Nevada Arts Council - A Division of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs

CONGRESS VOTES $12.5 MILLION INCREASE FOR NEA

On October 29, Congress passed a $12.5 million funding increase for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the FY2010 Interior Appropriations bill.  President Obama is scheduled to sign this bill into law by October 31, a perfect way to conclude the National Arts and Humanities Month. The nation's two federal grant making cultural agencies will now each have budgets of $167.5 million, their highest funding levels in 16 years. With state and local governments cutting arts budgets across the country, this federal increase for the arts is a welcome infusion of funds. The FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 2996) was passed in the House by a vote of 247 -178 and in the Senate by a vote of 72-28.

With this vote, Congress again demonstrated its commitment to the arts as a fundamental element of our nation's core values and its economy. Please send a quick e-mail to your members of Congress now and let them know how important this increase is for Nevada’s arts industry, our communities and our schools.

CultureGrants Online^TM Workshops Scheduled

Learn about CultureGrants Online^TM, NAC's new application system for the FY2011 grant cycle, at free workshops during the third week of November. All locations are ‘hot,' so bring your laptops and your questions. We welcome walk-ins, but prefer that you register so we may better plan our presentations. Register with Rennie Brode at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 775.687.6680 or 702.486.3700.

•        Carson City
  November 16 - Nevada Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson Street, 9 - 12 or 1-4 p.m. 
•        Reno
  November 17 - Lake Mansion, 250 Court Street, 9 - 12 or 1-4 p.m. 
•        Henderson
  November 18 - 1 - 4 p.m., Henderson Convention Center, 200 Water Street 
•        Las Vegas
  November 19 - Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth Street, 9-12 or 1-4 p.m.

Many thanks to our co-sponsors: VSA Arts of Nevada, City of Las Vegas-Cultural Division,  City of Henderson Cultural Arts & Tourism and Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau.

and the governor's arts award goes to....

Help determine which of Nevada's distinguished artists, arts organizations, patrons, educators and administrators receive a 30th Annual Governor's Arts Awards.  Nominations are due on Monday, November 16, 2009. This is not a postmark deadline. For more information or a Nomination Form, click here. 

CALL FOR ARTISTS: GAA VISUAL ARTS COMMISSION

Submit your proposal for the 30th Annual Governor's Arts Award (GAA) Visual Arts Commission. The commission artist is awarded $3,500 to create seven original works of art (six pieces are presented to the GAA recipients during a public ceremony in Las Vegas in April 2010 and one is placed in the NAC permanent collection). For information and to download an application form click here. Postmark deadline: Friday, November 13, 2009.

30TH ANNUAL GOVERNOR’S ARTS AWARDS AND OASIS 2010 - APRIL 1 & 2, 2010

The Governor's Arts Awards and Oasis Conference were two casualties of NAC budget cuts for the biennium. The NAC Board launched a massive effort to restore these significant programs. Thanks to the support of a number of businesses and organizations, including Cirque du Soleil, Newmont Mining Corporation, NVEnergy, Metro Arts Council of Southern Nevada and the City of Las Vegas, the 30th Anniversary of the Governor's Arts Awards and the OASIS 2010 Conference will be held in Las Vegas, April 1 & 2, 2010. More to come, including information about professional development funding to attend these events.

REGISTER FOR POETRY OUT LOUD

Teacher registration for the Fifth Annual Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition (POL) is now open. High school aged students in public, private, charter or home schools in Nevada are eligible to compete in this exciting program, which culminates with the Nevada State Finals on March 13, 2010 in Reno. The Nevada State champion receives $1,000 and travels to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Finals for $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes.

OXS EXHIBIT FEATURES NEVADA ARTISTS

Artwork for the Nevada’s Governor’s Arts Awards Program is on display in the NAC Carson City office through November 20, 2009. Featuring pieces from the agency’s permanent collection that were commissioned for Governor’s Arts Awards recipients, the exhibit features work by Lynda Yuroff, Barbara & Larry Domsky, Paul Ford, Elaine Parks, Maria Arango, Sidne Teske, Joe Zuccarini, Gail Rappa, Michael Greenspan, Robert Beckmann, Joanne Vuillemot, Ben Parks, Elaine Jason, Tom Gilbertson, JoAnn Marinez, Tom Coleman, Mary Warner, Erik Laurtizen and Dennis Parks.