OAC BOARD MEMBER HONORED
This fall, OAC Board member Martha MacDonell of Lima was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. Established in 1978 and administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame recognizes the outstanding contributions Ohio women have made to their state, nation and the world.
A founding member of the Council for the Arts of Greater Lima, MacDonell led programs that pioneered artist residencies in the schools and were influential in the development of an Arts Magnet School program designed to eliminate segregation and provide quality education. She also has worked to revitalize the central city of Lima and co-founded American House to recount the rich ethnic heritage of Lima, which includes African American, Greek, Irish, Italian and Macedonian cultures.
US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION CALLS FOR EMPHASIS ON MUSIC AND ARTS
In an interview that aired in August during VH1's Save The Music Report Card, a special program examining music education in the U.S., Secretary of Education Rod Paige discussed the importance of music and arts education. He voiced his concern over the prospect of cuts to music programs by public schools.
"I think music and the arts should be
considered core subjects in our nation's schools," said Paige.
"There is absolutely no conflict between the expansion of our fine
arts programs, our music programs and focus on other academic
programs." The Secretary's statement comes at a time when heavy
emphasis on improving math and reading scores in U.S. schools and proposed
mandatory testing for students has raised the concern that some public
school systems may drop music programs from their curriculum.
VH1 Save The Music, in partnership with like-minded organizations,
conducts awareness campaigns, musical instrument drives, and fundraising
events to help restore instrumental music programs. Since VH1 Save The
Music was created in 1997, more than $17 million worth of musical
instruments has been donated to 750 public schools in 70 cities, improving
the lives of more than 250,000 children. The Foundation's 10-year plan is
to bring music participation to one million children in public schools.
On July 1, 2001 Ohio Governor Bob Taft encouraged the citizens of Ohio to experience the cultural and artistic possibilities in the state by proclaiming July 2001July 2002 the YEAR OF THE ARTIST. During this time, the Ohio Arts Council will present a series of four Riffe Gallery exhibitions highlighting OAC Individual Artist Fellowship recipients as well as artists working in the OAC's Arts in Education and International programs. Paper Routes 2000, the first of these exhibitions, will be on view August 9 through October 7. An opening reception will be held August 9, 5 - 7 p.m.
Ron Kroutel, Outskirts, 60" x
90", oil on linen, 1999.
