Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads Partnership with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)

Joan's Blog. . . .

Grow your Arts and Cultural Organization -- Use the

Services of SCORE!

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Many arts organizations have experts in certain areas-- marketing, administration, and financial.  However, some of these arts and cultural groups and individual artists are not able to utilize such expertise because of their low budgets and small staffs.  This leaves some arts groups missing out on the knowledge and expertise that they need to be successful.  

 The national organization of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is an organization associated with the Small Business Administration of the US Government dedicated to the mission of assisting small businesses, one business at a time. The SCORE volunteers offer free and confidential individual counseling services as well as workshops on good business practices.  There are over 350 chapter located throughout the US; counselors are experienced in dealing with issues in both for-profit and non-profit businesses.

In the Hampton Roads area, there are  SCORE chapters  located in Norfolk, Hampton and Williamsburg.  For the location of the SCORE chapter  nearest you go to www.score.org.

The Williamsburg SCORE chapter will be presenting a workshop specifically for individual artists and for arts and cultural organizations in Hampton Roads on Wednesday, August 28 at the Charles Taylor Center in Hampton from 4-6:00.  This workshop will provide information on board development, marketing, finances and budgeting, and funding resources.  All attendees will go home with a copy of the arts business manual.  Registration for the conference can be completed by on the Cultural Alliance’s website, www.culturalli.org.  The deadline is August 23 to allow for an ample amount of materials to be available for all participants.

The Cultural Alliance is currently conducting its membership drive.  Join the Alliance today so that you can take advantage of all the programs and workshops and receive the special savings on programs for members.  Membership forms are on the www.culturalli.org website. 

 

GIVE KIDS AN ARTSY EXPERIENCE FOR THE SUMMER!

JOAN'S ART BLOG . . .

School’s out – Let's give our children their artsy experience!

What will your children do this summer?  

In earlier blogs, I talked about the benefits of the arts to children.  Hampton Roads offers a variety of art and arts educational experiences for children of all ages.  Depending on where their interests lie, there are classes in art, dance, music, theater, writing and, even in the sciences.  Children should not just stop learning because school is out.  The arts surround us every day and as parents, family members, and friends we all need to  help our children get personally involved in the arts.

I invite you to visit the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads’s website, www.culturalli.org, to view a list of the many summer camps, summer programs and activities offered by all the arts and cultural venues in our area.  There are not only camps for a week, at such places as the D’Art Center in Norfolk, MOCA in Virginia Beach, the Suffolk Museum or the Peninsula Fine Arts Center.  Additionally there are museums that offer daily art activities and special children projects that parents can drop in with their children and create a “make and take” project.  Theater summer programs are all over our area; dance and ballet classes, music camps and many individual artists hold summer classes at their studios.  Be sure to read the Thursday section of the Virginia Pilot each week to learn about new arts and cultural opportunities in which you and your children can participate.

Help your child to tap into his or her inner creative genes! Give your child something to talk about when they return to school and have to present their “what I did this summer” speech to their classmates!

 

www.culturalli.org

HONORING THE MILITARY WITH THE ARTS

Joan's Art Blog. . .

THE ARTS AND THE MILITARY

Today’s celebration of Memorial Day reminds me of the years when the entertainers used to go to the war zone and entertain the troops.  I remember Bob Hope, who for many years was the man on the frontline who took many singers and dancers with him to entertain the troops and give then a “taste of home” .  The arts community was on the forefront of being able to, for one brief night, make the soldiers forget the war, their problems and focus on some good music, skits, and dancing; they could sing along, shout, laugh and have a great moment to remember before they had to go back into the war zone!

I don’t hear much today about well known actors and performers going to the war zone, but we, as friends, relatives and neighbors of servicemen can remember to send our troops music, movies and other types of entertainment that they can enjoy when they do get a “moment” to stop and reflect. Let’s let them know that we appreciate the sacrifices they are making  to protect our country and send them something that reminds them that the arts community cares about them!   Visit the Cultural Alliance's website to learn about the many museums and events in the area that honor our military!

 www.culturalalli.org

Why was the Cultural Alliance of Hampton Roads started?

In 1976, the Metropolitan Arts Congress undertook and published a study to determine cultural needs in South Hampton Roads. Funded by the Norfolk Foundation, "Blueprint For A Rainbow" recommended that major cultural planning be undertaken involving Southside cultural institutions. In 1982, Peninsula cultural organizations were invited to participate and they accepted.

This led to a seven month planning process led by nationally known arts planner Ralph Burgard and involved Peninsula and Southside cities and cultural organizations. It was supervised by a citizen's planning committee of leaders from business, culture, education, local government, and public service, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Clarence Holland, former mayor of Virginia Beach. The final result of this process was the Cultural Action Plan.

The Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads was formed in 1983 by the merger of the Peninsula Council of the Arts and the Metropolitan Arts Congress to carry out the programs and recommendations of the Greater Hampton Roads Cultural Action Plan.

There are more than 350 arts & cultural organizations in Hampton Roads: world renowned museums, a premier opera company, a classical symphony and pops orchestra, a prominent regional performance theatre, an important ballet academy, many active community theaters, orchestras, dance troupes, choral groups, visual artists, art centers, galleries and individual artists in all disciplines that all make their home in the area from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach.

With such an active cultural community, there is a need to gather information, coordinate dates, and help make people more aware of the many cultural opportunities available in the area. With a variety of programs, the Alliance functions as a Chamber of Culture for the arts and cultural organizations, directly serving these organizations and the public in the Hampton Roads area.

The Cultural Alliance has played an active role in Hampton Roads' arts and cultural community through two decades and continues to carry out its mission, even at a time when national and state funding for arts and culture continues to be cut.