Fellowship Opportunity

The Virginia Commission for Arts invites Virginia­ based artists and writers to apply for the 2008­-2009 Artist Fellowships in Crafts and Playwriting
Deadline: August 1, 2008.

Artist Fellowships of $5,000 are awarded annually by the Commission to recognize the creative excellence of individual Virginia artists and to support their pursuit of artistic excellence.

Artists in the disciplines of crafts and playwriting, who are legal residents of Virginia at the application deadline and who plan to remain in the state for the coming year, are eligible to apply for the 2008-2009 Artist Fellowship.

Interested artists may obtain an application by downloading forms from the Commission's web site: www.arts.virginia.gov or by calling the Commission (804­-225­3132).

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission distributes grant awards to artists, arts and other not­-for­profit organizations, educational institutions, educators and local governments, and provides technical assistance in arts management.

For information about the Virginia Commission for the Arts or its programs contact: 223 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219­-2010
804­-225-­3132
www.arts.virginia.gov

Charlottesville Artist Passes Away

We've just learned that longtime friend of VSA arts of Virginia, Laura Burrell, passed away on June 20th. The staff and board at VSA arts of Virginia would like to express condolences to Laura's family and friends. We know that she will be missed by her friends at VSA.

People With Epilepsy Invited to Submit Artwork for National

Deadline: July 16, 2008
The sixth annual Expressions of Courage national art contest provides people with epilepsy the opportunity to showcase their talents and perspectives of the world around them through art.
Sponsored by the Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, the contest is open to all Americans diagnosed with epilepsy. A panel of epilepsy advocates and art industry representatives
will serve as contest judges and will announce the winning artwork in September. Winning entries will be selected based on creativity and the ability to demonstrate feelings of living with epilepsy through art.
Contest entries will be categorized into three age groups: children age 12 or younger; teens between the ages of 13 and 17; and adults 18 years of age or older. Artwork may be created in ink, pencil, crayon, paint, or a combination of these materials and must be on paper or board.
Winning artwork will be featured on the contest Web site and either in calendars or coffee table books available in local Epilepsy Foundation offices and select physician offices nationwide. In addition, a few winning pieces may be chosen by curators from the Society for the Arts in Healthcare for display in a traveling art exhibition.
Complete program information and entry forms are available from the contest website.

Two Grant Opportunities for Cancer Survivors

Lilly Oncology on Canvas 2008 Art Competition
Deadline: June 30, 2008
The Lilly Oncology on Canvas: Expressions of a Cancer Journey Art Competition and Exhibition was developed by Eli Lilly and Company in 2004 as a way to honor the journeys people embark upon when confronted with a cancer diagnosis. Lilly Oncology presents the 2008 Lilly Oncology on Canvas Art Competition and Exhibition in partnership with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. More…
Capelli d’Angeli Foundation
Capelli d’Angeli Foundation is offering a limited number of fellowship grants of up to $500 each, for women artists who are in treatment or survivors of cancer and are creating art in all media. Grant recipients and award amounts will be determined after a thorough review of the artist’s work as shown by her images. More…

C'ville District Chair Featured on NBC29 News

Poetry Gives AHS Class Freedom of Expression
Reported by Claire O'Brien on April 23, 2008 04:56 PM

When you're mad, you yell. When you're happy, you laugh. But what if a disability got in the way of expressing how you feel? One program is opening up a world of expression for some very special students.

The words are flowing from the Albemarle High School students we visited, but they weren't in your everyday English class. These students had something standing in the way of expressing how they feel: they all have autism.

"For a teenager to have a significant disability is huge, especially if it impacts their social skills, their communication, their sense of self," said special education teacher Leah Fechtmann.

Through poems, the students are able to express feelings that they may not be able to verbalize. They get extra help from Rose Williams, Miss Wheelchair Virginia. The students choose words that describe their inner feelings, then they put those feelings into poetry.

According to Williams, "It builds self-esteem. It builds their self-esteem and self-worth."

When they're better able to express what they can do, they don't focus so much on what they can't. "We were seeing their struggles. When they finally verbalized their struggles they went on to their feelings of being valued and appreciated, which were much, much larger," shared Fechtman.

Williams said, "They're so proud of their accomplishment, by doing that." Link: http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=8216722&nav=menu496_2_4

National Juried Exhibition for Young Artists with Disabilities (Ages 16 – 25)

Sponsored by VSA arts with generous assistance from Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Grand Prize: $20,000
First Award: $10,000
Second Award: $6,000
12 Awards of Excellence: $2,000

"Contemporary art challenges us…it broadens our horizons. It asks us to think beyond the limits of conventional wisdom."
- Eli Broad

A green light signals “GO!” and permission to proceed. What revs you up as an artist and moves you to create? What signals the spark of creativity? Imagine that you receive a signal to drive your own future. Describe the experience and how you will direct your route – both artistically and personally. How does art give you permission to be who you are? Consider the infinite possibilities that art (or creativity) provides.

We are interested in both representational and abstract work. Artwork may illustrate actual aspects of what signals your creative motivations such as the physical world or personal discoveries. Abstract work that relates to feelings or emotions is also encouraged. Work might also reflect your experience of living with a disability and its role in shaping or transforming your work.

Details including eligibility can be found on our national website.

Online Music Classes for Infants, Babies and Toddlers – Free for Children with Special Needs

Parents, I found this on the Exceptional Parent website:

The Come Children Sing Institute is offering free gift certificates for Come Children, Sing! Online Music Classes for infants, babies, and toddlers with special needs. The $35 gift certificate provides one 10-week Online Music Class. Request a free gift certificate for your child by sending an email to mepinzino@comechildrensing.com. Mention Exceptional Parent Magazine and indicate that you have a child with special needs. Your gift certificate will be sent via email, and you can start the Online Music Class at any time.