CREATE…opportunities by becoming a member of the Arts Council! Members can have a page on our website, are highlighted monthly in our newsletter and mentioned on our Facebook page!

CONNECT…with other artists and arts appreciators at the Artist Salon, Thursday, March 28th from 7pm to 9pm; Bring art, bring friends, bring food…have fun! On the last Thursday of every month, join other like-minded creative people at the Artist Salon from 7pm to 9pm at the Seligmann Studio on 23 White Oak Drive in Sugar Loaf.

INSPIRE…high school students by encouraging them to attend our STARS (Students Together for Arts Recognition) get-together on Sunday, April 7 at 5pm. The STARS will share art and art experiences, meet established Orange County artists – and have pizza!

Both the Artist Salon and STARS events take place at the Seligmann Studio,
23 White Oak Drive in Sugar Loaf.

Orange County Arts Council now accepting nominations for the County Art Awards: Deadline May 10, 2013
The Orange County Arts Council Annual Art Awards continue to recognize living individuals, organizations, and corporations which have made outstanding contributions to the arts in our community. Recipients may include individual artists, arts patrons, volunteers, non-profit cultural organizations, and corporate patrons. Nominations should be based on artistic excellence, sustained contributions, unusual achievement, perseverance, and a deep commitment to the arts and the community. Recipients will be chosen by a Selection Panel appointed by the Arts Council. The Awards will be presented at a gala evening event in November – date and location to be determined.
Submission Deadline: 5:00p.m. Friday, May 10, 2013 at the offices of the Orange County Arts Council P.O. # 574, 26 White Oak Drive Sugar Loaf, New York 10981 Phone: 845-469-9168 • Fax: 845-469-3145

2013 All County Dance Celebration
Sunday, April 28, 2013 – 3pm – Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
The Orange County Arts Council is once again organizing its annual All County Dance Celebration.

Women of Valor:
Honoring our Women in Uniform, Past and Present
Friday, March 22, 2013 – Mount Saint Mary College – Desmond Campus
The Arts Council is working with Mount Saint Mary College, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, and Veteran Family Services Administration to help organize an empowering and educational event for any woman who has ever served in any branch of the military. This free conference will include sessions on art therapy, VA benefits, going back to school, interviewing, finance, legal issues and relaxation activities like yoga and zumba. If there are any artists or arts organizations that would like to have promotional information at this event OR if you know of any servicewomen who would like to attend, please contact the Arts Council at dawn@ocartscouncil.org.

Orange County NY Film Office
The Orange County Arts Council is developing a county-wide Film Office for the purposes of attracting film-makers to our county and to streamline the process of filming here. The Arts Council has held meetings with the New York State Film Commission, Silver Cup Productions and local film professionals to get this project off the ground. We are in the process of developing a new website for this office and need to include lots of photos of locations unique to Orange County.  We are looking for photos of interesting buildings, street scenes, farms, landscapes, historic houses, etc. to include in a photo library that can be shared with Film Location Managers. If you have any photos you would be willing to share with us for this purpose OR if you are willing to take some photos for us, please e-mail dawn@ocartscouncil.org. This is an important economic opportunity for the county and we appreciate your help.

Marketing Committee
If marketing is you thing, we need your input, please! This group will be discussing a new format for our eblast, website modifications, social media outlets and any other interesting marketing ideas. Contact Dawn at dawn@ocartscouncil.org or 469-9168 if you are interested.

Arts and Healthcare Summit
A county-wide Arts and Healthcare Summit at Orange Regional Medical Center is planned for Friday, May 31, 2013. An arts resource guide is being created that will be provided to all summit participants. If you are an artist who has worked in healthcare or offered workshops in healthcare environments, please contact Dawn at dawn@ocartscouncil.org.

Articles Needed!
Have interesting arts-related knowledge or stories to share? We will post what you send to us on our website homepage. Articles should be no longer than 500 words and can also include a picture. Send articles to dawn@ocartscouncil.org. Please note: we reserve the right to edit articles, as well as determine if and when any article will be posted.

Calls for Entries M&T Clothesline Festival
DEADLINE: Friday, March 22, 2013
A juried fine art and crafts festival held on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 7 & 8 and will showcase 400 artists residing in all counties of New York. A downloadable application is available HERE. For more information call the Memorial Art Gallery events office at 585-276-8950 or email clothesline@mag.rochester.edu.

Newburgh Free Library – Community Art Show
DEADLINE: Friday, March 29, 2013, 5pm
This non-juried art show is open to all adult artists in the greater Newburgh area and will run April 2 through April 26 in the Newburgh Free Library Lobby Gallery, 124 Grand St. A reception will be held on Sun., April 14 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to kick off National Library Week. Contact: Pat Lewis at plewis@rcls.org or 845-563-3619.