Art in the News
Read the latest arts news
In Lafayette, Indiana public art is springing up in the West. Local artists Alexandria Monik and Aaron Bumgarner will be creating art that responds to their surroundings in the West Lafayette neighborhood. Monik takes on refurbishing a dilpated and closed bar by creating storyboard paintings on the shuttered windows and doors of the building.
Smith Micro Software and Sprint have teamed up to launch an avatar design contest that will help encourage students explore their creative side through the digital arts.
Throughout the month of August, JCPenney shoppers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to support arts in education. Contributions will be donated to JCPenney Cares to help fund national and local arts education programs through partnerships with organizations such as Young Audiences Arts for Learning.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) recently highlighted Sans Façon's "Hide to Show Better," a public art installation in Saskatoon which was recognized in the Public Art Network's 2014 Year In Review. During the program, juror Janet Zweig was invited talked about the judging process, why "Hide to Show Better" was recognized, and the role of public art plays in communities.
The 2013 National Medals of Arts and Humanities were presented by President Obama in a ceremony on Monday, July 28th. This year's recipients consisted of a diverse selection of individuals and groups who have done groundbreaking work in the arts and humanities, including architecture, choreography, literature, and documentary filmmaking.
Thrive Fund is making significant contributions towards Charlotte’s Arts.
Launched in summer 2012 under a low profile, Thrive Fund’s initial goal was to provide financial stability for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Under the leadership of former Bank of America Chairman and CEO Hugh McColl, it soon exceeded expectations, raising $34 million in pledges to underwrite Charlotte's cultural sector.
The Athens City Council has approved an income tax rate increase of 0.1 percent, which will span for twenty years and will be put in front of voters during this upcoming November’s ballot. The income tax will benefit Athens’ Arts, Parks, and Recreation Department. If passed, it will go into effect on January 1, 2016.
Dance studio owners received notices from the Missouri Department of Revenue informing them that they owed years of back taxes to the state. Missouri charges sales tax on places of recreation and entertainment, which the department stated now included dance studios.
It's been a great week on Capitol Hill for the arts!
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill 277-130 to make permanent a key tax incentive for charitable giving, the IRA Charitable Rollover. Making this provision permanent has been a key legislative goal of Americans for the Arts for the last decade, as the current cycle of expiration and reinstatement has left many donors unable to maximize their support for charitable work.
On July 11, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the final state budget of $36.5 billion, including the appropriation of $12 million to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).
