Found this thought someone might be interested............................

ARTISTS & CRAFTERS NEEDED for 2009 Fall Arts & Crafts,,,, WITH 3rd season coming up welcomes Artists & crafters as well food Vendors,, Bands to Participate we are growing each and every year here in NW Arkansas.... Note this is not a big block building on a big paved parking lot... We are nearly a 100 year old farm rich with American Culture & heritage Utilize up to 56 acres of a 300 acre facility with 5 buildings,,, landscaping and fountains,, Oct.. 16th 17th & 18th 10am -5 daily.. Vendor space is limited to hand made Arts Crafts & Fine Arts as well Antiques Only.... www.oldorchardandfarm.com Vendors required to have event insurance and or liability.. Booth space range from $150 outside to $225 inside with discounts available for Multiple booths and or Groups..... 479-736-8200

The Arkansas Arts Council is inviting Arkansas artists to apply for FY 10 Individual Artist Fellowships.  Arkansas Arts Council artist fellowships are unconditional awards that recognize individual artistic ability. The three categories for this year are contemporary and traditional crafts, short stories and film and video.

Hank Kaminsky, Bethany Springer, and Michael Anderson were recipients  in 2008.

The Arts Council will award up to nine $4,000 fellowships in FY 10. The deadline for receiving applications is Friday, May 8, 2009.

To be eligible for fellowship awards, an artist must be at least 25 years of age and must have been an Arkansas resident for at least one year at the time of application. Previous fellowship recipients are not eligible to apply.

Historically, artists who have received fellowships demonstrate a career commitment to the art discipline for which they apply and have created a substantial body of work.

Fellowship applications are available online at

www.arkansasarts.org and directly from the Arts Council. For more information, contact Sally A. Williams, artist services manager, at (501) 324-9348, or via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

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Beth emailed this :

Meeting Notes: Planning Kickoff - March 4 / Mosaic Templar’s Cultural Center, Little Rock
Attending:  Cliff Baker, Ed Clifford, Patricia Cox, Carolyn Dowling, Joy Pennington, Bob Pest, Linda Pruitt, Rhonda Reeves, Warwick Sabin, Julie West
Overview - Arts Advocacy
The group discussed the goal of mainstreaming support for the arts instead of special interest advocacy, and the success of Americans for the Arts and the State Arts Action Network.
Establishing Arkansas’ Arts Advocacy Organization – Next Steps for Moving Forward
Timeline – operational and communicating before next legislative session
Mission – discussion tabled until Board is convened.
Membership Levels – reviewed membership levels of other state organizations: individual, arts organizations and other businesses and organizations.
Funding – along with membership fees, the group discussed the need to establish other funding sources for the organization such as event fees.
Board of Directors – discussed the types of individuals to be considered as Board members.  The following attributes or backgrounds were identified as desirable: knowledge of the arts business and management; arts organizations (balance majors and smaller groups); artists from each domain – visual, performing, etc.; arts educators; higher education; nonprofit board experience; arts patrons/supporters; public relations professionals; local or state officials; connections to donors; lobbying experience.  Representation from different areas of the state is important. The Board should have 15 members or less.  Group members asked to identify candidates for the Board.
Build advocacy website – need to do this soon and begin to build online content but will require funding.
File for Non-profit Status – will consult with another state arts organization to obtain sample of bylaws and articles of incorporation.
Action Steps
Identify 10 arts champions from your network – each member will identify 10 people to be arts champions. Potential Board members will be identified from this group.
Establish advisory group communication strategy – will establish blog or Facebook page where the group can post resources, documents and host discussions.
Will meet again in two weeks. Will email date, time and location. 

I received this invitation from Julie West, I plan on attending and hope maybe some of you guys will as well.  Rhonda

Please join us at the planning kick-off for the
Arkansas Art Advocacy Organization

Wednesday, March 4 from 1:30p – 3:00p
Mosaic Templar’s Cultural Center,
501 West 9th ~ at the corner of 9th and Broadway
Come and hear…
…what an arts advocacy organization will do for artists, arts organizations, arts patrons, 
schools, members of the creative economy workforce, the general public…ok, everyone!
…the success stories of both national and state-level advocacy!
…what you can do to celebrate and support the arts in Arkansas!

***Please RSVP to Julie West at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 501.416.8070.

The recent ice storms in Arkansas caused much damage throughout the state. Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) would like to remind any professional craft artist or art organization in Arkansas who may have been seriously affected by the recent ice storm that disaster relief assistance is still available from CERF.

CERF's programs include:

I am so thankful new CanvasJunkie member PepperPepper sent me this reminder!!!   Everyone please sign up and donate a piece or buy a ticket show support for this is a very worthy cause.

For artists: Call the Arkansas Foodbank Network to get an artist's consent form.  They need those filled out along with a bio by Monday. Bowls or donated art is not required till next week or two weeks. Call Sarah Cowan at 565-8121 ext 15 for more info. In lieu of donation, artist get ticket to the event.

Event Info:

Empty Bowls

t h e 7 t h A n n u a l
a r t a u c t i o n & c h a r i t y f u n d r a i s e r
benefiting the Arkansas
Foodbank Network

Thursday, March 19, 2009
6:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.