American College of the Building Arts is Launching “Sweet Sixteen” Campaign to Raise Money for Scholarships

Do you share a passion for well-made homes and buildings, structures that endure? Do you admire the people who build and maintain them? If you answered “yes” then you may want to learn about the American College of the Building Arts (ACBA): the only college in this country teaching old-world artisan skills at the same time providing a first-rate liberal arts education.

ACBA was established to solve a growing problem in building preservation that became evident in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo swept through Charleston, SC and severely damaged many of the city’s historic structures. Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and the citizens of Charleston sought to restore these buildings to their historic glory by using traditional building methods and materials. It was discovered that in spite of Charleston’s commitment to historic preservation, there were only a few local craftsmen trained and qualified for the task. The lack of master craftsmen is not unique to Charleston, as quality and design and craftsmanship training have been steadily declining throughout the nation.

ACBA is launching its first online marketing campaign, Sweet Sixteen, to increase awareness and support of the College. The goal is to reach 16,000 people within 16 days, while raising a minimum of $160,000 – just 10 bucks a person.

If you choose to support the College with your $10, please pass the Sweet Sixteen message to your network of family, friends, and associates with your appeal for everyone to do the same. . . this rapid multiplication of the Sweet Sixteen message should result in a little from a lot of people and it will make a big difference. The Sweet Sixteen deadline is March 3, 2010.

Tuition for an ACBA student is $19,000. There are many qualified young people across the country who cannot afford it. Each dollar raised helps to recruit more deserving students while it also helps to provide a first-rate liberal arts education.

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT AN ARTISAN!

SC Arts Commission Forum Coming to Charleston March 29, 2010

Please join the Charleston Arts Coalition at the Open Forum hosted by the South Carolina Arts Commission to contribute your vision for the future of the arts in our state!
North Charleston City Hall, Monday, March 29th 6:45 - 8 pm

From Charleston City Paper:
S.C. Arts Commission seeking public input on the arts
State of the Arts
by Christina Janke


The South Carolina Arts Commission wants to hear from you. They are holding seven forums across the state to get public feedback on the arts.

“We want to have the public say what they value in the arts in their community,” says Communications Director Milly Hough, who describes the forums as a sort of brainstorming session. “We want to hear what they want to see happen, what’s already there that they love ... Different communities bring in different values.”

They’re looking for ideas on what to put into their upcoming long-range plans that will span over the next 10 years, starting in 2011. Hough encourages everyone, not just artists, art educators, or media personnel, to come to these forums so there can be a more widespread idea of what people really want to see happen in the arts.

The first forum will be held at the Columbia Museum of Art on February 22. There will be one coming to the North Charleston City Hall on March 29. For more information, visit southcarolinaarts.com or call Milly Hough at (803) 734-8698.

Studio Space Available

Hi Artists and Friends, Please forward this on to anyone you think may be interested. Thanks!

Just wanted to let everybody know about a great new opportunity for studio space located downtown just off the crosstown at 656 King Street. Nic Roberts and his partner Lane are looking for artists to inhabit about 10 private studios and 10 communal studio memberships that are currently being laid out to fill a warehouse space on King Street next to the Center for Photography. Is you studio space too small, are you overpaying for it, or is it taking up too much room in your house? This is a great opportunity to become part of a community of artists in Charleston who want a space to work and to share their cool craft capabilities with others. The space, tentatively called Tivoli Studios, will be a center for exhibiting awesome artistic creations and abilities, as well as a place for a non-profit venture to introduce disadvantaged kids to the world of working as an artist. Participate as much or as little as you like, but to have a private studio or be a member of the communal one, you gotta be a believer. Green conscious, and progressive, and boasting an interior inspired by botanical gardens, this space will be used to host events of all kinds and is a great opportunity to get your product or art more foot traffic and interest than it might otherwise get. Once these studios go up, it will take no time at all for them to go like hot cakes. There will also be a second location for heavy duty, loud and messy arts! Reserve your studio today and be in business by the time the market starts back up! And they are affordable!!!!! Anyone who gets to be a part of Nic and Lane's vision will be lucky to call 656 King Street the home of their creative inspirations! Please contact Nic Roberts at 843-367-2524 or email him at nicrobertsusa@yahoo.com for more information.

--
Libby Ganong
Add Libb Designs
1A Wesson Ave
Charleston, SC, 29403
843.469.9123
www.addlibbdesigns.com

Charleston County Schools music students to perform in concert with world-renowned electric violinist Mark Wood!

International recording artist Mark Wood, one of the original members of the multiplatinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, is working to inspire young string players with “Electrify Your Strings,” his groundbreaking music education program. He and his band, the Mark Wood Experience, will perform in concert with music students from many Charleston County Schools on Friday, March 19th at 7:00.

Mark Wood is the owner and operator of Wood Violins, one of the largest electric violin manufacturing companies in the world. He studied under Maestro Leonard Bernstein, and is a Juilliard-trained violinist and Emmy-winning composer who has done string arrangements for Celine Dion and others. In addition to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, he has worked with Lenny Kravitz, Billy Joel, Everclear, and many others. The Mark Wood Experience includes other members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Mark will be performing with the students on his handcrafted 7-string fretted electric Viper violin. This exciting event will transform the student musicians into a full-fledged Rock Orchestra! The audience will be entertained by Mark’s original material, as well as his exciting arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Beatles, and more.

As part of this year’s “Electrify Your Strings” tour, Mark has been spending much of his time performing at schools all across the country, and has worked with orchestra directors to create more than 50 student rock orchestras. His music programs build on the strong foundation in classical music provided by the music teachers at each school he works with, creating a partnership with educators to create a learning experience for music students that can grow and evolve from year to year.

To prepare for this concert, Mark will be spending several days during the week leading up to the concert visiting schools all over Charleston County, performing for and rehearsing with students. The end of the week will include a full two-day workshop with the entire band. In these workshops, students learn improvisation, composition, and personal expression on their violins, violas, cellos and basses.

Utilizing Mark’s music arrangements that were sent to the district prior to this
visit, the music students will perform in a live concert, open to the public:

Friday, March 19 at 7:00PM
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
5001 Coliseum Dr
North Charleston, SC 29418

Tickets are $20 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased in advance at the coliseum ticket window, charged by phone at 1.800.745.3000, or purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information on “Electrify Your Strings,” please visit www.electrifyyourstrings.com.

To find out more about Mark Wood, please visit www.markwoodmusic.com.
The Viper electric violin is one of several electric instruments manufactured by Mark’s company Wood Violins – check them out at www.woodviolins.com.


Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Here is a link: CHARLESTON ALL STAR ROCK ORCHESTRA.

PLEASE consider sponsoring this event or connecting us with someone who would really value this kind of exposure to Fine Arts students and their families!

We welcome sponsors at all levels as well as artists, parents, students, fellow musicians, and Mark Wood fans to join us for an evening that will be "Electric"! Please have anyone you know that is interested in sponsoring this amazing event, please contact Zoe Roff at 937-6586.

Charleston Scene debuts March 11, 2010!!

Take 2 very worthwhile minutes of your time to learn about the new incarnation of Preview Magazine that will the the all-color, expanded, ultra-fabulous CHARLESTON SCENE!

Charleston Scene magazine promo number 1 from charleston scene on Vimeo.

"Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative 50 State Tour" in Charleston

Tuesday, February 23rd at 9 am, Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will visit Charleston, SC on his 50 state tour. This is a not to be missed opportunity for arts organizations and administrators across the country!

The "Arts in Crisis Tour" provides an opportunity for representatives of arts and cultural organizations to participate in two important tasks: engage in conversation with Michael Kaiser, one of the most respected arts leaders in the U.S., and execute the important lessons he has learned through past experiences. During the event, attendees will gain first-hand information and practical advice that is of particular interest to arts organizations seeking a new direction in order to survive or, at the least, remain sustainable.

Michael Kaiser has successfully restructured, reinvented and revitalized numerous well-known arts organizations by aggressively thinking outside of the proverbial box. His actions have successfully turned-around organizations on the brink of failure through the use of ten simple steps. Mr. Kaiser is the author of The Art of the Turnaround and initiated the "Arts in Crisis" program.

If your organization has experienced a decline in revenue, reduction in charitable contributions, decreased attendance, or all of the aforementioned, the information presented in the following programs will be extremely useful as you prepare for the challenge of a drastically different future. These programs will especially be helpful for members of non-profit boards.

EVENTS:
Book discussion and review
Saturday, February 13th, 2pm at City Gallery at Waterfront Park
Admission is free; RSVP at (843) 958-6484
Michael Kaiser's book The Art of the Turnaround is available for purchase at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King Street.

Discussion with Michael Kaiser
Tuesday, February 23rd, 8:30 am Registration/Coffee; 9-11 am Discussion
College of Charleston's Simons Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, 54 St Philip St
Admission is free; Advance reservations required; call The Charleston Concert Association at (843) 727-1216 or email CCAGrants@aol.coom

Networking Lunch
Tuesday, February 23rd, 12-1:30pm at City Gallery at Waterfront Park
Admission is free to attendees of the discussion; RSVP at (843) 958-6484

Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative is hosted in Charleston by the Charleston Concert Association in partnership with the South Carolina Arts Commission, the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, and College of Charleston School of the Arts