2.13.95

Penny Boyer, Editor

1. •Clinton Budget Indicates Increase for Arts
   

2. •Marcos Unmasked as an Artist
   

3. •Mexican Troops Sent into Chiapas
   

4. •Jesse Jackson Speaks Out On Behalf of the Arts
   

5. •National Council on the Arts Nixes Urban Bush Women Piece
   

6. •Artists Advocate Art Across the Country
   

7. •Arts Advocacy Day
   

8. •Supported by Members of Congress
   

9. •Los Angeles County Study of the Impact of Artists Released
   

10. •Training Blends Art and Social Justice Techniques
    

11. •Other Arts Wire Announcements
    

12. •Upcoming Conferences, Seminars, Training
    

13. •Programs (Non-Electronic)
    

14. •Job Openings
    

15. •Arts Information Available
    

16. •Elsewhere on the Internet
    

17. •
    

CLINTON BUDGET INDICATES INCREASE FOR ARTS

President Clinton's proposed 1996 budget, announced last week, includes a $5.1 million increase for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). A similar increase is also proposed for the NEH. IMS would receive a $1.1 million increase. The administration's budget also proposes a 6% cut in CPB's budget, which would begin in FY98 (CPB is funded on a 3-year cycle). Initial reactions of congressional leadership to the administration's budget have been decidedly negative, indicating that the budget does not go far enough in cutting spending. Regarding the NEA in particular, Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH), who chairs the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee (with NEA oversight), is quoted by the Washington Post as saying "I don't believe they have caught on to the fact that we will be decreasing budgets, not increasing them." The Clinton FY '96 budget breakdown for the cultural agencies and CPB is as follows:

National Endowment for the Arts
$172.4 million

National Endowment for the Humanities
$182.0 million

Institute for Museum Services
$ 29.8 million

Corporation for Public Broadcasting
$296.4 million

MARCOS UNMASKED AS AN ARTIST; MEXICAN TROOPS SENT INTO CHIAPAS

The masked Subcomandante Marcos, leader of the Zapatista Army of the National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas, Mexico, was identified last week by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo as Rafael Sebastian Guillen Vicente, who was on born June 19, 1957, received a degree in philosophy from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1980, and taught graphic arts at a Xochimilco university from 1979-1984. The public identification of the "masked man," who has long been suspected of holding an arts and humanities background, comes a week after President Clinton agreed to make a $40 billion loan to Mexico in an emergency effort to ease their economy and just as President Zedillo unleashed 150 armed federal agents and 15 federal prosecutors to attempt the arrest of Zapatista leaders in Chiapas. Artists, cultural workers and activists in San Antonio, TX demonstrated at the Mexican Consulate there at noon on Friday, February 10th, the day after the Zedillo announcements, to demand withdrawal of Mexican troops from Chiapas, peaceful solutions to the indigenous peoples' problems, immediate peace negotiations, immediate cease fire and a moratoriumon the foreign debt. For more information, contact Chavel Lopez or Ruben Solis at the Southwest Workers' Union, P.O. Box 830706, San Antonio, TX 78283-0706 210-299-2666 fax/210-299-4009 or the Committee in Solidarity with the People of Mexico, 210-737-0161.

JESSE JACKSON SPEAKS OUT ON BEHALF OF THE ARTS

On January 26, 1995, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., President and Founder of the Rainbow Coalition, released a statement entitled "We Must Defend the Arts." The text parallels attacks on the arts with attacks against democracy suggesting that in totalitarian states during other decades of this century, artist voices have been repressed in the way that this country is currently repressing artists voices. He calls for a mobilized effort to protect funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and closes by concurring with a 14 year old quote from President Reagan that "our federal government bears a responsibility for encouraging and protecting the arts and humanities." Details available on Arts Wire

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE ARTS NIXES URBAN BUSH WOMEN PROJECT

The National Council on the Arts at its quarterly meeting last weekend rejected two grants in the category of Opera-Musical Theatre. One was for a project by Urban Bush Women, a New York City-based troupe whose work rooted in female African-American dance and musical traditions. The request was for support toward a new musical theatre work based on stories by Jewelle Gomez--a writer, teacher and former director of the Literature Program at the New York State Council on the Arts--about lesbian vampires. Details available on Arts Wire

ARTISTS ADVOCATE THE ARTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Artists in Nebraska met on February 4, 1995 to strategize arts advocacy efforts in light of the current crisis during a one-day conference at the University of Nebraska/Omaha. Ideas elicited included A Day Without Any Art At All (no movie rentals, TV sitcoms, radio music, CD purchases, clothing or jewelry; all architecture to be swathed in muslin; no plays or concerts of any kind; all art galleries, museums and parking lot starving artists sales to be closed), a March on Washington and slogans including "Work your 9 minutes for the arts" (which is what 64 cents works out to at minimum wage), "Clean out your couch for the arts," and "Everything you see that did not grow started out as a drawing."

On January 13, 1995, Buffalo (NY) writer Steven Owans and Brown University (Providence, RI) poet Jennifer Moxley initiated "Freely Espousing," a pro-active artist-initiated event in support of the NEA, NEH and CPB organized by local artists and activists all across the United States, by posting a notice on the Internet. Within 15 days of the post, rallies were organized in Providence, RI, New York City and Buffalo, NY, Washington, DC and San Diego and San Francisco, CA. Over 700 people collectively attended the events and over 1,000 letters to Congress were generated.Details available on Arts Wire

ARTS ADVOCACY DAY SUPPORTED BY CONGRESS MEMBERS

U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D) and Amo Houghton (R) have released a call to help save the NEA and America's commitment to its arts and culture on Tuesday, March 14, 1995: arts and culture "Advocacy Day." According to their statement released last week, on that day, "Americans from all walks of life will come to Washington to let their Members of Congress know why it is so important to save the NEA and continue our long- standing federal commitment to art, culture and the humanities. We would ask you to be a part of that day in Washington, and persuade others to come as well." Dial 1-800-862-1113 to sign up for the trip. Details available on Arts Wire

LOS ANGELES COUNTY STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ARTISTS RELEASED

The Los Angeles County Music and Performing Arts Commission has just released the results of the largest regional study made in the United States on the role individual artists play on a local economy. Over 8,000 surveys were mailed to members of the Screen Actors Guild, Musicians Union and to artists at large in Los Angeles County; over 2,000 responses were tabulated. Key points are summarized in the California Arts Council's state-wide economic impact study on the arts, "The Arts: A Competitive Advantage for California." Findings show that Los Angeles County artists earn above average incomes-- $38,200 in 1992-- and 53% of this income is derived from arts activities. Artists employ other people: 35% employ more than 10 other people to assist them at an average annual cost of $8,211 each. (The aggregate value of this spending is $1.2 billion annually in the county.) L.A. County artists also spend approximately $1 billion each year on supplies and other work-related needs. According to the study, 86% of artists vote, 50% actively work as volunteers, and 74% contribute to nonprofit charities. The Commission study further shows that artists are not a transitory group-- 59% have lived in Los Angeles County for more than ten years. The survey was made possible by support from the California Arts Council and the Los Angeles County Music and Performing Arts Commission, which administered survey design, implementation and reporting. Facts Consolidated provided consultant services on survey design and tabulated all data. For a complete copy of "The Arts: A Competitive Advantage for California" or for copies of the surveys used in these reports, call the California Arts Council at 800-201-6201. For more information on the Commission's study of individual artists, call 213-974-1343. Details available on Arts Wire

OTHER ARTS WIRE ANNOUNCEMENTS

The second "LIVE" VIRTUAL ARTISTS GROUP MEETING will take place on Thursday, February 16, 1995 at 10 PM EST in the Music Exploratorium of Diversity University. To get there, telnet to: "MOO.DU.ORG 8888" Log in by typing: "connect guest" Carriage return to the bottom of the page. Then type: "@go #6193" ALL ARE INVITED! Details available on Arts Wire

The Morino Institute, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to helping people improve their lives and communities through the use of interactive communications, has announced the pre-release of a new Directory of Public Access Networks. The Directory, which is planned for general release in May of this year, is an ongoing project to build a comprehensive catalogue of public access networking resources and make the information available for online access. The pre-release version of the Directory currently identifies over 200 public access networks. Descriptions of content, contact information and access instructions are included for a subset of these networks. Over the next several months the Institute will actively pursue collecting similar data for the remaining networks and continue searching for new networks to include. Anyone interested in the public access networking movement is encouraged to explore the Directory in its current form by accessing the Institute's World Wide Web page at http://www.morino.org or send electronic mail to feedback@morino.org.

WRO 95, the 5th International Sound Basis Visual Art Festival will be held May 3-7, 1995 in Wroclaw, Poland. WRO presents the artistic interpretation of new technologies and the decisions made in art in relation to new experience. WRO is also devoted to exploration of the aesthetic and technical potentials of the visual representation of sound in various fields of media art. Deadline for entries: March 8, 1995. Contact: WRO, PO Box 1385, 54-137 Wroclaw 16, Poland, tel./fax +71 448369. Details available on Arts Wire

UPCOMING CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, TRAINING PROGRAMS

(Non-Electronic) The Arts Extension Service (AES) will hold its annual Summer Program in Arts Management July 6, 7 & 8, 1995 in Amherst, Massachusetts: "Arts for a Change: A Social Action Agenda." The program fee of $295 covers text, handouts, and six meals. Inexpensive accommodations are available on campus. For information or to register, call 413-545-2360 or write for a brochure to the Arts Extension Service, 602 Goodell, Division of Continuing Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. FAX 413-545-3351 aesumass@tmn.com

"Art in the Expanded Field"--including sculpture, mixed-media, performance art, installation, site-specific and environmental art, photo/video and computer art--are the focus of this four-credit summer program in the Rocky Mountains sponsored by Arizona State University. The base of operations for the program is the Deep Creek School, an independent facility located in the San Juan mountains of Southwestern Colorado seven miles west of the town of Telluride, a thriving former "ghost town" that plays host to a wide range of arts programs and art-related festivals. The program will run for five weeks from May 29, 1995 through June 30, 1995. For further information, write to Prof. Dan Collins, School of Art, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1505 or call 602-965-8311; e-mail: iddlc@asuvm.inre.asu.edu

Visual Studies Workshop offers over 30 one-week Summer Workshops in Photography and Related Media, Macintosh Desktop Publishing, Photoshop and Multimedia, Artists' Books and Bookbinding, Film and Video Production, and Electronic Media. Seminars include Video History, Writing for Artists, and three new offerings concerning Media Education. Classes, limited to twelve students, are scheduled for six one-week sessions beginning July 3rd, 1995. All may be taken for graduate or undergraduate college credit through SUNY Brockport. For a catalog or to register, contact: Visual Studies Workshop, 31 Prince Street, Rochester, NY 10467 716-442-8676 FAX/716-442-1992.

A group of peace and social justice workers from across the country trained recently with Atlanta (GA) high school students to develop conflict resolution skills including methods of Brazilian artist Augusto Boal through a program called "Peace Troupe" sponsored by Rural Southern Voices for Peace. Peace Troupe continues to develop skills of nonviolent struggle for people in conflict. The next Peace Troupe workshop is scheduled in late July at Highlander Center near Knoxville, Tennessee. The focus will be: "Visuals, Music and Word." Videos documenting techniques are available. For further details, please send a self-addressed envelope to Workshop / Peace Troupe / 2650 Rock Creek Road / Burnsville NC 28714 troupe@tmn.com

JOB OPENINGS

HISTORIC PROGRAM SUPERVISOR/Wyoming State Museum (Cheyenne, WY) Class Code HA22, $2086/mo. Museum historian and research section supervisor. Bachelor's degree plus five years experience in history or related field. To apply contact Personnel Management Division, Wyoming Department of Commerce, Emerson Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002 307-777-7188, FAX/307-777-6562. Deadline: February 17, 1995, 5:00 pm.

MUSEUM CURATOR EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEERS/Wyoming State Museum (Cheyenne, WY) Curator II, Class Code HA 37, $1885/mo. Bachelor's degree plus three years experience in education, museology or related fields. To apply contact Personnel Management Division, Wyoming Department of Commerce, Emerson Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002 307-777-7188, FAX/307-777-6562. Deadline: February 17, 1995, 5:00 pm.

ARTS INFORMATION ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET

The University Laboratory High School Art Gallery features works created by teenagers enrolled in art over the past five years. The URL is: http://www.uni.uiuc.edu/departments/finearts/art/artspace/uniartspace.html The homepage for Uni High is: http://www.uni.uiuc.edu/and contains a variety of education-related resources including "THE BIG LIST" and "Around the World in 80 Nanoseconds..." For more information contact: Karen Hellyer, Art Teaching Associate, University High School, Urbana, Illinois. 217-333-2870

An email discussion list has been set up around the topic of John Cage. Following are the instructions for participation. To access prior discussions (via LYNX or your WWW browser) URL to: http://www.realtime.net/~jzitt/Cage/ "SILENCE: the John Cage discussion list" is for discussions of the music, philosophies, writings, art, life, influences and influence of the late John Cage. The list includes a wide range of members, ranging from those who have recently read or heard of him for the first time to experts on his work. It is not connected in any way with the John Cage estate. To subscribe in loose mail form, send a message to majordomo@bga.com with the text . To subscribe in digest form (sent out when the queued messages add up to about 30 KB), send a message to majordomo@bga.com with the text subscribe silence-digest. For further information, contact jzitt@humansystems.com

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