The 16th annual Midwest Arts Conference (MAC) will take place September 11-13 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Managed by Arts Midwest with assistance from Mid-America Arts Alliance, MAC is one of the largest booking and educational conferences for the performing arts in the United States. Registrations must be received by August 13, 2003. Registrations received by July 14 will receive a discount of $40 off the registration fee. A limited number of scholarships are available to presenters. For more information call 612/341-0755 or visit www.artsmidwest.org.

Festivals Directory Out of Stock
The OAC has distributed the entire stock of 2003 Arts Festivals and Competitions Directories. Due to the recent budget reductions from the state Legislature, the OAC does not have the financial resources to produce additional copies. An abridged version of the Arts Festivals and Competitions Directory is available online at www.oac.state.oh.us. Pending the outcome of the OAC's next two-year budget, we hope to continue to produce this directory for the 2004 and 2005 calendar years.

OPPORTUNITIES
The Wayne Center for the Arts in Wooster, Ohio, is seeking an Executive Director. The Executive Director oversees all programmatic, staff and fiscal matters. Send cover letter with resume and three references to: Executive Director Position Search Committee, Wayne Center for the Arts, PO Box 382, 237 South Walnut St., Wooster, OH 44691. FAX: 330/264-9314. No phone calls please.

The OAC is seeking nominations of qualified individuals to serve on advisory panels. Panelists will assist the Council Board by reviewing and making funding recommendations for applications submitted in various program areas. For a nomination form or more information, contact Julie Henahan at 614/466-2613. Nomination forms are also available on the OAC website, www.oac.state.oh.us. Nominations will be accepted until July 31, 2003.

deadlines

September 1

• Individual Artist Fellowships
  
  

panel meetings

August 6

• Appalachian Arts Program
  

June 4-5

• Minority Arts Program -
  Long Term Assistance

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STATE BUDGETS (Con't)

Cutting the arts is also counter-productive because the arts are part of economic recovery. The nonprofit arts industry generates billions of dollars in state and local tax revenues and state arts agencies advance both the immediate and long-term economic goals of states: job creation, an educated workforce, profitable businesses, quality of life, urban renewal and rural development. This fact has been documented by both the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices and the National Conference of State Legislatures.* When decision-makers are aware of the public benefits the arts provide and the strong support for government arts funding by citizens, they seek the means to sustain SAA programming.

*visit www.nga.org and www.ncsl.org/ programs/arts/arts.htm to access arts and economic development reports

Artists should think about writing a press release and to whom it might be sent well in advance of an exhibition. A press release should begin with the most important information followed by a statement or two about what makes this event newsworthy. For example, phrases such as "first time shown," "using a new technique," or "marking the anniversary of" help to make a story timely. From there, the press release should note where and when the exhibit will take place and mention the artist. The press release is often part of a press package, which consists of the news release, one or more photographs or slides of the work and information about the artist.

To whom this package should be sent is not always clear, so artists should be familiar with the media to which they are submitting material. A telephone call in advance might be helpful. Bourrelles' or Bacon's Media Guides, available in most public libraries' reference sections, will indicate names of editors and key reporters. Artists also should think not only about obvious reporters and editors but also those who might have a connection through another area. For example, there may be a women's editor who writes largely about women who are doing something noteworthy in one field or another.  

Press releases and other material should be sent to newspapers between two and six weeks prior to the event and to magazines no less than 6 months prior. Telephone calls should follow the expected receipt of the notice to make sure that it arrived and went to the appropriate person. 

Excerpted from The Business of Being an Artist, by Daniel Grant