The Newsboy Sculptor Spreads the News

Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon wrote a report on Best of Artists & Artisans about the great help that federal legislation called the Artist-Museum Partnership Act would give her as an artist. Sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) the legislation would allow artists like Bridgette to receive a tax deduction at the fair-market rate for works of art she donates to museums to be shown.  Currently artists can only received a tax deduction for the costs of the materials, while art collectors and others can receive the full sale price for their contributions.

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Add comment May 9th, 2008 at 10:16am nshoop


The Art of Google

The work of Americans for the Arts Artists Committee and renowned contemporary artist Jeff Koons is featured as today’s Google Doodle. It also marks the launch of the iGoogle Artists project, which allows users to customize their iGoogle homepages with original designs by artists from around the globe. Read more about the project here: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-art-thou.html.

Google’s webmaster, Dennis Hwang, is the artist behind the semi-regular designs that uses site’s logo to commemorate holidays, historic events, and famous birthdays. Business Week profiled Hwang in June: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_25/b4039088.htm.

Also coming up from Google is the announcement of the finalist in Doodle 4 Google design competition for K-12 students. Look for the winning design on May 22.

What would you choose as your Google doodle? Let us know in the comments.

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Add comment April 30th, 2008 at 10:46am Liz Bartolomeo


Knowledge + Creativity= Competitive Edge

Engaging the Arts for a Creative Workforce
Graduation season is now upon us and soon the job market will be replete with fresh eyed graduates, eager to apply the skills they learned in school to their first jobs.  After listening to speeches that troll the smorgasbord of opportunities available to them after they leave their alma mater, they will depart their schools convinced that they have been adequately prepared for success. 

But to what extent is this true?  Both the art and business communities have been buzzing with the claim that the workforce in the United States is far from where it needs to be creatively.  (more…)

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Add comment April 28th, 2008 at 09:00am Tsion Lencho


Economic Stimulus: Be Smart Invest in Art

Even though Congress is still working on the final details, an economic stimulus check from the federal government is likely coming your way in a few months. So if you are not going to deposit your check into your savings account or pay off that nagging debt, why not skip that new designer handbag, iPhone, or flat-screen TV, and put some of the money towards a proven economic revitalizer—the arts?

The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year and supports 5.7 million full-time jobs. The arts provide the key to community revitalization and economic development while still being true to their fundamental purpose: to delight, to inspire, to challenge, to educate. Investing in the arts attracts and retains creative professionals, and helps foster a vibrant environment that is vital to community culture, entertainment and a thriving economy. (more…)

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1 comment February 7th, 2008 at 04:36pm Liz Bartolomeo


Super Bowl Throwdown: Arts-Style

In a classic eposide of the 80’s sitcom Cheers, Diane tries her luck at betting on sports games. While Sam naturally uses athletic prowess when setting his wagers, Diane uses a different strategy—she makes her selections based upon the artistic strength of the team’s city. And she does really well. So, I’d like to apply this technique to Sunday’s Super Bowl XLII match up. Who is going to win this Boston/New York match up, arts-style? New York City might be the entertainment capital, but with Keith Lockard and Arthur Fielder in its dynasty, the Boston POPS benefits from both bold vision and deep traditions. Which city has the more innovative conductor? In terms of executive leadership, who would win a museum management challenge between the Director of the Musem of Fine Arts and The Metropolitan Museum of Art? If the first dancer of the Boston Ballet and the New York City ballet had a step-off, who would come out on top? And, how about going below the surface. Which city’s art scene is more “old school”? Which city provides better affordable housing for artists? Which city values public art more? Which city’s school system has the highest arts education scorecard? The prowess of a city extends farther than most people realize. So, who’s your pick and why?

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Add comment February 1st, 2008 at 03:56pm Rebecca Borden

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