Engaging New Audiences

I have this new habit. An overactive mind will do that to you.

I look at people while I'm out and about and wonder if they go to Opera Roanoke, Gallery 108, Jacksonville Center or Attic Productions.

I drive down Williamson Rd on my way into the office each day and the Roanoke Civic Center's marque says, "If you build it they will come." How can we increase the likelihood that new audiences (or existing audiences might venture to the "other side" and attend a play if they currently go to the opera) will attend an arts activity?

How do we engage audiences into our arts world? If we "build it" will they "come" not once or twice, but for years to come?

It's an age-old question and arts organizations have pondered it for years. It shows that we must continue to "build it so they will come" but must also ask the community what they want to see. (And also nudging them to step outside their comfort level.) I recently attended a meeting where the need for a cultural plan was discussed. Perhaps, as we ponder this, we can also include a community arts survey to determine the arts market (if you will). Are we "building it" but forgetting to engage the "home owners" in the project?

Let me know what you think.

Giving An Arts Experience

I've been piano-less since we moved east from Carson City, NV in 2001. As a milestone birthday approaches, I've been re-examining my life and what's really important to me. What did I discover? I really miss playing piano and the experiences that wash over me each time I "tinkle the ivories".

Note: I don't play very well at all. After almost ten (10) years without a piano, this fact has been compounded significantly. However, I can still plunk out "On A Clear Day" without too many sour notes.

By this time next week, I hope to have a new piano in my living room and as the New Year approaches, I'll be dusting off more of my old music and enjoying the experience of learning how to play and engaging myself in a creative endeavor.

A big thank you to Jim Hayden (Hayden's Music in Tanglewood Mall) for allowing me to try my hand at various pianos and educating me about the construction of pianos (They have more parts than a car!). With my purchase, I also receive FREE piano lessons and I can't wait to start. Yes, I'll even look forward to scales.

I realize this purchase is a slight diversion from Virginia GEMS (Give Experiences. Minimize Stuff.) www.myvirginiagems.com but I feel I'm still making a contribution to an experiential gift of art. Also, the piano lessons do count! (Although Hayden's provides you with 8 (eight) free lessons I know I'll need more.)

Consider an experiential gift of art, tickets to a play/concert, and yes, you can even give yourself a present. The rewards will be great; not just for you, but for your family and our local arts community.

Roanoke City Pride through the Arts

I try to read The Roanoke Times every day. I'm old fashioned and like my paper copy. So does my mom. (She lives with us in Elliston, VA.) She reads the paper first and I ask her to save articles for me; that is, those that are arts related. (Just in case I don't have time and miss some important news.)

I chastised her this weekend as I almost missed the article about The Taubman Museum of Art by Kevin Kittredge. The Taubman? Guess Again. (Saturday, December 12, 2009)

http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/229456

Kevin wrote about the Taubman Museum and invited readers to see comparisons to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. I encourage everyone to read Kevin's article. I teared up as I read it and felt a huge sense of pride about our arts community. We have a lot to celebrate even though times are incredibly tough.

Thank you Kevin for seeing the Taubman with "brand new - and in some ways, newly appreciative - eyes". Does every one need to go to Spain so they can come back with "new eyes"? Perhaps. But for now, ponder Kevin's reflections and see if you see our arts community with "new eyes" too.

Join us. The view really is spectacular!

Roanoke City Art Show

I'm very excited to blog today about the Roanoke City Art Show because it reminds me of the time that I was in the Juried Student Show at Radford University. Long story short, it was the first time I had ever been in a show and my work wasn't even that impressive - if you ask me. I had done a drawing of three fish changing into seaweed and guess what...I won the purchase award! Isn't that cool? So now my work is part of the permanent collection at Radford University and I even had the piece featured in my Exit Show.

But here I am blabbing on about myself when I should be telling you about the City Art Show! It's coming up this week - opening night is this THURSDAY the 1st. Be there - at Center in the Square - we're on the second floor - so now you know where...Well that answers the question of why I'm a poet and not a rapper.

Well I guess if I want you to attend, I'd better give you a little more info. As I said, the opening night is Thursday and the show will run October 2nd to November 8th. Gallery hours are 11 AM to 4 PM - and again, we're on the 2nd floor of Center in the Square. Look for our black and white City Art Show poster as well as our red and white Arts Council posters.

I hope to see you all there, I'll probably be the one with the camera!

Annual Meeting and The Count Down

Thanks to all of you who came out and supported us at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday night. We had a wonderful time seeing the Betty Branch exhibit and especially had fun listening to Carol Dalhouse talk about the Art Council's beginnings. While I was busy snapping photos, Ron B. was out in the audience, formulating what would later become a post on his blog. We really appreciate all you bloggers out there and all the work you do in the means of spreading the word. If you are a blogger and write about us sometime, be sure to email a link to me at msmith@theartscouncil.org.

For those of you who were not in attendance at the Annual Meeting SHAME on you.

...Just kidding. We prefer to look to the future rather than play fire and brimstone and we earnestly hope you'll join us for some of our upcoming events:

• 40+40 Fest will run October 1st to November 9 and will include innumerous events, shows, and other fun things to attend. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 40+40 booklet around town or download it here.
• Roanoke City Art Show - Opening night is October 1st and the show runs Thursday - Saturday 11am-4pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
• Run for the Arts - The race will begin on October 17 at 9 AM, quickly followed by the beginning of the walk at 9:15 AM. Make sure to register by October 7th to save $10 and recieve a t-shirt!

Be sure to visit our website for more information on how to register and get tickets for the Roanoke Arts Festival!

~Meagan Smith
Marketing Director
The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge

Roanoke Arts Festival

Hello you faithful readers!

First off, let me introduce myself for I am not the Laura Rawlings you know and love. My name is Meagan Smith and I am the new Marketing Director here at The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. I've worked here just over a month and have been given the task of really charging up our outreach. But enough about me! You're reading this to find out what great DEALS I have for YOU, right?

...Right. And what a great deal it is! Now I'm sure you all are fans of the 4040fest on Facebook or regular visitors to 4040fest.com and therefore already know what I'm talking about.

For the first week of October, you can purchase a Roanoke Arts Festival City Soul! ticket. At this point I'm sure you're expecting me to say what event the ticket is for - but that is where you would be mislead. This ticket not only gets you to one event, but 5! Not to mention the 1/2 price admission to The Taubman Museum of Art and other free events.

For only $57.50, you'll enjoy: Studio Roanoke Soul of the Studio, Southwest Va Ballet - Ties, Event Zone's Big Lick Blues Festival, Christian McBride at the Jefferson Center, and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's Opening Night. That's nothing to shake a stick at (I'm so bad with sayings, did I get it right?).

To purchase a ticket, pick up the phone and call 342-5790 ext 4 or visit our site.

Thanks for reading, hope to hear from you soon!

PS: Make sure to check us out in Mike Allen's blog!

Roanoke Police Department and The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge

The Star City Harbinger has posted an important story about an amazing example of how the arts and local law enforcement are working together through Roanoke Youth Arts Connection.

Roanoke Youth Arts Connections partners the Roanoke Police Department, The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, the City of Roanoke's Public Art Program, area youth and local artists. Youth, that might otherwise be engaged in disconstructive activities during the summer months, will be redirected (and employed so they're learning job/life skills) through mural activities. The first mural will be located in an interior wall of Center in the Square's parking garage on Campbell Ave.

I should have included information about Roanoke Youth Arts Connection in my commentary to The Roanoke Times about the "Must See TV" event and regret the ommission.

Thank you to Hank Bostwick for contacting me and for posting this story!

http://starcityharbinger.com/?p=6359