Arts Midwest

Jul. 02, 2008

Preparations for the Midwest Arts Conference are in full swing, and multiple deadlines are coming up fast. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a thing!

• Discount registration deadline — Register now before fees increase after July 9th. More…
• Independent showcase listing forms due — Get your listing forms in by July 14 to be included in the Program Book. More…
• Advertising reservations, artwork, and payments due — Your ad reservations, artwork, and payments must be in by July 16 in order to be included in the Program Book. More…

For full Conference details, visit the Conference home page.

Jun. 06, 2008

Arts Midwest coordinated First Lady Laura Bush’s visit to the Fayrouz Experimental Language School in Sharm al Sheikh, Egypt, on Sunday, May 18, 2008 to highlight and discuss The Big Read Egypt/U.S. with students and local officials. At the school Mrs. Bush met with Egyptian officials responsible for implementing The Big Read Egypt/U.S. initiative, Egyptian Minister of Education Dr. Yousry El Gamal, and U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey. The official White House Web site has some great photos from Mrs. Bush’s visit. Following a discussion with the school’s students about the importance of reading and an introductory question and answer session on the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Mrs. Bush addressed the World Economic Forum.

For more information…
The Big Read
First Lady Laura Bush’s remarks to the World Economic Forum

May. 14, 2008

Arts Midwest is excited to participate in A Passage to China, on Saturday, May 17, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Center Court of Southdale Mall in Edina, MN. A Passage to China is presented by The Chinese Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with China Insight. This family-oriented event will feature interactive games/activities from different regions of China, and will transport visitors aloft with sights and sounds of authentic music and dance, and aromas of regional cuisine.

May. 12, 2008

The Prairie Arts Management Institute (PAMI) is a yearly program facilitated by the South Dakota Arts Council that offers intensive professional development and practical training for small and mid-sized community arts organizations. The 2008 Institute takes place June 3-6 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. This year’s master class topics include: Animating Democracy: Creative Community Engagement; Strategic Planning for Cultural Organizations; and Public Policy and Your Organization. Limited scholarships are available. Find out more…

May. 07, 2008

An Da Union’s inaugural Midwestern tour has been a great success. The ensemble performed its last concert on April 26th in Spearfish, South Dakota, before returning to China. Workshop and concert audiences alike have been fascinated and touched by the spirit and energy of the ensemble and their music. As with all our tours, each week has included numerous school workshops and concerts, as well as many joyful connections and anecdotes that demonstrate the meaningful impact this program is having in our communities.

May. 01, 2008

Program associate Katherine Haugen recently attended Performing Arts Fund–supported events presented by two 2007–2008 grant recipients. April 27th featured the final concert in the University of Chicago’s residency with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Katherine also toured Mandel Hall, attended a post-concert reception, and met the staff of U of C Presents.

May. 01, 2008

The 2008 Conference registration brochure has been mailed and is now available online, along with a fill-in PDF version of the registration form. Register early to take advantage of discounted rates – check out the dates and deadlines for more information. If you are planning to purchase exhibit space in the Marketplace, remember to get your form in before the space assignment lottery registration deadline on June 4.

Apr. 23, 2008

Welcome to the new Arts Midwest Web site! On this News & Events page, Arts Midwest will provide periodic updates about our programs. You can check back regularly to see what’s new, or subscribe to our RSS feed to have updates sent directly to your feed reader.

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication,” and it is a way for Web sites to update you when they make changes or add new content.

If you want to learn more about RSS feeds and how they work, we recommend the Common Craft video RSS in Plain English.

Apr. 23, 2008

Arts Midwest staff members David Fraher and Adam Perry led a trip to Egypt with a group of 8 representatives from U.S. communities participating in The Big Read Egypt/U.S. The delegation explored Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt to learn about Egyptian Nobel Prize winning author Naguib Mahfouz and Egypt’s culture, traditions, and modern social dynamics. The group also met with their Egyptian counterparts in The Big Read Egypt/U.S. to plan cross-cultural programming and exchange activities, and was feted at a reception given by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Mar. 24, 2008

Arts Midwest has become the first arts organization to be named one of the Twin Cities’ “Best Places to Work” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Based on an examination of size, location, benefits, and employees’ opinions, Arts Midwest was selected from a group of 200 organizations to receive this award. The Business Journal highlighted the benefits received by Arts Midwest employees, as well as the stimulating and creative work environment.