GREATER COLUMBUS ARTS COUNCIL
RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD
The Greater Columbus Arts Council's Children of the Future Program received the 2003 Award for Excellence in Arts Programs for Youth on January 24 in Washington DC. The award, given by Americans for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors, honors leaders who have significantly advanced the arts on the national, state and local levels bringing national attention to the extraordinary contributions of those in public service. More than 500 mayors from across the country were present for the awards ceremony, a featured highlight of the Conference of Mayors' Winter meeting. Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman nominated GCAC for the award. For more information on the awards call 203/371-2830. For more information on GCAC's Children of the Future Program call 614/224-2606.

ART BRIDGES GAP BETWEEN INSIDE
AND OUTSIDE

The second phase of Inside/Outside: the Prison Project, an innovative project designed to help incarcerated women develop the skills and self-confidence needed to build healthy futures, was completed recently in Cincinnati. Contemporary Dance Theater, Intuition Theatre, Women Writing for (a) Change Foundation, visual artist Diane Debevec, and the Women's Prison Reform Advocacy Center partnered in the project, which was supported in part by an Ohio Arts Council grant.

The program was conceived when Seattle-based choreographer Pat Graney hosted workshops in Cincinnati to train artists to work with incarcerated individuals. After the two week training, a group of artists from the above-mentioned organizations participated in a residency at the River City Correctional Center in February 2001. The residency culminated in a public performance by River City inmates and program participants. Inspired by the experience, the group sought public and foundation money to support the continuation of the project, which became known as Inside/Outside. The program consists of workshops in writing, visual art, movement, and theater followed by a public performance. A diverse audience is invited to the performance to narrow the gap between those on the inside and those on the outside.

The workshops are designed to encourage inmates to deal with their issues while building self-esteem and developing confidence in their abilities. Of her Inside/Outside experience, one River City inmate said, "I have had a feeling inside of me I have never experienced. It's like a seed has been planted, and I will be the one to see it grow and blossom."

Inside/Outside is planning to broaden the network of participating artists for future collaborative sessions. For more information call 513/591-2557 or email jfrsonj@aol.com.

arts smarts

According to research, arts education nurtures important values, including team-building skills; respect for alternative points of view; and appreciation of different cultures and traditions. Research shows that young artists are more than four times as likely to perform community service than peers not involved in the arts.

PUBLIC ARTS (CON'T)

The CCA appropriated $79.1 million of their FY 2001 budget in grants, payments and awards. Of that total, $19.9 million was awarded to individual artists and $57.6 million to arts organizations.

Canadian support for the arts also is strong at the provincial level. In fiscal year 2001, per person spending by provincial arts agencies averaged $2.96, as compared to $1.31 per capita spent by state arts agencies in the U.S. Sources of revenue for provincial arts agencies mirror state arts agencies, with the bulk of revenue allocated from provincial governments. The provincial arts agencies also receive funds from the CCA, private sources and other government agencies.

Sources: Saskatchewan Arts Board, February 2001; Canada Council for the Arts. Per capita determined by dividing provincial population by total provincial arts agency appropriation. All Canadian dollars and aggregate amounts translated at July 2000 exchange rate of $1.00 U.S. = $1.48 Canadian for comparative purposes.