Art in the News
Read the latest arts news
Americans for the Arts' Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dame Julie Andrews made a special appearance at the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday. Andrews appeared onstage after a tribute to The Sound of Music, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its release this year. She then presented the award for Best Original Score.
President Obama visited Chicago last week to designate the Pullman neighborhood as a national monument. This designation will help to protect the remains of the Pullman Palace Car Company’s factory in Chicago, and preserve other buildings that were once part of the quintessential planned company town.
Two of the foremost banjoists in the world, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, have announced plans to donate profits from merchandise sales at an upcoming concert to the Confluence Project in Eau Clair, WI. The show will take place at the State Theatre in Eau Clair on February 27.
American Legion Auxillary's kickoff event last night for their 2015 conference was a tribute to the arts, and how the arts help members of our military and veterns in re-entry and healing. Americans for the Arts' CEO and President, Robert Lynch; Director of Arts Policy, Marete Wester; and Board member, General Nolen Bivens, U.S. Army, Ret. attended and spoke at the event.
Employees from clothing retailer UNIQLO joined forces with Free Arts NYC as they were paired with underserved youth to work on art projects at the Fifth Avenue flagship store.
Free Arts NYC and UNIQLO host four of these workshops a year, each featuring a specific artist from which the children can draw inspiration. For this workshop, the children were introduced to the work of famous artist Keith Haring, whose signature technique uses simple lines and bold colors.
Susane “Suzy” Josephson Finesilver, Americans for the Arts National Patron, passed away February 1, 2015. She was a longtime supporter of the arts both nationally and locally in her home city and state of San Antonio, Texas, where she was born in 1916 and lived her entire life.
Rick Allen, musician and visual artist, is scheduled to meet with wounded warriors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on March 20, prior to March 21st appearances at the Bethesda and McLean Wentworth Galleries for the local debut of his latest collection, "Rick Allen: Angels and Icons."
In Nashville, a $200 grant to the Nashville nonprofit the Housing Fund will provide housing assistance for artists live/work spaces. The “Make a Mark Program” is funded by the Kresge and Surdna Foundations and will provide financing to artists and creatives to live permanently in Nashville and Davidson County.
President Obama made a special televised appearance during the Grammy Awards on February 8. The pre-recorded message was played during the ceremony and called upon artists everywhere to join the fight against sexual abuse and domestic violence.
“Artists have a unique power to change minds and attitudes, to get us thinking and talking about what matters,” said Obama. “All of us in our own lives have the power to set an example.”
Today, USA Today launched an exciting contest that highlights cultural districts. They are asking the public to vote for their favorite art and cultural districts based on a set of hand-picked districts and neighborhoods within the U.S. You have until Monday, March 2 at Noon, ET to vote for your favorite cultural district on the USA Today website below!
