Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler invites the public to the City's annual Abraham Lincoln Birthday Celebration, which is expanding to five days in 2009 to mark President Lincoln's 200th birthday. "As the largest city in the world to be named for this beloved leader, Lincoln, Nebraska is proud to present '10 Score,' a once-in-a-lifetime festival," Beutler said.  More...

A Grant Information Session will be held at the Lincoln Arts Council, 920 O street, Lincoln, on January 21st at noon. This session will provide the following:

• An overview of the mission, goals, and funding sources of the NAC
• Accessibility requirements
• An overview of NAC grant categories, including both grants for organizations and individual artists
• A detailed study of the application process and grant review, including timelines,deadlines, and special opportunities
• Grant writing tips
• Brochures and other key materials to guide the grant program application process.

To sign up for the Nebraska Arts Council Information Session, contact Elaine Buescher at Elaine.Buescher@nebraska.gov.

Rain Barrel Project
The Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center and the City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division are joining teams to gear up for an Artistic Rain Barrel program and we need artists to creatively paint rain barrels. This is a great opportunity to showcase your talents to thousands of people and help promote environmentally friendly concepts. If you are interested in participating in this program, you can apply here, and learn more about the rain barrel program here.

Elsewhere Artist Collaborative
Elsewhere, an arts production site and experimental museum in downtown Greensboro, NC, is seeking artists, writers, and cultural producers for residencies during its spring, summer, and fall 2009 seasons. Artists live and work within transforming installations; these interactive environments become platforms for re-conceptualizing the theory and practice of art-making as an ongoing process of exchange in community.  The complete call for artists, residency brochure (PDF), and application deadlines are available at www.elsewhereelsewhere.org/residencies.html.  Email George Scheer, Collaborative Director, at residencies@elsewhereelsewhere.org for an application.

Lux Center for the Arts: First Annual Student Juried Art Show
Lux Center for the Arts is accepting entries for the First Annual Student Juried Art Show. High school students may submit up to four works of art in any medium. The entry fee is $5. All work must be ready for hanging and display. Work must be dropped off on Wednesday, March 25 or Thursday, March 26 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Work will be juried by Anne Pagel, curatorial assistant to the Duncan family. Awards will be given at the discretion of the juror and the exhibition sponsors. The exhibition will open on First Friday, April 3 at 5p.m. and be on display through April 25, 2009.  For more information, contact Jenni Brant, Education Director, at brant@luxcenter.org.

Modern Arts Midwest - "Intimate Surface"
For the month of January, Modern Arts Midwest is pleased to show "Intimate Surface" featuring porcelain work by Amy Smith and watercolor paintings by Charles Novich.  Amy Smith says "I love how Charles makes watercolor look effortless, his ease with the material and his treatment of skin is masterful.  In the same way, people respond to my work with words such as elegant and serene.  It reminds them of sand they say, and water.  Our work as one produces a subtle, poignant and ever-changing show: "Intimate Surface."
Also on exhibit is work by Kate Brooke, Nancy Childs, Larry Roots, Teresa Schmidt, and the Lincoln Arts Council's board president Joe Ruffo.  An opening reception for the artists will be held on Friday, January 2nd, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Haydon Art Center - "Introspection"
Visual Artists in Practice, a graduate student organization of the UNL visual arts program, will present a group exhibition at the Haydon Art Center, from January 8 - 31, 2009, with a Special opening reception held on  Friday, January 9, from 6 - 8pm.  Introduction of artists in attendance will take place at 7:00 p.m.
The exhibition was curated by Teliza Rodriguez, Curator of the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, NE: "All works seem to be quiet and persistent and an investigation of self, and form. I felt they all were observances, experiences, and personal discoveries, yet there was no proselytizing of a certain thought/agenda or an overbearing/heady conceptualization - a lot of personal investigation"
Participating artists are Aisha Harrison , Brian Drew , Carla Potter , Elisa Di Foe , Emily Newman, Jewel Noll , Sarah Blitz , Kelly Manning, Trudie Teijink, Ying Zhu , Josh Johnson, Shawn Kiehl, and Kayleigh Speck.

Phone 402-434-2787