Artists' Pipeline #49 - September 15, 2005

Two musicians who have been blind since birth will bring their exceptional musical talents to the new Hopkins High School stage on Saturday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, and we encourage you to attend this benefit concert to help V S A arts of Minnesota and Young Audiences of Minnesota to present artist residencies and other collaborative arts programs at the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind in Faribault.

The concert will open with Lucy Sirianni, a 16-year-old vocalist from Saint Paul, who earlier this year won second place in the Joyce Walsh Young Artists' Competition, a national contest for teenage musicians with disabilities. As a result she performed at the National Federation of Music Clubs conference in Austin, Texas. Lucy will perform operatic repertoire, perhaps including some of the roles she has sung at the Ars Musica Summer Institute in Minneapolis, including Cleopatra in Handel's Giulio Cesare, Mozart’s Vitellia in La Clemenza di Tito, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro. Lucy plans to study music at a conservatory and major in vocal performance so that she can become a professional opera singer. She states, "I'm also interested in teaching voice. There is no question that I want to pursue music as a career!"

Tony DeBlois, an internationally touring pianist and vocalist from Massachusetts, started displaying exceptional musical talents early in his life, shortly after he was diagnosed with autism. He plays 20 instruments and has a repertoire of over 8,000 songs. Since graduating with honors from the Berklee College of Music in Boston he has led an improvisational jazz ensemble and performed solo shows internationally, including Ireland, Taiwan and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. His sixth CD, Some Kind of Genius, will come out in October, as will the book Some Kind of Genius: The Extraordinary Journey of Musical Savant Tony DeBlois (Rodale Books).

Benefit tickets can be purchased from V S A arts of Minnesota, 612-332-3888 (V/TTY), or Young Audiences of Minnesota, 651-292-3399, which can take credit card orders. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. $10 of each ticket is tax-deductible. If you are unable to attend but wish to support the arts programs at the Academy in Faribault, you can donate to either host organization.

Concert sponsors, including Schmitt Music, Vision Loss Resources and State Services for the Blind, enable the benefit to provide Braille programs, Audio Description and ASL interpreting. KARE-11 will feature the concert during its morning "Coffee with KARE" segment on Thursday, September 1 at approx. 5:20 a.m. and 6:20 a.m. KARE will also include a live segment with Tony on Saturday morning between 8:00 and 9:00.

Hopkins High School Auditorium is located at 2400 Lindbergh Drive in Minnetonka. From Highway 169 take the Cedar Lake Road exit (2 miles south of I-394), go west half a mile to Lindbergh Drive and turn right (north) to the school.

For more information go to Young Audiences of Minnesota (www.youngaudiencesofmn.org) or V S A arts of Minnesota - What's New (http://mn.vsarts.org/new.html).

Visual artists with disabilities in Minnesota are encouraged to participate in V S A arts of Minnesota’s newly-designed Gallery Pages on its website. A new portion of the website is being designed to include images of artworks, information about each artwork (title, description, medium, dimension, value), biographical information about each artist, and preferred contact info about the artists (individual’s website, phone, email, gallery, etc.). The Gallery Pages will feature past winners of Artist Recognition Grants as well as other visual artists. Plans are eventually to include writers, performance artists, videographers, and other artists once the visual art portion is uploaded.

The Gallery will state that artworks are copyrighted, and that the images are owned by the artists. The hope is that art buyers and galleries can look at a selection of work by each artist for consideration in their buying or future exhibits.

To participate, send us the following:

• Short Biography about yourself as an artist (we can edit to fit), your preferred contact info, such as address, phone number, email, and an artist’s website if available.
• Artwork, plus the title of each, a short description of each artwork, dimension (size), medium, and value (cost) if artwork is for sale. The following formats are preferred: JPEG, TIFF, or Photoshop. The file size for one image should not exceed 1 megabyte. Slides and prints are also acceptable; please include return postage.

Send information and images to V S A arts of Minnesota, 528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 305, Minneapolis, MN 55403; jon@vsaartsmn.org. For more information: 612-332-3888 ext. 2 or 800-801-3888 Voice/TTY.

The next Artists With Disabilities Alliance (AWDA) meeting is Tuesday, September 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Pillsbury Neighborhood Center, 3501 Chicago Avenue S., Minneapolis. (PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE). You are invited to share news, thoughts or samples of your current art projects, workshop ideas, outings or "what I did this summer." The evening’s facilitator, Tony Wentersdorf, will lead a Journal Writing exercise, so bring a pad of paper and pen and share if you wish. For more info, contact Tony at 612-872-0233.

If you are interested in participating with AWDA in the Saint Paul Art Crawl (October 14-15) as a visual or performing artist, come to this meeting or contact James Livingston, 612-721-9284 or email james_livinn_less_laps@hotmail.com.Springboard for the Arts, 308 Prince St. #270, will host a gallery show for about 5 visual artists, so please bring a sample of your visual art on the 20th. Zeitgeist, 275 E. 4th St., will host performers (music, poetry, reading, etc.) Sat. 1-6. Piano, microphone and amplifier (guitar or keyboard) are available. However, Zeitgeist is accessible only via several steps, so the group may discuss that aspect. Rental cost is $50.

Volunteers wanted to help with signage and spelling relief for artists or performers.

Please do not wear fragrances to AWDA meetings. For more information: V S A arts of Minnesota: 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883 ext. 4 or 2, voice/tty; V S A arts of Minnesota - What's New or go to the Artists With Disabilities Alliance website (www.Angelfire.com/mn3/awda).

V S A arts recently announced its 2005 National Awards for Excellence and Dedication to Service. V S A arts of Minnesota won the award in the Professional Development category for its work in Careers in the Arts Workshops, Teacher & Artist Training, Artists’ Pipeline and other activities. Other awards included excellence in Leadership, Community Partners, Education Programming, Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services, Public Awareness and Outreach, Organizational Management, and service awards for staff of 10, 15 or more years’ duration.

The Bloomington Art Center will hold an open house on Saturday, September 17, 2:00-4:00. It includes demonstrations, hands-on activities for kids, refreshments, discounts on fall classes for "First Timers" or early bird registrants. The BAC is in the Bloomington Center for the Arts at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road For more information: 952-563-8587 or Bloomington Art Center (www.bloomingtonartcenter.com).

Trisha Meili, known as the Central Park Jogger, was honored August 27 with the 2005 National Courage Award at the Celebration of Courage gala at the Medtronic World Headquarters in Fridley. Meili revealed her amazing story of survival and recovery in her best-selling memoir I am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope And Possibility. She continues to speak to groups, including businesses, universities, brain injury associations, sexual assault centers, hospitals and from her website, Trisha Meili (www.centralparkjogger.org).

Courage Center also presented Phillips Awards to five people:
Rachel Parker, Minneapolis, has been since 1993 an advocate for PACER's Rehabilitation Act and Disability Education (PRIDE) project, and before that a rehabilitation counselor at Vision Loss Resources. She trains adults and youth with disabilities on employment and civil rights issues. She also does disability awareness and access advocacy to businesses, live theater venues, museums, and other organizations. Rachel, who is legally blind and deals with the effects of chronic pain and fatigue from fibromyalgia, is a pioneer in audio description in the Twin Cities, working to make theaters accessible to people who are blind and visually impaired. She has also served on committees for ADA Minnesota, the Rehabilitation Advisory Council, Charities Review Council, V S A arts of Minnesota and others.
Darren Kiser, Owner/Manager of Kiser Construction, Saint Michael;
Steve Laux, Biomedical Test Engineer, Guidant Corporation, Saint Paul;
Andrew Prouty, Office Automation Clerk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Saint Paul;
Candy Stelflug, Operations Manager I, Wells Fargo, Minneapolis

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) invites nominations for its 2006 Access Awards, honoring individuals, corporations and organizations that are eliminating or substantially reducing inequities faced by people who are blind or visually impaired. The awards will be presented on March 3, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nominations must be received by September 30. They should illustrate an exceptional and innovative effort that has improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired by enhancing access to information, the environment, technology, education, or employment, including making mainstream products and services accessible. The effort should be one that has a national impact or can be a model for replication on a national level.

Send letters of nomination addressing the above criteria, preferably via email, to: Jaclyn Packer, AFB, 2006 Access Awards Committee, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001, E-mail: jpacker@afb.net. Product brochures, patent applications, and other materials of support substantiating the nomination should also be postmarked by the above date. Materials submitted in support of a nomination will not be returned.

Two awards for Excellence in Accessibility Leadership will be given out at the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference on Friday September 30, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, the Individual Award goes to Mickey McVey, Arvada Center in Arvada, Colorado, for her dedication to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts and in creating accessibility to programs and facilities for the community of Arvada. The Organizational Award goes to the Wheelock Family Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, for its work to be inclusive of people with disabilities and create access to the arts for audiences and performers.

Disability Mentoring Day, a nationwide event that promotes career development for youth with disabilities, will be held Wednesday, October 19. Both public and private employers provide one-on-one mentoring for students to learn about the preparation necessary to qualify for a range of jobs opportunities.

The U. S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy is the lead agency to connect students to DoL mentors, and will host a kick-off event and a reception for mentees and participating agency representatives. Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) - U.S. Department of Labor (http://www.dol.gov/odep).

The U.S. Department of Education has announced proposed regulations to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) and invited public comment. The official copy of these proposed regulations will be published in the Federal Register. In order to give the public as much time as possible to review the proposed regulations, an UNOFFICIAL copy is posted on the IDEA 2004 Web page. (June 10, 2005) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) - What's New (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/news.html).

PACER Center in Bloomington has listed its fall workshops on its website, Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights - PACER (www.pacer.org). These workshops are generally for families or educators of children or young adults with disabilities, and include topics like Minnesota's Special Education Laws and Rules, Early Childhood and Assistive Technology, NCLB: What Parents of Children with Disabilities Need to Know, Universal Design, IDEA: Understanding the Special Education Process, Transition with an Emphasis on Post Secondary, Understanding IEPs and 504 Plans, Meeting Your Child's Mental Health Needs At School, Solving the Employment Puzzle for Youth with Disabilities, Moving on From High School, Solving the Employment Puzzle, Keeping your child in school: 10 things you can and should start doing, Fostering School Completion: Understanding What Students Have to Say, Looking Ahead at Post Secondary Options, The Wide Range of Abilities and Its Impact on Computer Technology with LaDeana Huyler from Microsoft, A Comparison of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices, Hands-On Series: Intellitools, Access to Recreation Expo, Strategies for Using Vision Technology and more.

For more information: 952-838-9000, TTY: 952-838-0190, Toll-free 800-537-2237.

Dean J. Seal

Dean J. Seal of Minneapolis has written a new book, CHURCH & STAGE: Producing Theater for Education, Praxis, Outreach, and Fundraising, published this summer by Cowley Publications (ISB 1-56101-233-5, $16.95, Cowley Publications (www.cowley.org), 800-225-1534). This is a guide for people in churches who want to employ theater in ministry, and for theater people who want to create opportunities to work in churches. After discussing the historical relationship between religion and theater, the author offers practical advice and guidelines for the use of theater in the context of ministry. A past producer of the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Seal is a candidate for a master’s of divinity at United Theological Seminary in New Brighton. He continues to write, produce and act in theatrical productions in the Twin Cities.

LeAnne Nelson Dahl

LeAnne Nelson Dahl will sign her first book, You Walk Pretty, in the lobby of Royce Place at 1515 44th Ave NE, Columbia Heights, on Saturday September 17, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This collection of poetry expresses her feelings about living with cerebral palsy, her parents, faith, turning 64, and her tenacious search for independence. Dahl worked as a lobbyist and activist for adults and children with disabilities, was on the staff and puppeteer team of PACER Center and has written columns for Access Press. The softcover book is $11.95. It is also available in the Poetry section of the Publish America website: (http://www.publishamerica.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=113).

Rebecca Kragnes

Rebecca Kragnes, Minneapolis composer/pianist, has released her fourth CD, Upstream. She writes, "Life's journey may include swift currents that leave us feeling out of control, quiet pools where we can rest, and twists and turns with no clear course in sight. At times, we find ourselves calling on friends, family, and our spiritual resources to help us transcend whatever the winds of change have blown our way. Who we are is a reflection of our experiences and those with whom we have shared them on our journey upstream." She had a CD release party on August 6 at Vision Loss Resources. The CD, described as acoustic New Age acoustic, and its predecessors, Golden, Joyful Noel and Surrender, are available on her website, Rebecca Kragnes Home Page (www.rebeccak.com) or CD Baby (http://cdbaby.com), for $15 plus shipping. For more information: RebeccaK@RebeccaK.com.

Lane McKiernan

Lane McKiernan, a performance artist from Minneapolis, participated in "At Least One Shoe," a four-woman Spoken Word showcase at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. She also worked with the staff of the Fringe and Intermedia Arts to make it a scent-free venue.

Naomi Cohn

Naomi Cohn, a poet from Saint Paul, was one of two artists accepted for a three-week residency this summer at Pine Needles, a program of the Science Museum of Minnesota's Saint Croix Watershed Research Station. The Artist Recognition Grant she received from V S A arts of Minnesota in late 2004 helped her pay for the extended time off from her day job.
Cohn has written professionally about environmental issues since 1992, using educational and outreach writing, fiction and evolving into poetry. She began writing poetry with the intent of "cross-training," using what she learned from poetry to invigorate her fiction. She has stayed with poetry for many reasons - "the intrinsic seductions of poetry - image and sound and the chance to play and wrestle with words at the level of line and syllable."
During her residency, Cohn worked to complete Creatures and Landscapes, a manuscript of poems responding to the natural world and examining human culture using the lens of insect life. Cohn and Gwen Partin, a Saint Paul visual artist, also designed and presented a public program about their residency experience to the community.
The Artist at Pine Needles project invites natural history artists or writers to spend 2 to 4 weeks in residence to immerse themselves in a field experience, gather resource materials, and interact with environmental scientists and the local community. The setting is the James Taylor Dunn Pine Needles Cabin, located just north of the village along the Saint Croix River. For information about future residencies, contact Sharon Mallman: mallman@smm.org, Assistant Director at the Saint Croix Watershed Research Station, 651-433-5953, ext. 13. Artist at Pine Needles project (www.smm.org/scwrs/pineneedles.php).

Amy Rice

Amy Rice was one of the winners in the second annual Dunn Bros Coffee Local Flavor Art Contest. Emerging artists were invited to create an artistic representation of the theme, “The Local Flavor of Dunn Bros Coffee.” A panel of judges from the arts community selected winners based on creativity, innovation, and approach to the theme. One of the six winning pieces, by Amy Rice, arts coordinator at Spectrum Community Mental Health, Minneapolis, was entitled "Coffee & Contemplation." One of the 2004 winners was Mari Alice Newman, whose "Java! It grows on you" is still pictured on their website: Dunn Bros Coffee - Local Flavor Art Contest (www.dunnbros.com/artcontest.asp). Winning artwork is auctioned off, with the $7500 proceeds benefitting three local nonprofits: The Twin Cities Fine Arts Organization, Art Buddies, and the Carmon Pampa Fund.

Cara Barnett, John Lee Clark

The poetry of two Deaf writers from the Twin Cities, Cara Barnett and John Lee Clark, was featured at an ASL reading on September 14 at the College of Saint Catherine. Barnett, an instructor at Metro Deaf School and Saint Kate’s, creates rhyme and prose in the form of hand shapes and space to convey her poems. Clark is publisher of the Tactile Mind Press, which produces books and DVDs of signing community literature. His work has appeared in many publications and garnered the Robert F. Panara Award for Poetry and grants from V S A arts of Minnesota/Jerome Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board. The reading was co-sponsored by SASE: The Write Place and the College of Saint Catherine.

Some Minnesota artists with disabilities are featured in this web exhibit by the Minnesota State Arts Board: www.arts.state.mn.us/exhibit.

James Livingston will lead a workshop on writing poetry – from the initial inspiration you get to transform your feelings into words, and then on to moving your work into print and before the public. It will be Saturday, October 22, 9:00 a.m. to noon at Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave. S., Minneapolis. Freewill donations accepted – half going to the presenter and half to our hosts at the Walker Church. All invited – priority to AWDA participants. Limited class size. To register, call 612-721-9284 or email james_livinn_less_laps@hotmail.com.

Laura Winton, aka Fluffy Singler, will lead an intensive two-day workshop on Performance Art for all levels of experience, for ages 16 and over, Sat.-Sun., Oct. 22-23 from 11 am - 2 pm at the Center for Independent Artists/El Colegio, 4137 S. Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis.

The workshop will include simple movement and performance techniques that can be combined with video, audio and text to create rich, layered performances. Participants are encouraged to work with their own video clips, to create sound clips of their own, and also to write short original pieces to work with. "Found" materials will also be provided. Laura has performed in the Twin Cities for over ten years and has published poetry, short fiction, manifestos and theatre reviews. She has an MA in Performance Studies from NYU. The $50 workshop fee includes both days. Sign up with a friend--two registrations for $80. To register, contact Laura Winton at 612-381-1229 or fluffysingler@yahoo.com.

From The Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will select 25 student musicians (age 8-18) with low incomes annually to receive Cooke Young Artist Awards. Each student will receive up to $10,000 to assist with music-related needs (such as tuition, training or equipment), perform on a live taping of From the Top's radio show, and participate in Cultural Leadership Training in order to become a community advocate for the arts and create and implement his/her own performance outreach activity.

Applications are now being accepted with the next deadlines on November 1, 2005, and January 30, 2006. For more info, visit Fromthetop.org: Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award (http://www.fromthetop.org/Education/Cooke.cfm).

The Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Network conference, and training sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will be held September 28 – October 1 at the Mesa Arts Center and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Arizona. BONUS: Pre-conference workshop intensives are September 28, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM.

Who will benefit from this professional development? Accessibility Managers and Coordinators; Auditorium, Box Office and House Managers (Special pre-conference "Ticketing Policies, Procedures and Practices: Box Office Assets"); Outreach and Education Coordinators; Guest, Patron and Visitor Services Managers; New and experienced ADA/504 Coordinators; Museum, Theater and Arts Center Administrators; Marketing/Audience Development Directors (Special pre-conference Demystifying the Disability Market"); Volunteers and Board Members.

Conference activities include tours of the two hosting arts centers; keynote speaker John Killacky, former presenter at the Walker Art Center and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, sharing "A Personal Voice: The Emergent Arts/Disability Discourse"; conference sessions including "Nuts and Bolts: Getting Started," "The Confluence of Aging, Disability and Marketing," "Accessibility for Under $100," "Making Outdoor Events and Exhibits Accessible," "Legal Issues: Implementing the ADA in Cultural Venues," and more; free website accessibility consultations; an accessible performance of "Late Night Catechism" and lots of networking.

Nonprofit arts organizations, university/college staff and public arts agencies attend for $125; send two or more team members and registration drops to $95 per person. Pre-conference registration packages and one-day discount passes are also available.

For more information and a registration form call 202-416-8727 (voice) or 202-416-8728 (TTY), or visit: Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability conference - PDF (www.kennedy-center.org/accessibility/KC_LeadConf_05.pdf).

Michael M. Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center, will lead a seminar October 14-16 for current and potential board members of performing arts organizations seeking to become more effective and efficient in their roles. Board members for most not-for-profit arts organizations are faced with many challenges including developing strategic plans, hiring senior administrative and artistic staff, and reviewing and approving budgets. Too few board members receive practical training in how to successfully navigate these challenges. During this seminar, participants will learn how to better understand not-for-profit financial statements, how to hire and retain creative, resourceful and forward-thinking individuals, and how to implement fundraising campaigns. Cost: $150 (includes materials and some meals). Discount lodging available at local hotels. For more information: Ramien Pierre at rrpierre@kennedy-center.org or 202-416-8894.

The 2006 Grant Program offered by Public Art Affairs / Forecast Public Artworks is supported by the Jerome Foundation. All applicants are required to complete a free 2 ½-hour Project Development Workshop covering program basics, current public art developments, information about previously funded projects, and what’s new in 2006. Meet an artist from this year’s program and get answers to your questions. Workshops take place at FORECAST, 2324 University Avenue West, Suite #104, Saint Paul, on Thursday, September 22, 6 PM-8 PM; Saturday, October 1, 1 PM-3:30 PM; and Wednesday, October 5, 6 PM-8:30 PM.

Application Deadline: November 15 by 4:30 PM. Apply on website Forecast Public Artworks - www.forecastart.org (by clicking on the Jerome Foundation link), or by contacting the Forecast public artworks office at 651-641-1128 or email: forecast@visi.com.

Artspace Projects develops older buildings into living and working spaces for artists. Rental availability varies, so check their website at Artspace (http://www.artspaceusa.org). It operates or is planning facilities in Saint Paul (Frogtown Family Lofts, Northern Warehouse and Tilsner Artists’ Cooperatives), Fergus Falls (Hotel Kaddatz Artist Lofts), Brainerd (Franklin Artist Lofts), Minneapolis (Hennepin Center for the Arts, Schubert Center, Grain Belt Studios, Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts), Duluth (Washington Studios) and other sites in Florida, California, New York, Oregon, Washington, Delaware, Texas, Wisconsin, Maryland, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut. For more information: Call 800-229-5715 or email info@artspaceusa.org.

Creative Places and Spaces 2 is an upcoming conference dedicated to unlocking the creative potential of people and places through innovative social, educational, cultural, environmental and economic initiatives. The event, September 30 – October 1, 2005 in Toronto, Canada, will build on the success of a 2003 conference that welcomed nearly 500 policy makers, urban thinkers, civic leaders, and cultural entrepreneurs. It will aim to:

• motivate new thinking and strategies on how to harness the energy of artists and other creative people to revitalize and strengthen communities;
• generate momentum for the progressive renovation of policy, development and investment frameworks;
• showcase cultural enterprises and initiatives that are contributing to the creative economy;
• provide delegates with tools, contacts, research findings and case studies to empower them to build and maintain dynamic and sustainable communities.

The event's producer, Artscape of Toronto (www.torontoartscape.on.ca), invites you to add your voice, your community, and your creativity to the dialogue. Other partners include:
Artspace Projects (Minneapolis): www.artspaceprojects.org;
Canadian Urban Institute (Toronto): www.canurb.com;
Center for an Urban Future (New York City): www.nycfuture.org;
Comedia (U.K.): www.comedia.org.uk;
Ideas That Matter (Toronto): www.ideasthatmatter.com.

For more information: e-mail: liz@torontoartscape.on.ca or call 416-392-1038, ext. 25.

Departments of the University of Minnesota’s West Bank Arts Quarter will present the first West Bank Arts Quarter Crawl on Friday, October 14. Established to showcase the variety of quality events happening within steps from one another every week, the Crawl will begin at 6 p.m. Patrons will be able to participate in an opening celebration of an exhibition of drawings by Merce Cunningham in the Nash Gallery, see a showing of Cunningham’s choreography in the Barbara Barker Center, attend the University Theatre’s 75th anniversary season opening performance of The Madwoman of Chaillot at Rarig Center, and catch impromptu performances of various works by students from the School of Music. For ticket information to the play, call the University Arts Ticket Office at 612-624-2345.

Inside Out Gallery at Interact will hold its next reception on Friday, September 23 for "Off the Page," a collection of works inspired by music and film. A nonprofit extension of Interact Center for the Visual & Performing Arts, its mission is to bring new life to the arts while challenging society’s view of disability. Located at 212 Third Avenue N., Suite 140, Minneapolis (enter on Second Street), Inside-Out is open Monday-Saturday noon-4:00 PM and by appointment. For more information: Jennifer Schultz, Gallery Director, 612-339-5145x13. Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts (www.interactcenter.com).

The Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association offers a First Thursdays series of gallery openings on the first Thursday of each month, generally from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The next openings are on Thursday, October 6. For more information: contact admin@nemaa.org, call 612-788-1679, or go to Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association - NEMAA (www.nemaa.org).

The Twin Cities dance community is planning an evening celebrating the best of dance in Minnesota. The SAGE Awards for Dance will be presented Wednesday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Avenue S. The SAGE artist peer panel views work throughout the year as they prepare to select the first award recipients. Please send all listings of upcoming dance performances to Dana Holstad at dana@southerntheater.org. To become involved in planning the evening's celebration, contact Stuart Pimsler at spdanth@aol.com.

Misplaced Music is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting local music (Minneapolis area) of artistic merit through its internet radio station, online store and live events. At no charge to musicians or listeners, Misplaced Music Radio continually streams interviews, news and an exclusively local play list. It also periodically showcases artists at fundraisers and parties. By working closely with local record labels and publications, the organization hopes to foster a greater sense of community in the Minneapolis music scene. Fore more information: Misplaced Music (www.misplacedmusic.org).

Springboard for the Arts lists a large variety of Deadlines and Opportunities on its website at Springboard for the Arts (http://www.springboardforthearts.org). For more info, call 651-292-4381.

This Writing/Research Grant is for writers of screenplays, short films and documentary films for important issues that are "unique and make a difference to society." It is for writers from anywhere in the world who need uninterrupted time to work on projects in a beautiful, remote setting (New Zealand) with a good computer, VCR, TV, RUV and a few sheep to tend. They need a 2-page or more proposal on why you want this retreat. Explain what you would do with the time, why you need it, and what your short, feature or documentary is, and send any films you or your crew has made. For more information: From the Heart Productions: The Roy W. Dean Film and Writing Grants (www.fromtheheartproductions.com/grant-writing.shtml).

Teener's Theatricals is a leading theatrical, dance, costume and party supply house. Its warehouse and executive offices moved recently to 1517 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis 55413. The family-owned business was founded in 1950. Hours are 10-6 Monday-Friday, 10-5 Saturday; in October, prior to Halloween, hours extend to 10-8 Monday-Saturday, 12-5 Sunday. For more information: 612-339-2793, Fax 612-339-9116, information@teenerstheatricals.com, or go to Teener's Theatricals (www.teenerstheatricals.com).

CostumeRentals, established in 2002, is a combined project of the Guthrie Theater and The Children's Theatre Company. Their collection of over 30,000 theatrical costumes is located at 855 East Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis 55414. Costumes are available for rental, by appointment, to any individual or organization anywhere in the world. Reduced rates are available to schools, theaters, and nonprofit organizations. For more information: 612-375-8722, Fax 612-375-8733; costumes@costumerentals.org; or go to CostumeRentals (www.costumerentals.org).

Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake seeks stage managers for the following productions:
The Twelve Dancing Princesses, performances: December 1-11, 2005;
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, performances: January 13 – February 5, 2006;
Music Man, performances: April 21 - May 21, 2006.
Build your resume and receive a stipend.

Lakeshore is also seeking a full-time box office manager. Candidate must be detail-oriented, focused, have exceptional customer relations skills, patient, be able to do simple bookkeeping, and be Mac-savvy. Knowledge of FileMaker Pro, Excel and Microsoft Word helpful. Hours: Mondays (flexible), Tuesday-Friday 11 am - 6 pm, with an occasional short shift on show weekends. Job training begins immediately!
Send resumes to Joan Elwell, Managing Director, Lakeshore Players, 4820 Stewart Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. For more information: 651-426-3275 or Lakeshore Players Theatre (www.lakeshoreplayers.com).

The Barn Theatre in Willmar needs a director for A Christmas Carol, November 30 - December 11. Auditions will be held in mid-October. If interested, contact the Barn Theatre at 320-235-9500 or email at info@thebarntheatre.com.