UPDATE: I had posted an invitation to a reception for Yonkers Arts Inc. held at Sarah Lawrence College-- it turns out that it's a private reception, not open to the public. I apologize for any confusion. I assumed that it was open to the public.
The website will still be announced on October 15-- so continue to watch for that....
The rest of my post stands-- but I've taken down the invitation and contact information.
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Last year, I started attending meetings of Yonkers residents who wanted to start a Yonkers Arts Council that would support and nurture the arts in Yonkers. (In fact, this blog is a direct descendant of that first meeting, as I had just moved to Yonkers , but I realized didn't know the art scene here at all, and decided I'd better rectify that situation. My original vision is that this blog would be a personal prototype of the the kind of thing that the Yonkers Arts Council would do, with a really great Arts calendar, and a constantly updating website-- and that in addition they'd give out money, hold classes, and organize artist mixers.)
I went to a few meetings, and was pretty excited about it, but had to split from them for a couple of reasons:
1) I wanted to do everything right away-- start a website, start an arts calendar, start collecting names and money and opportunities, and start having artist parties. The bulk of the group wanted to wait and study the issues more.
2) After a few months, it became clear that the bulk of the group wanted to focus first on organizations, not on artists, and I thought they should focus first on artists, and organizations secondarily (and of course, by artists I mean everybody who creates, makes, or performs art-- it's the inclusive use of the word) My vision was a more grassroots approach. Anyway, I didn't want to impede the growth of the organization (or spend a lot of time and energy) by arguing.
3) I'm teaching on Mondays at the University of RI, directing a play in Fairfield, CT Tuesdays-Thursday and Sundays, and organizing Bright Night Providence (and performing shows) in my copious free time-- basically I didn't have the time to give.
(Ah the problem of being an artist)
I left on good terms, and wished them well. I'm happy to report that the Yonkers Arts Council (now called Yonkers Arts Inc) has moved forward. They are hosting a private reception (featuring the Mayor, and the Sarah Lawrence College President, and a presentation on why supporting the arts is important) This reception is NOT open to the public.
It should be an interesting evening, because when last I asked the Mayor about supporting the arts, he said that he didn't think the city should fund the arts because he didn't believe that the arts brought economic development-- he believed that economic development brought the arts. (which IMO is wrong) I know he has been a big supporter of this group-- Let's see if the election times and the esteemed professor change his mind.
Sadly, I won't be able to make the reception. So we'll just have to see how it goes.
The website for the new organization is http://www.yonkersarts.org
(Not working as of yet-- but check back with them)
I'm hoping that this will end up becoming a great arts council and organization that does lots of great stuff-- for organizations AND for artists.
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