Princess Grace Foundation-USA Announces 2011 Princess Grace Awards Applications in Theater, Playwriting, Dance, Choreography & Film

“The Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) announces the availability of applications for the 2011 Princess Grace Awards in Theater, Playwriting, Dance Performance, Choreography, and Film. … Theater Awards are offered in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. Grants are awarded based on the quality of the emerging artist’s past work, his/her potential for future excellence, and the impact the collaboration between the nominating organization and the artist will have on the individual’s artistic growth. The Playwriting Award includes a residency at New Dramatists, Inc. and opportunity for the winning play to be licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc. ”

-Complete announcement here.

More details at The Princess Grace Foundation-USA

I recently came across this Houston Press article discussing changes local arts organizations should make. The suggestions were:

• The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art Resolves to Stop Producing the Art Car Parade [because it's too big, too costly and anyone can participate]
• Houston Grand Opera Resolves to Stop Patronizing Audiences [opting for cheaper tickets over innovative opera formats]
• The Alley Theatre Resolves to Cast More Local Actors [because they don't]

Here is my response:

I agree 100% on the Alley resolution. I would go so far as to recommend it be applied to all facets of many of the arts organizations in Houston. Seriously, take a look, how many are staffed (on stage, back stage, front of house, administration) primarily with people who were already here? Houston has such a wealth of talent, but so many of these orgs just don’t seem to see it. And when they do hire locally it’s quite often just the same (usually imported) people moving from one org to another. I know for a fact that there are more highly qualified people in the Greater Houston Area (both born and raised as well as came here of their own accord) than are currently being employed or even interviewed by Houston Area arts organizations. I would love to see their application pools, maybe local talent just doesn’t even try any more. And that’s a shame because who would care more about doing more for the arts in Houston than someone already invested in the city?

Pro-Tip for the opera: I have found (more than once) that if you buy less expensive tickets for a Thursday, they “upgrade” you to the Orchestra for free to make it look more filled in.

Personally, one of the appeals of the Art Car Parade is its everyman aura. So many of the original artists were just every day Joes and Janes that made something neat. When you say, “everyone and their dad (or school, business, non-profit) can make an “art car” and drive it in the event,” it makes you sound exclusionist. What’s the harm if a business wants to sponsor their employees in making an art car to boost morale? Last I looked (a couple years ago) businesses had very strict rules compared to the rest of us. Anyway, maybe the rules do need revamping and maybe the Orange Show should reassess how it produces the parade so that they do not loose money, and maybe artists need to get more creative and find new ways to make an art car that does not affect mileage.

Our good friends over at Frame have a big announcement:

“Frame Dance Productions announces its competition to select a piece of music for its upcoming evening-length premiere of Mortar, Sylphs Wrote. Its two-fold purpose is to offer outstanding emerging composers a forum for their recognition as well as an opportunity to collaborate with the dance performance company, Frame Dance Productions.”

details online here

In her new post, “The Road Not Taken”, Joelle Zigman, a student at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where she is pursuing a double degree in English and music composition, illustrates the many paths artists can take.

Know a child or teen who loves to dance? Enrollment for the Rice Summer Dance Camp for Kids is now open!

Summer Dance Camp (Ages 9 - 11)

The Rice Summer Dance Camp is a week of dancing and creative arts for ages 9-11.  Take classes in ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop dance technique.  Explore different styles of movement and creative dance.  Express your artistic side and learn how to make your own dances while working with experienced instructors.  Showcase your new moves during an in-studio performance on the final day of class.  Other activities include dance history, yoga, rhythm games and dance movie screenings.  Beginning to experienced level dancers welcome.

• July 12 - 16, 2010
• 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Summer Dance Workshop for Teens (Ages 12 - 16)

This workshop is designed for teens with a passion for dance.  Take classes in ballet, modern, contemporary jazz and hip hop dance techniques.  Put your ideas into motion as you learn how to make dances and express your creativity with improvisation.  The week culminates with an in-studio performance showcasing your choreography and performance.  Other workshop activities include dance history, journaling, yoga and dance movie screenings.  Beginning to experienced level dancers welcome.

• July 19 - 23, 2010
• 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

To register and for more information please visit the website.

There’s still time to submit to Aurora Picture Show’s annual Extremely Shorts Festival

Entrants may submit up to three titles. Each title must run three minutes or shorter including titles and credits. NO exceptions. All genres accepted and considered: experimental, animation, documentary, music video and narrative.

Guidelines for Entries:

Early deadline postmarked by April 30, 2010.

**Late deadline postmarked by May 10, 2010.**

Please read all the submission guidelines.

* Submissions must be postmarked by the specified deadline date.
* Entry fee is $15 per title for early deadline and **$20 per title for late deadline**. Aurora Picture Show members receive a voucher for one free entry.
* We give out cash awards for Audience Choice 1st ($200), 2nd ($150), and 3rd ($75) place. Awards are given on the 2nd night of the festival.
* All entries must include an Extremely Shorts Submission Form.

ALSO

AURORA BOOT CAMP: A Summer Filmmaking Experience for Kids

Each Summer, Aurora hosts filmmaking boot camps where youth can learn about film and video at Aurora Picture Show. As part of our Popcorn Kids programming, Aurora Boot Camps teach hands-on narrative and experimental techniques using digital video from professional filmmakers. Campers use the Aurora office and Menil neighborhood to develop, produce and edit their own short films. Working collaboratively on digital video projects, students are not only exposed to filmmaking techniques but also explore less traditional film and video.
Aurora offers three need-based scholarships to each camp.  For details and an application, please check out the Aurora Boot Camp Scholarship Fund. The Summer Boot Camps are made possible with support from Kinder Morgan Foundation and The Brown Foundation.

boot camp details…

more…

APPLICATION INFORMATION SESSION
Monday, May 10, 2010
5:30–6:30 PM

This workshop will introduce the Lawndale Artist Studio Program to prospective applicants, including a short presentation about the program and application guidelines, followed by a tour of the studio spaces and introduction to the current studio program participants. The workshop is optional for program applicants.

-via Lawndale email list

“The latest round of NEA grants for Access to Artistic Excellence, American Masterpieces, Arts on Radio and Television, Learning in the Arts for Children & Youth and Partnerships is out, and Texas visual arts orgs have got their share.”

..among the recipients are the following Houston Area organizations:

The Galveston Historical Foundation got $12,000 to support a symposium on the preservation of cast-iron storefronts.
The Houston Arts Alliance got $50,000 to identify, document, and present the varied folklife found in Houston.
Rice University, Houston, got $15,000 to support Explosion: East Asia Architecture Today.
Houston’s Spacetaker got $10,000 for its Artist Resource Center

Congratulations to everyone!
full article here

“An exciting fellowship is being offered in the summer of 2010 for Rice Undergraduates of any discipline. The program, The Engineering and Design for Art and Artifact Conservation Program, provides an opportunity to spend the summer working in a multi-disciplinary team applying the design process to a pressing problem in the art world. This program is a collaboration between the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, the Center for Civic Engagement, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership, Rice Alliance and the Museum of Fine Arts – Houston.”

further details at Engineering Design for Art and Artifact Conservation

Houston Fringe Festival Call for Entries

The Houston Fringe Festival is a four weekend event in which both emerging and established performers and companies from any city or country present artistic work at Frenetic Theater in Houston. The annual festival includes over 100 performers each year. Artists are paid for participation, and compete for the ‘Audience Favorite’ prize decided by audience votes for each program.

All proposed pieces should adhere to the mission of the Houston Fringe Festival:
To present daring and conceptually challenging performances that fit outside the mainstream of theatre, music, film or dance performed in the Houston area.

Entries Open: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Deadline for Applications: All applications must be received by Saturday May 1, 2010 at 5:00pm
Required Materials: Application, support materials, and $25 application fee

Mailing Address: Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation Blvd, Houston TX 77011

Notification of Acceptance: Saturday, May 15, 2010

For more information, please email info@freneticore.net or call 832.426.4624.