tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178974516650498392024-03-13T16:37:47.179-07:00Empower Arts BuffaloOur Mission: To get more people exposed and involved with the arts and cultural community of Western New York, and to collaborate on projects that empower and celebrate our wonderful community.Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-44405873774862789272011-06-22T13:04:00.000-07:002011-06-22T13:17:50.516-07:00Mark Poloncarz for Erie CountyMark Poloncarz is running against Chris Collins for Erie County Executive. He is a friend of the arts and cultural organizations. Let's support him as best we can! <br />
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<a href="http://markpoloncarz.com/">http://markpoloncarz.com/</a><br />
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Here is some video I shot of him at a WI Union Solidarity Rally in February. Who needs a megaphone, anyway? <br />
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<object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lip7R28VMUc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lip7R28VMUc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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-Bob Van ValinBob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-69991973527994643242011-04-19T06:11:00.000-07:002011-04-19T06:14:28.173-07:00Buffalo Common Council Hearing<h2><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">From The Gusto blog of the Buffalo news... </span></span></span><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><h2>Buffalo's Common Council gets an earful on the arts</h2> <div class="dateline" style=""><span class="dateline-text">April 18, 2011 - 9:10 PM | <a href="http://util.buffalo.com/comments/view.php?blogId=6a00d83451b85a69e2014e6109e868970c&headline=Buffalo%27s%20Common%20Council%20gets%20an%20earful%20on%20the%20arts&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.buffalonews.com%2Fgusto%2F2011%2F04%2Fbuffalos-common-council-gets-an-earful-on-the-arts.html&author=The%20Gusto%20Blog&isBlog=1" target="_blank">Comment</a></span></div> <p>Earlier this evening, many members of Buffalo's arts community gathered in the chambers of the Buffalo Common Council to make their case about the need for restoring city arts funding, which has been absent for more than a decade. The council already voted on a resolution authored by council member Michael LoCurto in support of allocating $300,000 for the Fund for the Arts (an alliance of local foundations), and council members expressed a hope that Mayor Byron Brown would include that funding in his budget.</p> <p>(If not, Common Council President David A. Franczyk said he thought it would be possible for the council add in that funding and to gather the six common council votes needed should Brown veto that decision. But it hasn't come to that yet. Council member Michael Kearns, for his part, suggested allocating the money outside of the current budget process, which would avoid political tussling among a council and mayor that generally prefer to work together on budget matters.)</p> <p>As has been typical of these meetings over the past several months, a wide range of cultural personalities made eloquent and forceful cases for investing public money in the arts. The usual suspects were there: <a href="http://www.hallwalls.org/" target="_self">Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center</a> Executive Director Edumund Cardoni, <a href="http://www.theatreofyouth.org/" target="_self">Theatre of Youth</a> Executive Director Meg Quinn, <a href="http://www.musicisart.org/" target="_self">Music Is Art</a> Executive Director Tod Kniazuk -- and they did their cause justice. But what set this meeting apart from some of the previous ones was the presence of a couple of impassioned and deeply informed younger voices who expressed what is becoming an increasing realization of Buffalo's very real potential to become a cultural center in the mold of Portland.</p> <p>Out of the hour of speeches, these two, by actor Megan Callahan and curator and artist Jeff Maciejewski, are the highlights:</p> <p> <object data="http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player_mp3.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="200" height="20"> <param name="movie" value="http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player_mp3.swf"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="FlashVars" value="mp3=http://buffalonews-video.s3.amazonaws.com/megancallahan.mp3&autoplay=0&showstop=1"> </object> <object data="http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player_mp3.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="200" height="20"> <param name="movie" value="http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player_mp3.swf"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="FlashVars" value="mp3=http://buffalonews-video.s3.amazonaws.com/jeffm.mp3&autoplay=0&showstop=1"> </object> </p> <p>Listen to the full slate of speakers, which together represent an incontrovertible case for funding the arts at a far greater level than they're funded today:</p> <p> <object data="http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player_mp3.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="200" height="20"> <param name="movie" value="http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player_mp3.swf"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="FlashVars" value="mp3=http://buffalonews-video.s3.amazonaws.com/meeting.mp3&autoplay=0&showstop=1"> </object> </p> <em>--Colin Dabkowsk</em>Megan Callahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656110637020593465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-14143072306989352942011-01-06T09:11:00.000-08:002011-01-06T09:11:01.241-08:00Agenda for 2011(this is crossposted from the Facebook Group) <br />
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Welcome to 2011 everyone, we have a lot to do this year! Here are a few things:<br />
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1) We need to coordinate a good time for weekly/biweekly/monthly meetings. I guess if they are less often we can coordinate it when the time comes, but I would rather it be a regular thing.<br />
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2) Bonnie Jean Taylor is now the head of the Flash Mob Subcommittee, and can work on brainstorming ideas for future flash mobs. Whoever is interested in joining the committee is welcome. Once they have ideas, they can bring them to meetings to be discussed by the whole group.<br />
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3) Megan and I want to being to plan the collaborative arts festival that inspired this group. Everyone is invited to share ideas and input about it. The description can be read if you click "See All" next to Members on this page, then scroll down.<br />
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4) We need to figure out more ways to expose people to the arts who might not otherwise. This is a pretty broad topic so keep it in the back of your minds.<br />
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5) Chris Collins is up for reelection this year I believe, so politics is going to be a huge factor this year. We need to figure out ways to be influential without becoming overtly political or a "special interest."<br />
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6) I need to keep the blog updated and promote it. That's more of a personal reminder that I wanted to write down so I don't forget.<br />
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Feel free to comment if you have anything to add or want to discuss any of these points. Let's get a discussion going! The sooner we act, the sooner we can get things done.<br />
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-Bob Van ValinBob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-46853038108079371162010-12-12T16:34:00.001-08:002010-12-13T09:21:41.037-08:00Call the Legislature!Ok, I have compiled the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of all the Republican legislators. Everyone, in the next 24 hours or so, call/text/email/tell as many people as you possibly can and urge them to call these legislators and tell them to stand with the people, and not with Collins, about arts funding. Make sure to remind them that the Erie County Comptroller has said that the approved budget WILL NOT raise taxes. If you are emailing someone asking them to call, link them to the petition, too: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/Save-The-Arts/<br />
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John J. Mills - Minority Leader<br />
Phone: 655-5650<br />
Fax: 858-8818<br />
Email: jmills13@erie.gov<br />
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Edward A. Rath III<br />
Tel: (716) 633-0617<br />
Fax: (716) 858-8818<br />
Email: edward.rath@erie.gov<br />
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Raymond W. Walter<br />
Tel: (716) 631-7650<br />
Fax: 716/858-8818<br />
Email: Raymond.Walter@erie.gov<br />
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Lynne Dixon<br />
Office Phone: 716/649-2640<br />
Office Fax: 716/858-8818<br />
County E-Mail – Lynne.Dixon@erie.gov<br />
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Dino Fudoli<br />
Phone: 716/601-3030<br />
Office Fax: 716/858-8818<br />
County E-Mail – Dino.Fudoli@erie.gov<br />
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Kevin Hardwick<br />
Office Phone: 716/873-3438<br />
Office Fax: 716/858-8818<br />
County E-Mail – Kevin.Hardwick@erie.gov<br />
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The phone # for Collins' office is 716-858-8500 and their email is countyexec@erie.gov. Call his office and tell his secretary that you support the budget that the legislature passed, and oppose a veto.<br />
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get the word out to as many people as you can!Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-82673065779238575852010-12-12T11:59:00.001-08:002010-12-12T11:59:47.378-08:00Sign this petition!n the next 48 hours, before the County Executive can freeze funds, let's get several thousands signatures and then we'll deliver to the Erie County Legislature in an effort to swing Republican votes to override Collin's veto, and continue to strengthen the Arts and Cultural community here in Western New York.<br />
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http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/Save-The-Arts/<br />
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Anyone and everyone who can, please sign this!Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-67343911911051904402010-12-01T12:30:00.001-08:002010-12-01T12:30:12.582-08:00Minutes from the Meeting 11/29/10<style>
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<div class="Body">Empower Arts Buffalo 11/29/2010</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Begin 7:35pm</div><div class="Body">End 10:00pm</div><div class="Body">Present: Megan , Bob, Jennifer, Jane, Katie, Lisa, Cassie, Cindy, Roger, Josie, Jim, Bonnie, Elizabeth</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><b>Agenda</b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Continue to talk about how to use technology and social networks to our advantage<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>facebook group vs. fan page, also our blog<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bob and Matt exchange (from facebook) having to do with ideas to put together concise handouts, petitions, etc. (bags of signatures to dump on the front steps i.e. miracle on 34th street); polling method to determine effects on local businesses; send thank you notes from artists to local commerce<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>what’s going on with the FLASH MOBS<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>form a mission statement/goals<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>structure of meetings?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>how can we get support from local businesses? create the awareness and get them involved personally.<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Remember, Legislation meets tomorrow at 1:15, meet at 1pm to show a big presence</div><div class="Body">300 people called Chris Collins office in one day!</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><b>Mission Statement and Goals/Objectives</b></div><div class="Body">For a starting point:</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>create art in response to what we are feeling as an arts community<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>raise awareness about the diversity of our arts culture<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>celebrate what is fantastic about this city, and use that to create art<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>inspire and engender responses that will affect current circumstances<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>what would it look like without our arts scene?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>use art as a catapult to unite everyone, and in the long term kick start the arts scene here to confirm that funding us is the best decision<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>cooperation between the arts scene and commerce, neighborhoods, cultural alliance?, attractions<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>bring art to the people and ignite them<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>remind people that art makes them happy, so they should seek it out<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>will we intentionally protect/sustain funding for the arts?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">how can we clarify our intentions so that we can be unified as a group?</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">make art and share it with people in order to inspire people to make more art</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Words</div><div class="Body">ignite, protect, empower, communicate, collaborate, community, </div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">art, community, policy/synergy</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">There can be a mission statement, and there can be a more accessible motto</div><div class="Body">we don’t have to decide this right now, but find more clarified intentions</div><div class="Body">it can also be a living mission statement, dynamic, and possible to change with the organization. we could have core values that support them. the mission statement will come. <b><i>When we go home, write core values, and email them to empowerartsbuffalo@gmail.com. and we will post them!!</i></b></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">nature and science are also very inspiring and powerful</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">once we get going...will we find other things to support? Will we come up with position on current events? If we collaborate, we can make great changes in our city and community</div><div class="Body">if we are ever empowering buffalo, Empower Arts can be there.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">People get excited about making the kind of change we are hoping to start. may all our voices be heard, so that art can become accessible and enriching to everyone.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">the flashmob will be great, but the cultural weekend/festival might be really awesome in the spring</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">we should make our mission statement ACTIVE. take ACTION. be more “aggressive” and make sure we are always actively involved. we can work more with groups that are already in existence. use our enthusiasm in a positive and active way! we care about this city, and we care about the arts...it is greater than any individual. we are serving the community, not any one individual. we lighten the world.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">keep a common goal of serving it up and staying light will keep egos in check.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">what can people do to help, when they want to help but don’t know everything about what’s going on. We should be able to guide them to what they are interested in, and we should also be able to direct people to where they can go to attain the kind of involvement that they want to have.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">to shine a light on the arts and arts community and interactively collaborate with the public the important role the arts play in our community and in our everyday lives</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Culture to the people, culture to the people, right on!</div><div class="Body">come up with a jingle/chant</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">what if we give our ideas to a subcommittee, and then discuss what the committees achieved?</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">People will take what we say very seriously, so we have to make sure we are clear, even while we keep our hearts light. Think before posting on the group, and have a monitor to look over the group to avoid being perceived negatively or jokes that don’t come across right</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">passion vs. intentionality; opposite opinions is great, but it is scary when we feel like we should all always agree.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><b><i>submit core values of why we are in this group over the next week, and a subcommittee will be evaluating them. what do you say to explain what Empower Arts Buffalo is?</i></b></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><b>Structure</b></div><div class="Body">whomever is at the meeting can be involved in votes/discussions. submissions can be sent in advance.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Can we find another time to meet, and another neutral place to meet?</div><div class="Body">Should we meet weekly? Will there be a rotation of members in attendance?</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Also, scheduling rehearsals and meeting about the flashmob? Should those things be together, or separate? Can the mission/values be done online, and face time devoted to flashmob planning?</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><b>Flashmob</b></div><div class="Body">there are lots of people who want to be involved, so what can we do to help people know what they need to do?</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">a brief instruction sheet to catch up anyone who can’t be at a rehearsal<b></b></div><div class="Body">it helps to have one or two people “go-to people” to check in with.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">if we have a map of the galleria, we should plot out where people will be, have stations “choreographed” out so that it is coordinated.</div><div class="Body">people in rehearsals can be the people you meet up with, leading the groups in different places.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">We are singing “Welcome Christmas” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. on a Saturday in the mall at noon. the lyrics are posted on the facebook group. everyone print them, and go to the link so they can listen to the song.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">facebook event can have everything in it. it can be private, but invite every person that we know.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">we are going to identify our name as a group, so we must have something that is representative of who and what we are. We could have countless profiles about why we are artists in buffalo.</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">but we DEFINITELY need what we are, who we are, and what we believe in.</div><div class="Body">empowerartsbuffalo.org</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Do we need funding to get that website started?</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><i>Dec 11 and Dec 18th at noon. What needs to be done by then:</i></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>web interfaces to have information about who we are, what we want to do<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>rehearsals with team/flash captains<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>appoint flash captains<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>check-in system and individual printing<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>make empower signs<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>facebook event with instructions (expected numbers)<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>people with flip cameras/etc to capture the event (video team)<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>alert the media to let them know so they can be there (media team)<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>we will do the same thing on the 18th in a different place (secondary target)<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>should we do a flash mob on the 4th at the tree lighting? at main and chippewa. around 530pm would be best.<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>what if we have petitions and/or survey people about artistic events they have attended? can we have something the unifies us?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>be magical and fun and quick! Rewrite a verse of a carol?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>sleep in a pile, with phone alarms set. get up, hold up signs, and leave singing the rewritten carol (but it must be beautiful!). “Wake up Buffalo, Support the Arts”<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Facebook event for the flashmob...should we keep this smaller? maybe let it be as much as it will be. let those lying down be smaller, teach everyone else the lyrics to the song!<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>we need to not disrupt people there at the tree lighting, and don’t be belligerent. do it before or after? how long before/after?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>rain contingency?<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span>•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>have a pillow or blanket, or stuffed animal...<span style="position: relative; top: 1pt;"></span></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">petition/bulletins on what we need to do to garner support for the arts</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><b><i>no boundaries to involvement</i></b></div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">make sure that “Wake up” isn’t inflammatory. “Wake up to the arts?” “Rise and Shine Buffalo?” encourage people to support the arts. “Wake up with the arts?” Empower yourself,<b><i> Empower Yourself: rise and shine with the arts.</i></b> </div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body"><br />
</div><div class="Body">Action Points:</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>minutes will be posted</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>email empowerartsbuffalo@gmail.com, core values which will be posted onto a document in the group</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Write lyrics for the carol for 12/4 and/or pick a song</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bonnie will create an event for 12/4, 12/11, 12/18</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bob and Matt will talk more about their conversation, and report back to the group in an addendum</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Website??</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>figure out who will make a sign for saturday</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>schedule rehearsals and/or a meeting to discuss it.</div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: 13pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span><span>9.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Meeting 12/4 Saturday at 1130 (yoga class at 10?) (Buffalo Yoga) before the flash mob. rehearsal for the 12/11 flash mob too.</div>Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-37244032595111371412010-11-29T13:45:00.000-08:002011-01-06T09:08:51.481-08:00Culture Counts in WNY Protest 10/25/10This is a short video I shot of the first protest against the arts funding cuts, figured this is a good place to post it.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nLtrJFMnIgg?fs=1" width="425"></iframe>Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-82488083897401135322010-11-24T17:13:00.001-08:002010-11-24T17:13:49.425-08:00Minutes from first meeting 11/22/10Minutes from Empower Arts Buffalo Open Space Meeting<br />
(submitted by Megan Callahan)<br />
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please send additions/revisions/corrections to callahan.megan@gmail.com<br />
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Attendance:<br />
Megan Callahan, Matthew Crane, Josie Divencenzo, Joe Donohue, Jennifer Fitzery, Elizabeth Oddy, Stan Klimecko, Joy Scime, James Robert Steiner, Bonnie Jean Taylor, Bob Van Valin,<br />
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Meeting start 7:45pn, end 10:00pm<br />
Location: Buffalo Yoga<br />
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Megan welcome everyone and explained “Open Space,” and the law of two feet principle.<br />
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The group formulated several questions to go into:<br />
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How to avoid Disunity?<br />
Is there leadership and are they reaching everyone?<br />
How do we get more people involved and what are our goals?<br />
Why does art matter?<br />
How do we go about planning and executing a magical and powerful flashmob?<br />
What are our intentions?<br />
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Discussion began as a whole group, but then broke off, in the style of open space, into one group discussing the Flashmob, and the other discussing leadership. After about a half hour, we returned to a joint discussion. The group continued to brainstorm and share about the flashmob and beyond until 10pm. People volunteered to do several tasks/research.<br />
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Two main ideas/talking points that kept emerging as a focal point for our efforts:<br />
-To raise awareness to the greater population of Western New York about the richness and diversity of cultural and artistic offerings.<br />
-Through this awareness, encourage the legislature and government to continue to support and nurture arts and culturals in the Greater Western New York area.<br />
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It came up several times as well, the importance of not being preachy or over-politicizing the issues at hand, but to enliven hearts, and promote unity and cross-collaboration. We discussed intentionality versus emotionality.<br />
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Joy mentioned that with the dissolution of the arts council, how inspiring it was to be around a grassroots group of actual artists talking about how to improve arts awareness in Buffalo.<br />
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Ideas<br />
Flyer/handbill to be put in all art venue playbills that patrons can fill out and drop in baskets upon leaving their venue/event showing their continued support of the arts. To be later distributed to appropriate members of the legislature.<br />
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Contact Buffalo publics schools – music/art/drama teachers and involve kids in letter campaign, etc in importance of arts education, programs and beyond.<br />
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Matt mentioned reaching out to church groups, as potential members of flash mob events, caroling, and advocacy.<br />
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Josie mentioned petitioning local businesses to raise awareness of the trickle down effect of culturals into dollars spent in the buffalo community.<br />
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The group felt we should start a blog or wordpress with url empowerartsbuffalo to reach beyond the facebook population.<br />
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We need a personal credo to keep our efforts focused and united, clarify to others our intentions, as well as a mission statement/vision.<br />
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The festival/event involving a huge cross-medium collaboration was mentioned, and suggested for the spring.<br />
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Flashmob locations still include the mall, sabers game between periods bus station.<br />
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Caroling in smaller groups door to door to bring people joy and raise awareness of the arts scene here, with potential flyering or petition at the end was brought up.<br />
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“support local arts: it does a body good” front of shirt… “empower arts buffalo” on the back.<br />
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Action<br />
Bob has a connection to Christine Baranski. It came up that using a celebrity would help bring exposure to the vibrant and rich arts community here in Buffalo.<br />
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Megan and Elizabeth are going to look into contacting sports figures in buffalo as potential art supporters/mouthpieces.<br />
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Those with contacts through press outlets were asked to reach out to them about our efforts.<br />
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Elizabeth will send out mission statement formula and those at the meeting and others are encouraged to submit their versions to empowerartsbuffalo@gmail.com.<br />
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Bob will make an event for the flashmob and send out. people can rsvp there and also email empowerartsbuffalo@gmail.com if interested.<br />
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Bonnie Jean is following up with her friend Scott who is in the Buffalo Philharmonic orchestra about their random act of culture and potential involvement with our flashmob.<br />
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Tenative flashmob dates are dec 11 and 18 at noon at the galleria mall, or one location one week, a different one the next. Bonnie Jean has suggested “welcome Christmas” from the grinch stole Christmas, with very simple movement- at the end participants hold up signs that say “empower arts buffalo” and then vanish, in proper flash mob style.Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17897451665049839.post-77876276894270649152010-11-24T17:10:00.001-08:002010-11-24T17:10:23.658-08:00Collaborative projectCALLING ALL ARTISTS<br />
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Angered over the proposed budget cuts? Feeling helpless and wondering what you can do?<br />
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COLLABORATION IS THE WORD!<br />
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Let's put our heads and hearts together to protest the cuts!<br />
Seeking artists from all disciplines to collaborate on a massive, multi-media installment celebrating our great community!<br />
Actors, Directors, Writers, Designers, Dancers, Choreographers, Painters, Photographers, Sculptors, Videographers, Media Artists, Musicians, and everyone in-between!<br />
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Looking for:<br />
Artists and concerned citizens of ALL types to participate in a one to three day arts event, date TBA. Event will include an installation with visual arts from all mediums, spoken word/essays/poetry/live music and a rotating performance schedule of 5-15 minute pieces: dance, theater, music, film, multi-media and collaborations that all speak to the following questions/ideas:<br />
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1) Envision Buffalo without its arts scene...<br />
2) What is Buffalo because of its arts scene?<br />
3) In your wildest imaginings, what could be the future of Buffalo and its artistic culture/community?<br />
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If you are interested in serving on the steering committee for this project, or have a proposal, or even a zygote of an idea for a piece, please email empowerartsbuffalo@gmail.com or leave a message here. <br />
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Please note that there are many levels of involvement possible here as well all dream together. We dream of a massive, empowering, celebratory artistic event that will create opportunities for further collaboration, dialogue and maybe even policy making. <br />
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We look forward to hearing from you!Bob Van Valinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909694480497398338noreply@blogger.com0