Giving Tuesday, POL, Strategic Plan Changes, and more.
November 12, 2020
As we pause to recognize the service and sacrifice of our nation's veterans, we wish to recognize the outstanding arts partners of Virginia's Creative Forces networks.
We invite you to learn more about each of their programs:
Poetry Out Loud Registration Open Until Monday, November 16
The Virginia Commission for the Arts is pleased to announce Poetry Out Loud, a nationwide program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, encouraging the study of poetry to high schoolers through a unique competition.
Virginia Commission for the Arts Board Chair Abigail Gómez Joins National State Arts Agency Board
On Friday, November 6, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies announced the addition of Virginia Commission for the Arts' (VCA's) Board Chair, Abigail Gómez, to a three-year term on its Board. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is the professional association of the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies, and a national, nonpartisan organization that champions public support for the arts in America.
As a board member of NASAA, Gómez joins others from throughout the nation in advancing the work of state arts agencies that support arts and culture here in Virginia and throughout the United States.
In speaking to the addition of Gómez and four other new members, NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux said, "These experienced and diverse leaders bring a breadth of knowledge and perspectives, fierce commitments to service the public and genuine passion for the arts."
VCA Executive Director Janet Starke said of the addition, "We are proud and honored that Chairperson Gómez has been selected to serve on NASAA's Board. We have been so fortunate to benefit from her experience and advancing leadership over the past nearly five years, and we know she will help govern tremendous growth with our leading member service organization."
Gómez was appointed to the Commission board in 2016 by Governor Terry McAuliffe. Abigail Gómez is a Latinx visual artist, teaching artist, arts advocate, and owner and artist at Pretty Girl Painting, a fine art and mural painting business in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. She has a B.F.A. from Virginia Tech and an M.F.A. in painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She teaches art classes and workshops and is an adjunct art professor at Shenandoah University. She also facilitates international community mural projects in the United States, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Gómez founded Arte Libre VA, a nonprofit arts organization that empowers Latinx, Black and youth of color through equitable access to quality arts education and programming. She is the chair of the Virginia Commission for the Arts and chair of the Commission's IDEA Committee. Nationally, Gómez serves as co-chair of NASAA’s People of Color Affinity Group and is a committee member of the Arts Administrators of Color Network’s Cousin’s Regime.
About the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies is the membership organization that serves the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. NASAA helps state arts agencies fulfill their many citizen service roles by providing knowledge services, representation and leadership programs that strengthen the state arts agency community. NASAA also serves as a clearinghouse for data and research about government support for arts and culture in America, supplying statistical data, policy analysis and information on exemplary practices. For more information on the work of state arts agencies, visit nasaa-arts.org.
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.
Over the past seven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Virginia Commission for the Arts to host virtual application assistance workshop December 15, 2020 - 2 - 3:30 PM.
This virtual workshop will provide an overview of VCA's grant programs, information about Foundant (the online grant application system), updates to the Guidelines for Funding, and general tips on preparing competitive applications for consideration in FY22 (2021-2022).
All virtual VCA Meetings use Cisco Webex meeting service. You will need to create an account prior to accessing a virtual meeting, HERE. For more information about the meetings, contact the Commission: 804-225-3132 or arts@vca.virginia.gov.
For More Information about specific grant programs, contact the Program Coordinator, HERE.
Photo Credit: The Art Factory
Reminder of Changes to the Performing Arts Touring Program and Technical Assistance Grants
The Presenter Touring Assistance Grant deadline has been extended from December 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021.
VCA is allowing for flexibility on the four-week advance application deadline for presenters. Applications from presenters must now be received at least ONE week in advance with one payment in full once the final report is received.
In order to help hard-hit communities rebuild, the VCA has currently eliminated the 30-mile radius regulation (as was done for virtual performances) for live performances in FY21 (through June 15, 2021).
Technical Assistance grants will now be available to current FY21 VCA touring and teaching artists for equipment to record and present virtual performances.
For more information, please contact VCA Program Coordinator Cathy Welborn at Catherine.Welborn@vca.virginia.gov
