Showbiz Dec 2009

from the December 2009 issue of KC Stage

Artist, INC Spring 2010 Seminar
Artist, INC is a cutting edge training seminar that addresses the specific business needs and challenges artists of all disciplines face every day. Limited to 25 participants per session, artists gather one night a week to learn business skills specific to their art practice and apply those skills cooperatively with their peers. Using an innovative class design, artists learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group application activities, as well as large group discussion and multi-media lecture. KCArtistLink is now accepting applications for the third round of the popular artist professional development program to be held on Monday nights from March 1 through April 19 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at UMKC’s Small Business and Technology Development Center located at 4747 Troost. Artists of all disciplines including visual, dance, theatre, film, music, and writing are encouraged to apply. Applications are due at 5:00pm on Dec 7. For more information on the Artist, INC program and application materials please go to www.KCArtistLink.com/ArtistINC or contact Diane Scott at scottdia@missouri.edu or 816-235-6769.

Dana Knapp Joins MAAA
Dana Knapp has joined Mid-America Arts Alliance as director of programs, a newly created position to focus on developing, integrating, and overseeing the organization’s Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Humanities, and Professional Development programs. Knapp comes to Mid-America with 20 years of experience at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where she began her career as an exhibit designer. She has served as the Nelson’s director of planning for the past 10 years, overseeing the construction of the Bloch Building, which was ranked by Time Magazine as Number 1 in the “Top 10 Best (New and Upcoming) Architectural Marvels”. Dana also served in the areas of long-range strategic planning, collections presentation planning, and audience development planning. Knapp holds BFA degrees in both design and art history from the University of Kansas, and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School of Business. For more information about the Mid-America Arts Alliance, visit www.maaa.org.

KC Ballet Ball
The Kansas City Ballet Guild will host the annual Ballet Ball to celebrate the fascinating rhythm of dance on Mar 6, 2010 at the Muehlebach Hotel located in Downtown Kansas City. Cocktails will begin at 6:30pm and dinner will commence at 8:00pm.The Kansas City Ballet will perform a preview excerpt of George Balanchine’s Who Cares? Proceeds from the Ballet Ball will provide ongoing support for the financial success of the Kansas City Ballet, the Kansas City Ballet School, and community education. Tickets for the Ballet Ball start at $250 and Benefactor Levels start at $1,000 and above. The Ball will feature the presentation of the Pirouette Award and special performances by the Kansas City Ballet. For those interested in attending or contributing to the Kansas City Ballet, please visit www.kcbguild.org or contact Melinda Petet at (816) 531-7114 or balletball@kcballet.org.

MAC Budget Update
Governor Jay Nixon announced another round of budget cuts and expenditure restrictions for the state of Missouri. These cuts included $4.4 million from the Missouri Arts Council, cutting a total of $204 million from the state budget. These cuts include 200 full-time jobs and 450 part-time jobs. Already this year the Nixon administration has made $430 million in spending cuts to the state’s $23.7 billion budget. Although these additional cuts are being made, the Missouri Arts Council has the ability to take money from the Missouri Arts Council Trust Fund to honor their grant commitments. The fund was created by income tax paid by non-resident professional athletes and entertainers. The $4.4 million expenditure restriction will be covered by the fund; therefore, there will be no cuts this fiscal year on arts council grants that were awarded in July. The monthly strategic grants program will also continue uninterrupted. For more information about the Missouri Arts Council, visit www.missouriartscouncil.org.

Shakespeare Fest 2010 Show
The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival announced their 18th season of free professional Shakespeare productions in Southmoreland Park. The 2010 show will be King Richard III, starring Bruce Roach as Richard. The show will perform June 15-July 3, 2010, with no performance on June 21. More information can be found on www.kcshakes.org.

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