is one of three elementary schools that are partners in ArtsErie's Art in Action program, a four-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant program (AEMDD).

 

About ArtsErie

ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.ArtsErie.org.

 

About Art in Action

The Art in Action project is a partnership between ArtsErie, Union City Elementary School, First District Elementary School (Meadville), Cambridge Springs Elementary School and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Through Art in Action, ArtsErie and its partner agencies propose to develop, document and evaluate a model that will enhance both the quality of teaching in the classroom as well as student academic achievement and engagement in the learning process by 1.) integrating the arts into existing curriculum, and strengthening in-school art experiences for approximately 900 elementary students living in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, and 2.) strengthening quality relationships between teaching artists and classroom teachers.

 

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ArtsErie announces Poetry Out Loud regional champ

posted on: Thursday, March 01, 2012

Nationwide program encourages study of poetry through recitation

ArtsErie announces that Marissa Works, a freshman at Hickory High School in Hermitage, has been selected as the winner of the regional finals for the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, created by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, which encourages the study of poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country.

ArtsErie and the PA Council on the Arts presented the 2012 regional competition, held Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. This year, five students participated in the regional finals. In addition to Works, the following students competed: Annette Hilton, Junior, Meadville Area Senior H.S., 2nd place; Claire Pomorski, Sophomore, Mercyhurst Prep, 3rd place; Megan Kibler, Junior, Collegiate Academy, Honorable Mention; Katelyn Clarahan, Junior, Western PA Christian Orators, Honorable Mention.

The three poems Works chose to recite for her portions of the competition were “Barter” by Sara Teasdale; “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley; and “Early Affection”   by George Moses Horton.

Works was awarded an all-expense-paid trip to the Pennsylvania State Finals for Poetry Out Loud, held in March 2012 at the Governor’s Residence, in Harrisburg, PA. The winner of the State Finals will compete at the 2012 Poetry Out Loud National Finals in May in Washington, D.C., where Poetry Out Loud will award $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes to the top three contestants.