MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Empty Bowl Fiesta
December 10 at 4pm, Seligmann Estate, 23 White Oak Dr. Sugar Loaf
Jointly sponsored by the Orange County Arts Council and Amity Arts Workshop Hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee have been catastrophic to the farm workers and their families. Donations to Farm Aid were not allocated to the farm workers – many of whom are presently out of work and are hungry. The food pantry at the Alamo Community center which serves several thousand farm workers each year is in desperate need of help. On December 10, there will be an “Empty Bowl Fiesta” with handmade bowls donated by local potters, soup and entertainment. Music will be provided by “Estamos Listos”, a local band featuring Marji Zintz and SalomanTrujillo. Please come with your family and enjoy an afternoon of music and delicious soup. Take home a beautiful handmade bowl. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Alamo. To volunteer or to donate bowls please call 845-651-1170. Suggested donation is $20 per person or less for a family – but come and give what you can.

Membership Appreciation Event
Friday, January 13, 6-8pm Sugar Loaf
We would like to celebrate and recognize our 2011 Members in an Appreciation Event on Friday, January 13 from 6-8pm (Snow Date January 20) at the Seligmann Studio, 23 White Oak Dr. in Sugar Loaf (OCAC offices).  This is an open and free event to all our Arts Council members and their guests.  Want to learn more about becoming a member?  Join us this evening and find out.  We thank of members for their support of the Arts Council over the last year and want to celebrate and recognize their involvement.  Members are encouraged to bring nonmembers with them as an introduction to the Arts Council.  Special discounts will apply to our members if their guests sign up as members that evening. Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

Creative Conversations
February 29, 2012 6-8pm Location TBA
What are Creative Conversations? Creative Conversations are local gatherings of engaged citizens in communities across the country and are part of a grassroots movement to elevate the profile of arts in America. Some of these local convenings have grown into cohesive, organized emerging leader networks, been the catalyst for the development of community wide cultural plans, and helped to shape local arts advocacy by connecting the cultural sector with the business community and political leadership. Our topic will be The Impact of Sculpture on the Community and all are invited to attend!

2012 O.C. Open Studio Tour Committee Meeting
Thursday, January 19, 6-7pm Sugar Loaf
We will be holding our first Open Studio Tour Committee Meeting at our offices (23 White Oak Dr. Sugar Loaf) on Thursday January 19 from 6-7pm.  We will be reviewing all of the feedback we have received concerning the 2011 Open Studio Tour-South and begin to gather suggestions for our next studio tour.  We are asking for individuals who are available and willing to help plan, organize and carry out the next tour to attend this meeting.  Please RSVP to jen@ocartscouncil.org if you are planning on attending.

2012 O. C. Dance Performance Committee Meeting
Friday, January 21, 5:30-6:30pm Sugar Loaf
We received wonderful feedback since our two Dance Forum meetings on how the Orange County Arts Council can work with the Dance Community to help promote, educate and inform individuals and businesses within our county on dance. The group came together with the ideas of putting together a collective performance of all dance studios, companies, individuals etc. in Orange County and we would like to proceed in getting a committee going to make this happen. We have planned a committee meeting for Friday, January 27 from 5:30-6:30 at our offices (23 White Oak Dr. Sugar Loaf) and all are invited and welcomed to attend. We are asking for individuals to attend who are available and willing to help plan, organize and carry out this performance. Please RSVP to jen@ocartscouncil.org if you plan on attending the January 27th meeting.

2012 Workshops and Networking Events
We are in the process of planning the Orange County Arts Council’s upcoming workshops and networking events for the 2012 year.  We would like to combine our workshops and networking events together with topics and issues beneficial to the community.   If you have an idea for small workshop or informational session you would like to have included in one of our events, please email jen@ocartscouncil.org or call our offices at 845-469-9168.

SPARK
Spring 2012 Place & Date TBA
Proposals for SPARK are now being accepted for our Spring event.  Proposals will be accepted from all individuals within the community wishing to request funds for an arts related project. Here’s how it works. Individuals will submit a brief description (500 words or less) of the project they wish to request funds. Attendees (those presenting proposals and those there to vote) pay $10 towards the SPARK fund for the evening.  Food and refreshments are served and time is given to network and socialize.  Proposals are distributed to the attendees and individuals are given 2-3 minutes to talk or give a presentation about their project. All those in attendance will then vote for their favorite project and the most votes receives the SPARK proceeds generated from the evening to assist with their project. Depending on how many people in attendance, determines the amount of money awarded.  Please submit proposals to jen@ocartscouncil.org.

2012 Tribute to Women of Achievement of Orange County
Nominations currently being excepted: Nomination Form Attached
For 19 years Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson and YWCA Orange County have honored women in Orange County who have made a difference in our community in their professional, personal or school based activities.  Eligible nominees will live, work or attend school in Orange County.  Nomination catergories include Art, Business, Health Care, Human Services, Public Service, Education, Women of the Future, and Volunteer Services. The nomination form has been attached to this email.  Deadline is December 23, 2011 (incorrect date on nomination form).

Call for Submission Orange County Artists: Elant
New Deadline: December 16- See attachment for additional information
ELANT at Goshen has received a modest grant which they will use to launch a year-long art series for both its residents and the local community in 2012. This series will include monthly art exhibits, performances, presentations and bi-monthly classes that complement each month’s theme. The series will strive to showcase a wide range of excellent Orange County artistic endeavors with diversity in theme, medium and execution. The Orange County Arts Council has agreed to act as their liaison in identifying interested artists and collecting proposals for ELANT’s Selection Committee to review. ELANT will make the decisions about which artists or arts organizations will participate based on the quality of proposal, how it connects with resident interests and abilities and ease of implementation. We are currently seeking artists working and/or residing in Orange County to submit proposals for consideration. Proposals may include (but are not limited to) ideas for musical performances, theatrical performances, poetry readings, writing workshops, pottery classes, visual art classes of any medium, and cultural heritage presentations. Elant is interested in featuring a different arts theme each month.

For more info on these events visit www.ocartscouncil.org