Naturally, it’s going to be a bit slow around the galleries this weekend, partly due to the holiday, and partly because everyone is scrambling to get their exhibits ready for the annual Art Basel Miami (and the many events leapfrogging off it nearby) next weekend, generally regarded as the most prestigious art fair in the country. Instead, let’s catch up on some art news this week. Don’t forget that most museums in town are open all weekend, including Thanksgiving.
We like the cut of Tyler Green’s jib over at Modern Art Notes. After the success of last year, he’s again picking a handful of art projects from DonorsChoose.org, a web site dedicated to funding microprojects in public schools. As Green points out, No Child Left Behind, among other things, has gutted art programming just about everywhere, but with projects that often cost less than a few hundred dollars to fund, DonorsChoose.org allows folks like you and me make a real difference with a couple bucks. The first project in the Modern Art Notes’ 2008 Drive got fully funded by readers barely 24 hours after he posted it Tuesday, so he’s posted a few more. I just threw in $50: anyone care to match it? Of course, donations are tax deductible.
The Cultural Development Corporation (which runs Flashpoint and the Source theater, among other things) just made an exciting announcement: they’re now running The Greater Washington Creative Communities Initiative (CCI). CCI gives sizeable grants to artists around the region and enough to help the artist pay for living and studio space, as well as the time to work. The artists are required to engage with underserved areas of the community, and also participate in a professional development program. We spoke with Program Manager Karyn Miller today, who told us the grant program is fully funded for two years and will fund around 8-10 artists. We’ll let you know more about CCI next spring when they start looking for artists.
Over at the Washington Project for the Arts, Kim Ward resigned this week from her position as Executive Director for the last six years. In her announcement, she notes that the WPA is in the “healthiest position the organization has held in over 20 years,” evidenced clearly when it split from the Corcoran last year. Ward is leaving to spend more time with her family, and will continue a relationship with the WPA through their Board of Trustees. No word yet on who will replace her.
Photo by Liliang
