Arts Extension Service

12/30/2020

Artists and arts organizations, looking for an intern for your spring events and programs? Arts Extension Service has a spot for you at the Arts Entrepreneurship Initiative’s Spring 2021 Arts and Humanities Virtual Internship Fair! The fair will be on February 11, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Space is limited, so sign-up today: http://bit.ly/3rDBMOb

In collaboration with the College of Humanities & Fine Arts at UMass Amherst, Advising and Career Center, this fair is completely virtual and free.

12/29/2020

Fleur ‘23, a UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College student at is majoring in Theater & Psychology and she is pursuing an Arts Management Campus Certificate with Arts Extension Service. She wants to be someone who makes theater happen!

As part of her AES Arts Management campus certificate, Fleur has completed Introduction to Arts Management, Arts Programming, & Greening Your Arts Nonprofit. Next semester she will be taking Arts Marketing.

She says, “AES classes have been a lifeline to me in this time, and have really guided my development, both as a person & an artist. My professors have helped me to identify my own strengths & passions, and to see where they can take me; furthermore, the class format has exposed me to a variety of working professionals who have shown me the possibility and adaptability afforded by arts management careers.”

Interested in arts management? Check out our upcoming spring offerings. https://bit.ly/3p2K5Sb

12/28/2020

Call for Panelists – Mass Cultural Council

As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, the Mass Cultural Council has created a new process for broadening their pool of panelists. Learn more and register to be a potential panelist.

As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, we've created a new process for broadening our pool of panelists.

12/23/2020

We have new funding resources to share with you! Check out our website to see the full list: https://bit.ly/30nJz6J New resources include:

Virginia A. Groot Foundation offers three grants (up to $50,000, $20,000, $10,000) to artists who have exceptional talent and demonstrated ability in ceramic sculpture or sculpture. Deadline is February 1, 2020.

Elevate Initiative - Frontline Solutions & Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Up to ten grants of between $100,000 and $300,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to intersectional racial justice, and an ability to address economic disparities that affect Black and Brown workers as the result of structural racism. Deadline: January 11, 2021.

National Park Service - grants for historic properties
Applications are available for preservation projects of nationally significant historic properties and for projects involving collections. Deadline is January 26, 2021.

Mass Cultural Council Artist Fellowships applications in Crafts, Dramatic Writing, Film & Video, Music Composition, Photography, and Sculpture/Installation/New Genres are open. Deadline is February 8, 2021.

📷: Repost from the Virginia A. Groot Foundation, Entangled by artist Kate Clark. Kate was the 2013 third place #grootgrant recipient.

12/21/2020

Arts Extension Service student, Sara, who has taken Intro to Arts Management and Arts Programming, says, “I think anyone who is studying business, education, or the arts would benefit from AES classes, or even someone who just has a personal interest in the arts — even if it's just a class or two.”

Sara founded an arts camp that she coordinates with organizations such as Mission Adelante in Kansas City, Kansas. She reflects on the our nation in crisis and how it has impacted her vision for arts management, “At a time when inequality and white supremacy are soaring, collective opinion is born at monuments, museums, screens and stages — well before it’s confirmed at the ballot box". This statement really resonated with me and has inspired me to continue to look for ways to promote equity and inclusion in the arts, and it sums up my goals with the arts camps that I have coordinated for the immigrant and refugee youth in the past - I want them to be able to tell their stories through art, without disruption, so that others can absorb them.”

📷Photo courtesy of Sara. Some include images of C2C (Created to Create) Arts Camp that Sara coordinated.

12/17/2020

Students! Arts Entrepreneurship Initiative is offering an Arts Production Internship opportunity for the 2021 spring semester. Submit your application before January 2.

The Arts Entrepreneurship Initiative is a project of Arts Extension Service that builds the bridge between arts professionals and organizations with the UMass Amherst campus. Find out more about this internship and apply today:
https://www.umass.edu/aes/arts-extension-service-arts-production-internship-paid

12/14/2020

Meet Arts Extension Service student, Natalie ‘21. She is a double major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies & Communication at UMass Amherst.

She says, “Professionally, my concentration and focus is in education policy and K-12 education reform. I am personally passionate about reforming arts education policies and promoting the benefits of this discipline in terms of a child's development. Arts advocacy is a big part of arts management; I hope to work at an NGO or Think Tank that focuses on advocacy.”

After taking Intro to Arts Management, Arts Programming and Financial Management in the Arts, Natalie is looking forward to taking Arts Marketing & Arts Fundraising this coming spring semester. She mentions, “I would recommend that those who have a passion for the arts take these classes. We need passionate people to keep these sectors alive. AES courses are fascinating and help folks build their skillset and hone in on the next steps for students' desired careers.”

Are you passionate about making change happen through the arts like Natalie? Find out more about the AES’s spring semester courses. https://bit.ly/3p2K5Sb

12/11/2020

Today is Feature Friday, which means we have new resources to share with you! Check out our website to see the full list. https://bit.ly/30nJz6J

New resources include:

MAP Fund offers a 2021 Grant Cycle Selection process updated to reflect current challenges faced by performing artists. MAP will host a lottery-based grant selection, open to artists responsible for the overall execution of a performance project that was funded or advanced to the final two rounds of review in 2017-2020 grant cycles. $20,000 (project) and $5,000 (operating) grants available. Application opens January 4, 2021 and closes January 26, 2021.
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Don’t forget: Mass Cultural Council's Local Cultural Council grants are due December 14, 2020! Apply to a local Massachusetts cultural council for your arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences program or project. Each council awards money based on individual community cultural needs, assessed and set by council members.
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Internship opportunity with @moreartnyc (unpaid / For credit)
Interns work closely with More Art staff to produce innovative public art projects, cultural events, and educational programs. Internships are available for both students (undergraduate and graduate) and individuals who are interested in gaining more experience in public arts administration. https://moreart.org/get-involved/

12/09/2020

Smithsonian Archives of American Art Gathers an Oral History of 2020

"Beginning last spring, curators and oral historians from the archives conducted Zoom interviews with 85 artists to create the “Pandemic Oral History Project.” "

The archives took on a new challenge: preserving this moment of pandemic and protest for the future. Those interviewed include Mark Bradford, Ed Bereal and Sheila Hicks.

12/08/2020

Soon after professional ballet dancer, Madeleine Bonn, began her course of studies with Arts Extension Service, she landed her dream job as Artistic Director of Amherst Ballet. Little did she know she would be starting her career in arts management during a global pandemic.

We reached out to Madeleine to find out how she has thrived during this time, finding new ways to adapt and inspire creativity with career and through her own dance practice. Read the interview > https://bit.ly/39Kn9ly

12/07/2020

These Cities Have New Anthems for a Year of Pandemic and Protest

This new project shows how music can geographically bring people together! What would be the anthem of your city or town during this time of pandemic and protest?

"City Songs Collection from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, features a playlist of locally produced anthems spearheaded by the cities’ mayors."

From Louisville to Detroit to Chicago, listen to songs that reflect nine cities’ distinct cultures in a year of upheaval.

12/04/2020

Today is Feature Friday, which means we have new resources to share with you! Check out our website to see the full list. https://bit.ly/30nJz6J

New resources include:

Portland Artist Relief Fund
Artists in Portland, Maine may apply for a $500 cash stipend to help make ends meet due to cancelled work that was previously scheduled and/or lost.
https://creativeportland.com/Artist_Relief_Fund_Application

The Theater Offensive’s QTPOC Artists and Youth Relief Fund 2.0
TTO has established a fund to provide temporary financial assistance to Greater Boston's QTPOC performing artists and youth affected by the pandemic. A limited number of $250 grants will be awarded while resources are available. Applications will be reviewed biweekly. Support is being offered in two categories: Grants to QTPOC artists and Grants to TTO Youth. https://bit.ly/ttoqtpoc @thetheateroffensive

Internships - See AES internships listings
Arts Administration Internship, Kennedy Center, American College
During the 2021 Virtual Festival, Arts Administration interns may have the opportunity to take part in: specialized training on Aventri, the virtual event platform, festival social media campaigns, facilitating virtual Q&A, Acting as virtual “house managers”, assisting with the organization of Next Steps auditions and interviews and more. Applications due December 15

Get Girls Going - Virtual Program Development Intern
Get Girls Going is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers black teen girls to become entrepreneurs. GGG’s vision is to develop the future of business leaders in America through entrepreneurship education, mentorship, and social justice. https://www.getgirlsgoing.org/2020/10/25/virtual-program-development-intern/

12/03/2020

Now might be the perfect time for you to rise to the moment and explore creating your own artist-based business. Tap into your creativity and learn innovative skills that are critical to nonprofit and for-profit economies.

From creative visioning to budgeting, the Arts Extension Service’s Foundations in Arts Entrepreneurship course will guide artists and others to self-start their careers.

Registration is open for campus and online. Spring classes at @umass start February 1. Learn more about AES course offerings this spring. https://bit.ly/3p2K5Sb

12/03/2020

Arts Extension Service's cover photo

12/02/2020

Violet, who would like to tap further into the field of nonprofit management says, “Inspiration and creativity come from so many different sources in my life.”

A festival producer for the Boston Sci-Fi Fest, she sought out Arts Extension Service, deeming it a “a well respected program within the field.” Beginning with Introduction to Arts Management, Violet has continued her studies with AES’s Arts Programming course and is looking at Arts Marketing for her next class this coming spring.

She says, “I recommend the (AES) courses for anyone looking for an academic / philosophical structure to their professional work in the field and/or someone who is interested in starting in the field.”

Interested in nonprofit arts management? Check out our upcoming spring offerings > https://bit.ly/3p2K5Sb

#makeartshappen #artsmanagement #nonprofitmanagement #onlineclasses

11/30/2020

Like so many Arts Extension Service classes offered this spring, Grantwriting for the Arts teaches you the skills you need to help you in many careers. AES Instructor and Program Coordinator, Terre Parker explains, “The class is focused on grantwriting for arts and humanities nonprofit organizations, but the skills taught are broadly applicable to independent artists and nonprofits in other fields.”

Take your next steps to earn your Arts Management Campus Certificate and comprehensively learn about researching and writing winning grant proposals.

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Registration is open and spring classes at @umass start February 1. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3p2K5Sb

11/27/2020

Today is Feature Friday, which means we have new resources to share with you! Check out our website to see the full list. https://bit.ly/30nJz6J

New resources include:
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The Pioneers Assistance Fund provides financial aid to those who work in theatrical distribution, exhibition (i.e. a movie theater), or for a vendor exclusive to either sector for a minimum of five (5) recent years and have been furloughed, experienced reduced pay (50% or more), or laid off due to COVID-19. Available until funds are depleted.
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Red Bull Arts Microgrant Program: Two $1000 grants will be awarded each month to artists in the following 20 cities across the United States: Atlanta, Austin/San Antonio, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Hudson Valley (NY), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, Providence, St Louis, and the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St.Paul). The deadline is December 11.
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Assets for Artists will be providing selected participants with mini-grants to be used by the artist toward implementing their career plan. Grant amounts range from $500 - $2,000. Program will be available exclusively to artists of color. Applications are due January 17.

📷 Photo: Mural in Portland OR by artists Jaque Fragua and Spencer Keeton Cunningham repost from http://frenchspark.com/street-art/

11/26/2020

Do you ever wonder about the longevity of public art? A throwback somewhere between 200BC and 100BC — an image of a cat etched into the desert among Nazca Lines in Peru was found recently. The 120-foot-long feline geoglyph was cleaned and conserved by archaeologists showing a simple but gigantic doodle which appears to be a cat lounging. Drones have aided archaeologists to locate previously unknown geoglyphs like this one.

May this inspire you to create and bring your work into the public realm, it may inspire others in years to come!

Find out more here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/18/huge-cat-found-etched-desert-nazca-lines-peru

Photograph repost: Jhony Islas/AP

11/23/2020

Emilie had a hunch that her work would lead to arts management but it wasn’t until COVID hit that she decided to take AES classes.

“When the pandemic hit and I found myself with a lot more time on my hands, I decided to see what the Introduction course was like, and found myself loving being able to look at the field of arts management from the perspective of my experienced professors and my peers. Being able to understand best practices, while also discussing how various organizations may or may not follow those best practices, gives a really great outlook on the field as a whole. After the first course, I knew I wanted to continue towards the Professional Certificate. I would recommend these courses to people in the arts sector at any place, either as artists, staff, volunteers, or board members. The courses help to place your work in the broader context of the field and the case studies allow for real-world application to the lessons,” Emilie explained.

Emilie began with the Introduction to Arts Management course then she delved into Grantwriting for the Arts, Arts Programming, Cultural Equity in the Arts, and Financial Management in the Arts — all which have better prepared her for her dream job as an artistic director or director of education at a regional theater.

Are you interested in learning more about the business side of the arts? Enroll in our spring Introduction to Arts Management class. Visit our website to learn more. https://bit.ly/36ZHz73

11/20/2020

Today is Feature Friday, which means we have new resources to share with you! Check out our website to see the full list: https://bit.ly/30nJz6J

New resources include:

Theatre Communications Group and Thefrontoffice have partnered to create the Freelancers Relief Fund: Theatre Designers providing a limited number of rapid response grants of $1,000 each for scenic, lighting, costume, sound and projection designers who have had theatre employment within January 2019 - March 2020. The Freelancers Relief Fund online application portal will go live Monday, December 7 @ 2:00 p.m. EST.
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Early Music America (EMA) launched a relief fund, in partnership with Gotham Early Music Scene Scene, in response to the global health crisis impacting early musicians across America. Applications for the next round of mini grants will open on December 2, with funds released the very same day.
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The Big Read, offered in partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest, seeks to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Selected organizations receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support their NEA Big Read projects. Deadline: January 27, 2021.
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Plays for Young Artists and Audiences
Stage Partners allows you to read every play in their catalogue online. They also provide distant learning resources as well as live performances.
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Festivals and Filmmaking Education Grants
The Academy Grants program directly supports the overall mission of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: to recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, inspire imagination, and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures. Funding ranges from $5,000 - $25,000 for grants for screenings, educational programs in film, and new works by previously published individuals.
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Call for Dancers
Mark DeGarmo Dance is accepting applications to participate in its Virtual Salon Performance Series to showcase original artistic works-in-progress with a facilitated audience response portion. Student and professional dance artists are encouraged to apply. Deadline: December 3

📷 Featured images: A set of three cylinders by College of Humanities & Fine Arts at UMass Amherst Studio Arts major, Elise Marie Avolio.