MARCH 2016

Welcome to e-Prairie Arts! This electronic newsletter supplements our printed newsletter, Prairie Arts, which is published three times per year. e-Prairie Arts will be distributed during the months of February, March, April, June, July, August, October, November and December. If you know of anyone else who would like to receive e-Prairie Arts, please e-mail comserv@nd.gov. Those wishing to unsubscribe, may send an e-mail to comserv@nd.gov as well.

 Follow us on Facebook ~ for more timely updates and information, "Like" the North Dakota Council on the Arts today!

**How has the North Dakota Council on the Arts benefited you and/or your community? We would love to know! Send your comments to amschmid@nd.gov.**

STATEWIDE NEWS

There is still time to register and attend the Art in Action conference which takes place March 7, 2016!
The Art in Action conference is about networking, advocating and activating the arts throughout the state of North Dakota. This one-day conference hosted by Arts North Dakota is focused on how to advocate and bolster the arts in communities large and small throughout the state. The goal: continue to build relationships and advance the role the arts play in the overall success of the state. Conference presenters include USDA Rural Development Director Ryan Taylor. Additionally, conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from legislators, learn more about Arts North Dakota’s efforts to advocate for the arts, and of course network with colleagues from communities around North Dakota. Cap off our day with a conversation with Fargo-Moorhead Symphony conductor Christopher Zimmerman and listen in on a rehearsal. For the conference schedule and more information, visit http://ndconference.com/. Registration fee is $110.00. To register visit www.eventbrite.com/e/arts-in-action-conference-presented-by-arts-north-dakota-registration-19138199871.

NDCA Grant Deadlines Approaching!
Application deadline dates for certain NDCA grants are approaching. Institutional Support Grants must be submitted online by March 15. Artist in Residence, Community Arts Access and Presenter Support grants must be submitted online by April 1, 2016 (for programs taking place between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017). STEAM Team Grant Program applications must be submitted online for year one applicants by April 1, 2016; and for year two and three applicants by June 1, 2016. Individual Artist Fellowships program for Music and Literature Arts final grant submission deadline is May 1, 2016 (for activities taking place July 1-June 30). The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship applications is due May 15, 2016 (for project periods of July 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017). Early submission is strongly encouraged for all grant programs. All grants must be completed and submitted via NDCA’s online grant system at https://nd.culturegrants.org.

Making a Scene: Folklorist uses art, culture to improve people's health
Art can be used as a tool to combat the loneliness and boredom felt by residents of eldercare facilities, and NDCA folklorist, Troyd Geist, initiated a project called “Yes, I Am Free: The Inspiration of Dance and Paint,” to do just that. The program brought the creativity of the arts to four eldercare facilities in North Dakota. Using traditional or folk dance, large canvases were painted by the residents using canes and wheelchairs with the help of a mobile painting device. To read the InForum article by Tracy Frank, visit www.inforum.com/variety/3947912-making-scene-folklorist-uses-art-culture-improve-peoples-health.

Don't miss this year's Poetry Out Loud State Competition finals!
Poetry Out Loud, an oral recitation program, funded by the NDCA and the National Endowment for the Arts, builds on the recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as demonstrated by the slam poetry movement among our youth. On Monday, March 14, 2016, winners of the school-level competitions will participate in the North Dakota Poetry Out Loud State Finals at the State Heritage Center in Bismarck. The winner of the state-level competition receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship. The state winner’s school also receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends is awarded annually at the National Finals. All Poetry Out Loud State Finals events are free and open to the public. For more information contact Rebecca Engelman at (701) 328-7593, or via e-mail at rengelman@nd.gov; or you can visit http://ndpol.weebly.com.

Caravanserai: American Voices to perform in Grand Forks April 9th
The North Dakota Museum of Art is one of three organizations in the country selected to host this year's Caravanserai, a tour of global music featuring contemporary Muslim-American musicians from across the U.S. The upcoming tour of Caravanserai: American Voices will kick off in Grand Forks with husband/wife hip hop duo The Reminders, featuring DJ Man-o-Wax, and MaMa2. The musicians will perform a week of workshops in schools, community centers, and the University, followed by a public performance on April 9, 7 pm, at HB Sound and Light (101 N 8th St, Grand Forks). The evening starts with a set by DJ Man-o-Wax before being joined by The Reminders and MaMa2. Tickets are available by calling the Museum at 701-777-4195 or at the door the night of the performance. For more information visit www.ndmoa.com/2015--2016-caravanserai-american-voices.

Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy through Art 
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, NDCA, and the North Dakota Council of Humanities are collaboratively hosting the Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy through Art training which takes place at the ND Heritage Center, June 13-17, 2016. Beth Olshansky, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Art-Based Literacy at the University of New Hampshire in Durham will facilitate the training. Registration for this training is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9G2FCF. The deadline to register is March 21, 2016, as commitments for materials and meals must be secured. Additional information on the training can be found at www.nd.gov/dpi/events/PicturingWriting/. If you have registration questions, please contact Jill Frohlich at (701) 328-2254 or jmfrohlich@nd.gov. If you have questions regarding the training, please contact Rebecca Engelman from the NDCA at (701) 328-7593 or rengelman@nd.gov.

ND Parks and Recreation Department and NDCA are partnering once again for the Artist in Residency program within the ND state parks
The Artist in Residency program offers artists the opportunity to stay and work in unique environments for one week where they’ll have the opportunity to draw inspiration from a park, demonstrate their skills and assist park visitors of all ages in discovering their artistic side. Through the 2016 Artist in Residency program, three artists will be invited to stay one week at either Icelandic State Park (July 10-17), Lake Metigoshe State Park (July 17-24) or Turtle River State Park (July 31-August 7) as a collaborative effort to incorporate arts into the interpretive and educational activities presented by North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. The program is recruiting writers, composers, visual and performing artists to experience the North Dakota state parks and resources, allowing them to illustrate their experiences through their talents while providing opportunities for our park visitors to do the same by participating in hands-on workshops. Applications are now being accepted through Friday, March 25, 2016. Applicants must be current North Dakota residents.

Local, state, and national arts groups partner on Economic Impact Study
Look for your survey to arrive in June, 2016! The Arts Mean Business. That is the message being delivered by the NDCA and local arts organizations from Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Jamestown, and Minot who announced they have joined the Arts & Economic Prosperity® 5, a national study measuring the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences. The research study is being conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s nonprofit organization advancing the arts and arts education. It is the fifth study over the past 20 years to measure the impact of arts spending on local jobs, income paid to local residents, and revenue generated to local and state governments. While associated with nearly 300 study partners across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, NDCA and the local arts organizations will collect detailed financial data about our local and state nonprofit arts and culture organizations such as theater and dance companies, museums, festivals, and arts education organizations. Surveys will be collected throughout calendar year 2016. The results of the study will be released in June of 2017. For more information visit www.nd.gov/arts/sites/default/files/PDFs/PressReleases/economicimpactstudy2016-pr.pdf.

NATIONAL NEWS

Arts and Cultural Production contributed $704.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2013
Today’s creative economy gets a big boost from the arts, according to new data from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The latest figures cover 1998 to 2013 and they spotlight fast-growing arts industries, export trends, employment figures, consumer data, and more. In 2013, arts and cultural production contributed $704.2 billion to the U.S. economy, a 32.5 percent increase since 1998. Another key finding is that consumer spending on the performing arts grew 10 percent annually over the 15-year period. The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) is the first federal effort to provide in-depth analysis of the arts and cultural sector's contributions to the economy. To learn more visit https://www.arts.gov/news/2016/arts-and-cultural-production-contributed-7042-billion-us-economy-2013.

NEA’s Creativity Connects new initiative: CREATIVZ.US
CREATIVZ.US is designed to inspire a conversation about what artists in the United States need to sustain and strengthen their careers.  As part of the NEA’s 50th anniversary initiative -- Creativity Connects  -- the research project shines a spotlight on how the arts contribute to the nation’s creative ecosystem. CREATIVZ.US is being managed by the NEA's cooperator, the Center for Cultural Innovation. Over the next few months CREATIVZ will publish a series of essays by a variety of artists and arts thinkers. What has been launched is not a summary of research findings, but rather an integral part of the research process itself. The goal is to hear from as many artists and artist support providers as possible. A report will be published and available in June. You can share and join the conversation with your artist friends and supporters. You can add comments to any of the essays on the website or use your favorite social app to say something. If you use social media, please use the hashtag #creativz. To learn more visit http://creativz.us/.

Arts Midwest Touring Fund
Arts Midwest Touring Fund engages people in meaningful experiences with the fine arts of dance, music, theater, and other performing arts forms. Inter-state touring and the engagement of professional performing artists is central to the work of Arts Midwest. Engagements feature public performances and community outreach activities by professional touring performing artists that reach underserved audiences and foster exchanges between artists and Midwest communities. The application deadline is April 26, 2016 and the engagement must occur between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. A letter of intent or unsigned contract is acceptable at the time of the application. Grants are applied for by and made directly to presenting organizations (organizations that book artists to perform in their venues) in Arts Midwest's nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. To learn more or apply, visit www.artsmidwest.org/programs/paf.

Website helps homeless and disabled individuals sell their artwork
ArtLifting is a benefit corporation that provides homeless and disabled artists the opportunity to earn their own income. ArtLifting sells original paintings, art prints, and products so artists can earn recurring income from each piece. Artists earn 55% of the profit from each sale. Liz Powers, founder, has worked with homeless and disabled individuals in Boston since she was eighteen. Liz believes that by earning an income, instead of a handout, the artists feel empowered and confident. This confidence has a domino effect on every aspect of their lives and helps them pursue dreams that previously seemed unreachable. To learn more visit www.artlifting.com.

Celebrate Jazz with the National Endowment for the Arts on April 4, 2016
The NEA will honor the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters at a tribute concert, held in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, on Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Taking place during Jazz Appreciation Month, the concert will honor four individuals whose creativity, passion, and hard work have contributed to the continuing vibrancy of jazz. Part of the NEA’s 50th anniversary celebrations, this concert will feature world-renowned and emerging musicians performing in honor of the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters, recipients of our nation's highest honor in jazz. The 2016 NEA Jazz Masters are: Gary Burton—Vibraphonist, Bandleader, Educator; Wendy Oxenhorn—Musicians’ Advocate; Pharoah Sanders—Saxophonist, Composer; Archie Shepp—Saxophonist, Composer, Educator. The 2016 NEA Jazz Masters tribute concert will be video-streamed live at arts.gov, Kennedy-Center.org, and NPR.org/Music. An archive of the webcast will be available following the event. In addition, SiriusXM Channel 67, Real Jazz will broadcast the concert live.

Report on Creativity and Aging
The NEA and the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) released a report summarizing the findings of their Summit on Creativity and Aging in America. More than 70 experts in the arts and the aging, design and health-services fields attended the May 2015 convening, which focused in part on lifelong learning in the arts, age-friendly community design, and health, wellness and the arts. The NEA and NCCA organized the summit in anticipation of the July 2015 White House Conference on Aging. To read the report, visit https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/summit-on-creative-aging-feb2016.pdf.

March is National Youth Art Month
National Youth Art Month is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art education and to encourage public support for quality school art programs. The focus of this month is to convey to the public that art education develops self-discipline, self-esteem, and a sense of pride in self-expression. Youth Art Month has been observed nationally since 1961. To learn more visit www.arteducators.org/news/articles/10-youth-art-month.

May is National Chamber Music Month
May is National Chamber Music Month, created by Chamber Music America to increase awareness of the many styles of chamber music that comprise the field and to help ensembles and presenters attract audiences and media attention in their own communities. To learn more visit www.chamber-music.org/2015-national-chamber-music-month.

EVENT AND EXHIBIT CALENDAR, ARTS OPPORTUNITIES

**Check out upcoming Events and Exhibits listed on NDCA's calendar. If you have events, exhibits or artist opportunities that you would like included on the NDCA web site, please email them to comserv@nd.gov. Check out the other current Arts Opportunities available on the NDCA web site!

Post your art activities on Tourism’s web site as well. The arts bring a great deal to tourism within the state of North Dakota and both NDCA and ND Tourism can benefit from joint efforts to market the arts within ND. NDCA encourages studios, organizations, schools and universities to list their art activities on the Tourism web site. The broad reach of Tourism's web site offers an extremely effective way of promoting your art activities. Here is the link to a tutorial on how to enter your activities: http://screencast.com/t/emJIJkyI. For assistance, contact Scooter Pursley at spursley@nd.gov, or 701-328-2874.

The Cultural Heritage Grant Program, administered by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, provides grant funding for local museums and historical societies for a variety of projects. Applications for the 2016 Cultural Heritage Grant are now being accepted. The Historical Society will award up to $45,000 in 2016 for projects in these categories: Exhibits, Special Projects, Education, and Collections. Applications for capital improvement projects will not be accepted for this grant round. Submit applications to the State Historical Society. The completed application must be accepted, not postmarked, by the Historical Society by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 25. Applications and guidelines for Cultural Heritage Grant programs are available at history.nd.gov or can be requested by contacting Amy Munson at 701.328.3573 or amunson@nd.gov.

Bismarck Art & Galleries Association’s Annual Square Foot Show call for entries. Artists may enter up to two pieces in any media that can be applied to a 12” x 12” canvas. Canvases may not be altered in size and/or shape. Artwork must be completed on canvases supplied by BAGA to ensure consistency of canvases. Canvases are available at BAGA and may be picked up at the gallery office. June 30, 2016 is the registration deadline. The show is open to all artists 18 years old or older. All artwork will be priced at $130 by BAGA. Registration fees are $20 for one entry or $25 for two entries. To learn more and to apply, visit www.bismarck-art.org/index.cfm?page=special-events.

Call to teaching artists: NDCA is looking to expand and enrich its Artist in Residence Program through collaborations with teaching artists. Are you a professional artist, musician, writer, actor, director, dancer, media expert, storyteller, folk, traditional or multicultural artist who has experience teaching your chosen medium? Do you want to take an active role in shaping and inspiring the creative capital of tomorrow? Do you celebrate the transformative power of artistic self-expression as a means for creating a higher quality of life for all? If so, please consider joining NDCA to help make the arts central to education in North Dakota and to support and expand arts education opportunities for all citizens within our schools and communities. For more information visit www.nd.gov/arts/sites/default/files/PDFs/callteachingartists.pdf.

DID YOU KNOW ...

The ability of art to serve as a means of emotional self-expression and emotional communication has arguably been one of the fundamental reasons for the omnipresence of art throughout all cultures in human history. A new study from a team at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine considers the neurological connections between emotion and creativity. Recognizing the gap in knowledge about how the neural systems for creativity and emotion interact, researchers used fMRI technology to watch the brain activity of 12 jazz pianists improvising in response to pictures representing various emotions. Their findings suggest that emotion and creativity are tightly linked and that the neural mechanisms underlying creativity may depend on emotional state. The study is available at www.nature.com/articles/srep18460.

OTHER RESOURCES