Hi all,
I'm planning to attend Machinal by Sophie Treadwell on March 18, and the Solo Mujeres Exhibition on March 23 (though that date is flexible.) Email me at watabayarea@gmail.com if you're interested in attending with me as a "WATA Field Trip"
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sólo Mujeres Exhibition at the Mission Cultural Center
The Sólo Mujeres (Women Only) exhibition runs February 20-March 27 at the Mission Cultural Center in San Francisco. Entitled "Future Landscapes Designed by Women," was currated by Patricia Rodriguez and includes:
Jenny Badger Sultan
Isabel Barbuzza
Bianca Ana Chavez
Maria Adela Diaz
Amy M Ho
Kate Leffler
Ana de Orbegoso
Alejandra Palos
Anastasia Winter Schipani
Marsha Shaw
Zahava Sherez
The Counter Narrative Project
Linda Vallejo
Michelle Waters
Anais Ye
The exhibit "expresses how women envision our times yet to come, what landscapes women are women designing and how women see themselves in these times of change. The exhibition will feature: installations, paintings, sculpture, mixed media, fiber art, and video."
Friday, February 20, 2009
New Arts Funding in San Francisco
How often do we see NEW organizations devoted to funding the arts in the Bay Area?
To that end, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of our new grants program to support dance, theater and film in the San Francisco Bay Area. 
Narrative Film Grants FOR FULL INFORMATION, CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE:
http://krfoundation.org/
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation seeks to further the memory of our founder and fulfill his vision of dramatically improving the human experience through collaborating with others with similar values to create the energy to make positive change. His vision was guided by the belief that improved quality of life is possible through innovation, inquiry, creativity and synergistic interactions.
To that end, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of our new grants program to support dance, theater and film in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dance & Theater Grants
The Foundation supports theaters, companies and service organizations that:
- Exhibit a strong passion for and commitment to the San Francisco Bay Area performing arts community
- Demonstrate a performance history in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Display artistic promise and vision
- Bring vital performances and programs to the public
Grants will be awarded in the spring and the fall of each year. The application period for the first grant cycle opened January 28, 2009. The first stage of the application process is a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) designed to take under an hour to complete online. The final date for LOI submission is February 23, 2009. On March 13, 2009, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Grant awards range in size from $5,000 - $50,000. Introductory grants will be project-based only.
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation, in partnership with The San Francisco Film Society, supports Bay Area filmmakers in the production of narrative features that through plot, character, theme and/or setting significantly explore human and civil rights, anti-discrimination, gender issues, sexual identity and other urgent social justice issues of our time.
http://krfoundation.org/
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
WATA Monthly Meeting Tonight at Koko Cocktails
Don't forget tonight is WATA's monthly meeting.We're meeting at Koko Cocktails on Van Ness at 7:30pm.
We're trying something different this month and instead of a formal agenda, WATA members are invited to come and just hang out for a bit. You're invited to get to know your fellow women artists.
See you there!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Second Annual International Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN)
Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN), a project of The Fund for Women Artists, will take place on the last Saturday of March. SWAN organizers invite all to participate in this holiday (March 28, 2009).
The goal of SWAN is to focuse attention on the work of women artists thereby "SWAN Day helps people imagine what the world might be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives."
How can you celebrate?
You can host or attend an event. Check out the SWAN website for information on how to participate.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Funding for Arts Restored to House Stimulus Package
Good news!
Many thanks to all those who wrote their congressman in support of the arts. And a special thank-you to those who've been advocating for the arts.
Today the House of Representatives voted 246 to 183 to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill includes $50 million in direct support for arts jobs through the National Endowment for the Arts and language that would have prevented museums, theaters, and arts centers from receiving stimulus funds was removed.
-Americans for the Arts
Many thanks to all those who wrote their congressman in support of the arts. And a special thank-you to those who've been advocating for the arts.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Why the Arts Matter
Like many artists I have a 9-5 job. I work in the philanthropy sector, which has given me some insight into how grantmakers think (especially those who give money to the arts). As the economic crisis has taken hold I have seen its affects on both the arts and philanthropic sector.
Like many artists I have seen what happens during lean times: the arts are first on the chopping block.
So I am very glad to see Jim Canales, the CEO of the James Irvine Foundation (a very big supporter of the arts), making the case for why the arts is an essential part of our communities and our economy.
Last week Jim wrote an article featured in the SF Chronicle. Here are some of the highlights (emphasis mine):
Like many artists I have seen what happens during lean times: the arts are first on the chopping block.
So I am very glad to see Jim Canales, the CEO of the James Irvine Foundation (a very big supporter of the arts), making the case for why the arts is an essential part of our communities and our economy.
Last week Jim wrote an article featured in the SF Chronicle. Here are some of the highlights (emphasis mine):
- In the Bay Area, the arts create more than 31,000 jobs and generate $1.2 billion in economic activity every year.
- The arts produce $105 million in local and state tax revenue for the Bay Area (far more than the government spends on the arts).
- Surveys report that 93 percent of parents believe that the arts are essential to a well-rounded education.
- Ten million new jobs in the next decade will be in the "creative class," according to economist Richard Florida. These are jobs that involve imagination and ingenuity which are best developed by experiencing the arts.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Prize for Female Theater Artists
SUBMISSIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR
2009 FRANCESCA PRIMUS PRIZE
Calling all female theatre artists: there?s still time to submit yourself
as a candidate for The Francesca Primus Prize. This annual $10,000 award
honors outstanding contributions to the American theater by an emerging
female theater artist, one who has not yet achieved national prominence.
Submissions for the 2009 award must be postmarked no later than Feb. 28,
2009.
Administered by the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA), the prize
is made possible through the generosity of the Francesca Ronnie Primus
Foundation, which honors the writer, critic, performer and dramaturg who
died at 42 of lung cancer in 1992.
Historically the award has been given to an outstanding female playwright,
but the committee also considers other significant female theater artists,
such as directors or artistic directors. The Primus Prize operates on an
open submission basis?an applicant may submit herself or be nominated by
another individual or organization. Letters of recommendation are helpful.
To qualify for consideration, a playwright must have had a fully staged,
professional production of her script within the calendar year 2008. For
other artists, there must also have been some significant achievement in the
calendar year. But in both cases, the committee will consider a body of work
going back several years.
A submission must be in the form of a portfolio of no more than 20
single-sided pages. It should include a letter recommending the candidate, a
synopsis of her body of work, and supporting materials sufficient to
familiarize the committee with her achievement, possibly including reviews
and/or a statement of the artist's philosophy. Playwrights should also
submit the script. If more than one play was produced in 2008, only one may
be submitted, but excerpts from others might be part of the portfolio.
Portfolios will not be returned.
Six copies of an applicant's entire portfolio?both portfolio and
script?along with an application fee of $25 (checks made payable to ATCA)
should be sent to ATCA, c/o Katie Burger, 773 Nebraska Ave. W., St. Paul, MN
55117 (phone 651-261-7804). Once again, the applications must be postmarked
no later than Feb. 28, 2009.
For further information, contact Primus Prize chair Barbara Bannon, Salt
Lake City, bbannon@xmission.com, or ATCA chair Chris Rawson, Pittsburgh,
crawson@post-gazette.com.
The winner will be announced at a national ATCA conference, with the
recipient notified in advance and funds provided so she can attend.
Previous Primus Winners
2008?EM (Ellen) Lewis, playwright, Heads
2007?Victoria Stewart, playwright, Hardball
2006?Karen Zacar?as, playwright, Mariela in the Desert, and founder/artistic
director, Young Playwrights? Theater, Washington, D.C.
2005?Michelle Hensley, artistic director, Ten Thousand Things Theatre
Company, Minneapolis, Minn.
2004?Lynn Nottage, playwright, Intimate Apparel
2003? no prize awarded during transition year
2002?Alexandra Cunningham, playwright, Pavane
2001?S. M. Shepard-Massat, playwright, Some Place Soft to Fall
2000?Brooke Berman, playwright, Playing House
1999?Melanie Marnich, playwright, Blur
1998?Brooke Berman, playwright, Wonderland
1997?Julia Jordan, playwright, Tatjana in Color
2009 FRANCESCA PRIMUS PRIZE
Calling all female theatre artists: there?s still time to submit yourself
as a candidate for The Francesca Primus Prize. This annual $10,000 award
honors outstanding contributions to the American theater by an emerging
female theater artist, one who has not yet achieved national prominence.
Submissions for the 2009 award must be postmarked no later than Feb. 28,
2009.
Administered by the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA), the prize
is made possible through the generosity of the Francesca Ronnie Primus
Foundation, which honors the writer, critic, performer and dramaturg who
died at 42 of lung cancer in 1992.
Historically the award has been given to an outstanding female playwright,
but the committee also considers other significant female theater artists,
such as directors or artistic directors. The Primus Prize operates on an
open submission basis?an applicant may submit herself or be nominated by
another individual or organization. Letters of recommendation are helpful.
To qualify for consideration, a playwright must have had a fully staged,
professional production of her script within the calendar year 2008. For
other artists, there must also have been some significant achievement in the
calendar year. But in both cases, the committee will consider a body of work
going back several years.
A submission must be in the form of a portfolio of no more than 20
single-sided pages. It should include a letter recommending the candidate, a
synopsis of her body of work, and supporting materials sufficient to
familiarize the committee with her achievement, possibly including reviews
and/or a statement of the artist's philosophy. Playwrights should also
submit the script. If more than one play was produced in 2008, only one may
be submitted, but excerpts from others might be part of the portfolio.
Portfolios will not be returned.
Six copies of an applicant's entire portfolio?both portfolio and
script?along with an application fee of $25 (checks made payable to ATCA)
should be sent to ATCA, c/o Katie Burger, 773 Nebraska Ave. W., St. Paul, MN
55117 (phone 651-261-7804). Once again, the applications must be postmarked
no later than Feb. 28, 2009.
For further information, contact Primus Prize chair Barbara Bannon, Salt
Lake City, bbannon@xmission.com, or ATCA chair Chris Rawson, Pittsburgh,
crawson@post-gazette.com.
The winner will be announced at a national ATCA conference, with the
recipient notified in advance and funds provided so she can attend.
Previous Primus Winners
2008?EM (Ellen) Lewis, playwright, Heads
2007?Victoria Stewart, playwright, Hardball
2006?Karen Zacar?as, playwright, Mariela in the Desert, and founder/artistic
director, Young Playwrights? Theater, Washington, D.C.
2005?Michelle Hensley, artistic director, Ten Thousand Things Theatre
Company, Minneapolis, Minn.
2004?Lynn Nottage, playwright, Intimate Apparel
2003? no prize awarded during transition year
2002?Alexandra Cunningham, playwright, Pavane
2001?S. M. Shepard-Massat, playwright, Some Place Soft to Fall
2000?Brooke Berman, playwright, Playing House
1999?Melanie Marnich, playwright, Blur
1998?Brooke Berman, playwright, Wonderland
1997?Julia Jordan, playwright, Tatjana in Color
Thursday, February 5, 2009
WATA Name Change
We've been wrestling with what exactly our acronym means (we like the acronym - but haven't ever quite found the right words to describe ourselves). Last night as we were planning our big Kick-Off event (tentatively scheduled for June - stay tuned for details!), one of our members suggested "Women Artists That Advocate" as a title. I like the sound of it. Thoughts?
A big WATA kudos to Primary Stages!
For highlighting three women playwrights this season:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/new-primary-stages-lineup-highlights-women-writers/?ref=theater
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/new-primary-stages-lineup-highlights-women-writers/?ref=theater
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Chantal Ackerman Film Series at SFMOMA Jan. 3 - Feb. 28
The SFMOMA film series presents the work of Chantal Ackerman, a Belgian film director and artist.
The film series will explore Ackerman's work in depth and runs January 3-February 28. Tickets are $5 for the general public and free to SFMOMA members. Learn more at the SFMOMA website.
Chantal Akerman crosses between the worlds of art and cinema, making video installations for galleries as well as films for theatrical release. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai de Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, her breakthrough work, observes a woman's domestic routines, slowly, patiently, and ultimately disturbingly. It exemplifies Akerman's ability to create intense psychological studies of everyday life. She is also highly attuned to the human experience of time, memory, and journeying, whether in relation to migration and political borders (News from Home, Histoiresd’Amérique) or coming of age (Saute ma ville; Je, tu, il, elle).
The film series will explore Ackerman's work in depth and runs January 3-February 28. Tickets are $5 for the general public and free to SFMOMA members. Learn more at the SFMOMA website.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ladies Only
How many arts organizations are out there that support women artists here in the Bay Area? Good question. So I’ve started searching on Google for organizations that focus on women artists in one form or fashion. Here’s the list so far:
Asian American Women’s Arts Association: AAWAA’s mission is to be a catalyst of change and empowerment for Asian American women artists in the visual, literary and media arts by offering thought-provoking projects and programs that challenge, inspire and interpret their work.
Brava! For Women in the Arts: Founded in 1986, Brava is committed to the artistic expression of women, people of color and youth. With extensive education programs and a new Artistic Director, Brava is poised to become even more of a powerhouse in theatre and the arts.
San Francisco Women Artists: San Francisco Women Artists is a non-profit organization dedicated to the furtherance of women in the visual fine arts. Since its inception in the late 1880's as a sketch club it has been in continuous operation. In 1924, then known as the Society of Women Artists, it evolved into today's San Francisco Women Artists.
San Francisco Women’s Film Festival: Established to address the under representation of women in the film and media industries, WFI's mission is to honor, showcase, and facilitate the creation of films that are directed or co-directed by women. We achieve our mission by supporting, promoting, exhibiting, and honoring the achievements and contributions of women in the world of cinema.
South Bay Area Women’s Caucus for Arts: The South Bay Area Women's Caucus for Art was established in 1989 as a local chapter of the national Women's Caucus for Art. SBAWCA strives to provide contacts and places to exhibit the artwork of their members.
The Fund for Women Artists: The Fund for Women Artists was founded on the belief that women artists have the power to change the way women are perceived in society. Working to ensure that women artists have full access to the financial and other resources they need to do this crucial work, The Fund for Women Artists focuses mainly on women in theatre, film, and video.
Obviously, this list is just the beginning. I’ll continue to work on expanding it.
Asian American Women’s Arts Association: AAWAA’s mission is to be a catalyst of change and empowerment for Asian American women artists in the visual, literary and media arts by offering thought-provoking projects and programs that challenge, inspire and interpret their work.
Brava! For Women in the Arts: Founded in 1986, Brava is committed to the artistic expression of women, people of color and youth. With extensive education programs and a new Artistic Director, Brava is poised to become even more of a powerhouse in theatre and the arts.
San Francisco Women Artists: San Francisco Women Artists is a non-profit organization dedicated to the furtherance of women in the visual fine arts. Since its inception in the late 1880's as a sketch club it has been in continuous operation. In 1924, then known as the Society of Women Artists, it evolved into today's San Francisco Women Artists.
San Francisco Women’s Film Festival: Established to address the under representation of women in the film and media industries, WFI's mission is to honor, showcase, and facilitate the creation of films that are directed or co-directed by women. We achieve our mission by supporting, promoting, exhibiting, and honoring the achievements and contributions of women in the world of cinema.
South Bay Area Women’s Caucus for Arts: The South Bay Area Women's Caucus for Art was established in 1989 as a local chapter of the national Women's Caucus for Art. SBAWCA strives to provide contacts and places to exhibit the artwork of their members.
The Fund for Women Artists: The Fund for Women Artists was founded on the belief that women artists have the power to change the way women are perceived in society. Working to ensure that women artists have full access to the financial and other resources they need to do this crucial work, The Fund for Women Artists focuses mainly on women in theatre, film, and video.
Obviously, this list is just the beginning. I’ll continue to work on expanding it.
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