s.c. artists' ventures initiative e-news

In This Issue

Western York County Arts Initiative

South Arts Podcasts

Play with your City

FastTrac Creative Venture launches

YouTube Play

Funding Opportunities

Artists and neighbors form new coalition in York County
In the summer of 2009, a few artists, art supporters, and small business owners came together for a conversation about building awareness of the abundant creative talent in western York County, S.C. From that conversation was born the Western York County Arts Initiative, which blends business networking and creative sharing. We recommend learning more, either to get involved or to start something similar in your own community!

South Arts produces new podcasts

South Arts (formerly known as the Southern Arts Foundation) has a great series of podcasts for artists and arts organizations. They cover everything from emergency preparedness to financial planning and the creative process. Give it a listen!

Columbia Design League Launches Annual Public Art Competition

Play With Your City demonstrates that effective, engaging public art can be produced on a small budget and by all kinds of people, not just professional artists. Projects may be in any art form. Learn more about the opportunity.

Keep up with the Arts Commission online!

June 2010

There is power in numbers. The work of the Artists' Ventures Initiative hedges on power in numbers. We bring you together so that you may work together and draw ideas and strength from each other. We encourage you to take classes from folks in fields like accounting and marketing because extending your network - your numbers - provides you with support systems that aid and sustain your career. We operate this way so that, eventually, if need be, you can make a go without us.

However, thanks to a "number" of folks like you, we're real glad that you won't have to. Thank you all for writing and calling your friends, neighbors, and representatives in response to the governor's recent vetoes. You did a great job helping them understand how our work affects your work, your schools, and your community. The Senate returns on June 29 to complete their session to sustain or override the governor's vetoes. We're not out of the woods yet, and we encourage you to follow their discussion. To receive updates, visit the SCAA's information group on facebook.

Keep in touch!
Katie Fox signature

Midlands FastTrac launches FastTrac Creative Venture

Perfect for designers, architects, animators, filmmakers, and those starting new for-profit creative ventures, the great folks at Midlands FastTrac are launching FastTrac Creative Venture! The course begins July 10, and if you register two weeks in advance you can save $50 from the course price (regularly $195). Artists' Ventures is a partner in the course, so if you have questions about whether or not the course is right for you, give Katie a call at 803-734-8767. To register, call Mary Dickerson at 843-805-3089. For more information, visit the blog!

YouTube.com and the Guggenheim Museum Launch Open Contest for Media Arts

YouTube Play, a collaboration between the Guggenheim and the online video super-site, seeks to recognize and showcase the most remarkable video from around the world. We believe some of it is being created in South Carolina and hope you'll enter the YouTube Play arena!

Have you checked out these opportunities?

Chase Community Giving and Pepsi Refresh are two opportunities for non-profits to earn grant funding through popular vote. Voting is free, as is entering your own group's project idea. If you get involved, please let us know so that we can help you find votes.

The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. For more information, visit South Carolina Arts or call 803.734.8696.