Top 5 Reasons to Join a Community Board

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Community Boards throughout the 5 boroughs make resolutions that effect their neighborhoods. They make recommendations to local and civic leaders about how they want their community to run. Often land use & zoning decisions, city budgets, and many other programs must begin by getting approval from the community boards. Their voices resonate deeply with elected officials and their input is felt in profound ways.

Members of these boards have a birds eye view of important civic activities long before they are making headlines. It is very important for those of us in the OOB community to be in touch with our colleagues on the community boards. It is important for us to be aware of what is being presented to these boards. It is perhaps even more important for us to become members of these community boards.

To that end, here is Shay's Top 5 Reasons to Join a Community Board

1. It is an opportunity for us to educate the members of the community board about the challenges and needs of OOB on a personal level
2. You can act as a conduit to help inform the OOB community about important activities and opportunities
3. You can network on behalf of the OOB community, make connections and act as a contact for OOB
4. You will have insights into how your community board works and what is important to those neighborhoods
5. You get to vote. You will get to help make the decisions and recommendations that shape New York City

Find your Community Board Now.

2010 Applications for Manhattan Community Boards Membership is now available at Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer's website.



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Artists need to be counted!

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The United States Department of Commerce will be conducting the 2010 Census, which will find out how many people live in New York City, how many elected representatives we will have in Congress, determine who will represent you in the City Council and in the New York State Legislature, determine how much funding we will receive from the federal government for education, healthcare, job training, transportation, senior services, and other critical services important to all New Yorkers.

It is important for NYC artists to be counted.

New York City artists need to participate to ensure that we get our fair share of funding from the federal government to improve schools and healthcare, fight crime, repair roads, and support other critical City services for all New Yorkers.

Take a moment now to complete the Census form.

Do you think it is important for artists to take the census? Why?


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ActorFest - lots of free stuff for actors

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REGISTER NOW!
for

Actorfest
October 24th

at the Hammerstein Ballroom

Free Open Casting Calls with Nickelodeon, Teen Nick, NBC, Telemundo and more....

Free Exhibit Hall, Networking Cafe, Headshot Drop Boxes and Meet & Greet Sessions.

Don't miss the exciting line-up of workshops with top casting directors, agents, mangers, and instructors.

Get more information and register now before things sell out at www.actorfest.com.



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National Arts and Humanities Month

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On October 2nd, President Obama made a proclamation declaring October 2009 National Arts and Humanities Month. He called upon Americans to observe this month by participating in activities, programs and ceremonies that celebrate the arts.

The press release from the White House reads: “Throughout our Nation's history, the power of the arts and humanities to move people has built bridges and enriched lives, bringing individuals and communities together through the resonance of creative expression.”

According to Americans for the Arts, this proclamation is significant because “by issuing this historic public statement in his first year in office, President Obama has taken this opportunity to recognize the contributions that our cultural assets make to America's diversity, humanity, and economic health. “

Perhaps this show of support from the highest level of government will create a trickle down effect encouraging State and local leadership to follow suit by investing in and supporting arts related events and programs in their communities.


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City Hall unveils effort to support artists

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As reported by Daniel Massey at Crain's Business.

"Artists in the five boroughs could gain access to new exhibition and performance space and receive entrepreneurial training as part of a series of five initiatives city officials unveiled Wednesday to bolster the cultural sector in the five boroughs."

"The initiatives announced Wednesday are the latest in a series of moves by the city's Economic Development Corp. to support specific sectors of the city economy during the downturn, with many of the programs focused on entrepreneurialism. Other sectors where programs have been launched include media, fashion and financial services."

Well, that sounds like OOB to me.

The five programs are:

Curate New York City
New York City Performs
JumpStart for the Arts
Artists as Entrepreneurs
Arts Clusters Promotion Program

For information about these programs or the related RFPs, visit www.nycedc.com.


“A thriving cultural sector is critical to New York City’s economy, identity and quality of
life,” - NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin.



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