ArtsErie News

June 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Allison Counasse, Program Associate, Marketing
(814) 452-3427 office • (814) 882-9058 mobile • allison@artserie.org

CultureSpark Cultural Planning Process for Erie County Begins

ArtsErie invites Artists and Cultural Organizations to participate in July open forums

ERIE, PA — ArtsErie is pleased to announce the implementation of CultureSpark, a year-long cultural planning process designed to identify the issues, strengths and challenges for cultural development throughout Erie County. CultureSpark will engage civic and cultural leaders and members of the community at large in dialog about the role, value and outcomes of cultural development.

Bill Bulick of Creative Planning, Portland, Ore. will facilitate the process. Bulick will conduct qualitative and quantitative research, facilitate community dialog and develop the Cultural Master Plan. Surale Phillips of Decision Support Partners, Bozeman, Mont. will assist. Phillips will be responsible for data analysis by using geodemography, which studies the demographic characteristics of individuals in a particular location.

The CultureSpark task force will host two open forums in July for artists and cultural organizers:

• CultureSpark Artists’ Forum: Artists and creators of all kinds are invited to attend the CultureSpark Artists’ Forum on Wed., July 8, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Latino’s Restaurant (1313 Parade St., Erie). RSVP by calling ArtsErie at 452-3427 or emailing info@artserie.org by July 2nd.
• CultureSpark Cultural Organizations Forum: Representatives of arts, culture and heritage organizations, cultural businesses (galleries, workshops, dance studios, etc.) and community-based organizations that provide cultural programming are invited to attend the CultureSpark Cultural Organizations Forum on Thurs., July 9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Downey Hall, Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul (134 W. 7th St., Erie). RSVP by calling ArtsErie at 452-3427 or emailing info@artserie.org by July 6th.

CultureSpark will also provide opportunities for participation through other forums and task forces that will address the specific issues that are identified in these open meetings. In addition, a working committee and a steering committee are forming to help organize and work through the process of developing a creative vision for Erie County.

“Studies show that arts and culture are vital to stimulating economic development. We anticipate that CultureSpark will be a catalyst for the continued revitalization of Erie County,” says Charlotte P. Mashyna, ArtsErie Executive Director, who coordinates CultureSpark with Robert F. Wooler, Director of The Nonprofit Partnership.

The final CultureSpark plan will incorporate a vision for cultural development; goals with specific strategies, expected outcomes, proposed implementation responsibilities and timelines; and a process to review implementation progress. CultureSpark will also generate ideas for arts and cultural organizations to jump-start how to think about marketing, message, tactics and partnerships.

The planning process began in May 2009 and is expected to conclude in April 2010. Participation on a community-wide basis is encouraged. Contact Charlotte P. Mashyna, ArtsErie Executive Director, or Allison Counasse, ArtsErie Marketing Associate, at 814-452-3427 for more information.

About CultureSpark
CultureSpark is a year-long cultural planning process, implemented by ArtsErie, that is designed to identify the issues, strengths and challenges for cultural development throughout Erie County.

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.

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June 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Allison Counasse, Program Associate, Marketing
(814) 452-3427 office • (814) 882-9058 mobile • allison@artserie.org

ArtsErie and Erie County Receive NEA Grant for ‘The Big Read’

ArtsErie partners with the Erie County Public Library and the Erie School District
to read and celebrate Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451 in Fall 2009

ERIE, PA — ArtsErie today announced that it will receive a $15,470 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read, a program that gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss and celebrate a single book that is one of 30 selections from U.S. and world literature. The grant will be used to promote and conduct community-based reading programs exploring the themes in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. ArtsErie will host The Big Read locally in partnership with the Erie County Public Library and the School District of the City of Erie.

“Fahrenheit 451 is important to students because it addresses fighting for a good cause—for the freedom to read,” says M. Holly Nowak, Arts in Education Program Manager, about why this book was selected. “We were chosen to offer The Big Read because we have a quality program with partner support,” adds Nowak.

Activities in Erie County will take place in Fall 2009, kicking off during Banned Books Week (Sept. 26-Oct.3) and continuing through October. To encourage community-wide participation in the project, ArtsErie, the Erie County Public Library and the School District of the City of Erie will collaborate with public and private partners within Erie to develop a program of activities related to Fahrenheit 415, including book discussions, a film series, programs and lectures, a reader’s theater production, artist residencies and more.

“We are thrilled that once again the Erie County Public Library will help lead a county-wide reading initiative. We hope that The Big Read encourages literacy and builds community as our residents get together to share their ideas,” says Mark A. DiVecchio, Erie County Executive. The Erie County Public Library will ask Erie County residents to participate in The Big Read and will help lead and host associated activities. The Erie County Public Library is a system including the Raymond M. Blasco, M.D. Memorial Library, four branch libraries and the Bookmobile.

"The Erie School District is excited about the Big Read initiative, which highlights how the Arts, the Library, and schools can work together to encourage reading as a fun and enjoyable activity. The Big Read will be a big success in Erie, Pa.,” says Dr. James E. Barker, Superintendent. Three Erie high schools will participate in this year’s program – Central Tech High School, East High School and Strong Vincent High School.

Other partners will include The Erie Playhouse, which will lead a production of reader’s theater; and Edinboro University, Gannon University and Mercyhurst College, which will provide book and film discussion leaders.

Both Holly Nowak and Dr. James Barker believe that by making connections to literature through the arts, the Erie community and Erie students will be drawn back to reading classic American Literature.

The Big Read was launched nationally in 2006 by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest, to encourage literary reading. ArtsErie is one of 269 nonprofits—including arts, culture, and science organizations; libraries; and municipalities—to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2009 and June 2010. The organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs.

The NEA also provides participating communities with a library of free materials, including reader’s and teacher’s guides, an audio guide featuring distinguished actors and writers, an online organizer’s guide for hosting a Big Read program, Big Read publicity materials and a comprehensive program Web site. For more information about The Big Read please visit www.neabigread.org.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. For more information, please visit www.neabigread.org.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: www.imls.gov.

Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge and understanding across boundaries. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.

ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. For more information, please visit www.ArtsErie.org.

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