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Cultural Equity Group (CEG) forms to Demand Equitable Funding for Community Arts Organizations of Color

PRESS RELEASE

BROOKLYN, NY, JANUARY 2, 2008 – The Executive Directors of cultural institutions, serving primarily Black, Latino and Asian communities from all five Boroughs have united to demand equitable funding from the City of New York. The Cultural Equity Group (CEG) is a coalition of cultural arts organizations and artists working for the equitable distribution of funds and resources to assure that under resourced and underserved emerging and mid-sized organizations grounded in the culture and arts of their communities are fairly funded. Although the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of Kate Levin, secured an unprecedented amount of funding for cultural institutions in FY07, organizations headed by leaders of color continued to lag behind. The objective of the Cultural Equity Groups is to stabilize the field, providing necessary technical assistance and program management resources to assure the continued growth of the cultural arts field.

In addition to DCA's funding process which is limited to project support only; that is, support from DCA can only underwrite 50% of the project expenses with very little funding allowed to be allocated for its management and administration. A reform of the grants process to allow organizations to receive a combination of project and general support would go a long way to stabilizing arts organizations of color. Similarly, special allocation to "jump start" organizations of color in facilitating their potential of cultural anchors in communities. Additional support is also needed to secure health insurance for cultural workers who lack basic benefits from their organizations. Lastly, organizations that own/rent their facilities are being driven to the brink of bankruptcy because of the escalating costs for fuel and liability insurance. To that end a special allowance for owners/renters to offset financial pressures. The aforementioned is a sample of some of the issues.

The New York City Council Black & Latino Caucus has recognized that institutions of color have gone far too long without the necessary resources needed to provide opportunities for people that live in communities that are in a state of emergency. On January 9th, 3pm at City Hall, which is less than one month before organizations all over the City will be applying to the Department of Cultural Affairs, a hearing has been organized by the City Council for over 200 arts leaders to appeal the current process and demand that an additional and more equitable fund be created to address this historical disparity that is destroying the equitable fabric of New York City. To attend the hearing, please contact Caribbean Cultural Center at 212.307.7423.

William Aguado
Executive Director
Bronx Council on the Arts

download CEG information sheet

CEG press conference on steps of City Hall, Jan. 9, 2008

CEG press conference, City Hall, Bill Aguado of the Bronx Council of the Arts

CEG press conference, City Hall, Bob Lee Director of AAAC

CEG press conference, City Hall, Marta Vega of Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute

CEG press conference, City Hall, Councilwoman Latitia James

Albany CEG workshop: Senator Bill Perkins, Congressman Jose Serrano, State Senator Jose Serrano, Jr., and Councilwoman Letitia James and CEG members, Feb. 12, 2008

Albany CEG workshop: Senator Bill Perkins, State Senator Jose Serrano, Jr., and City Councilwoman Inez Dickens

CEG meeting with Assemblyman Darryl Towns in his Albany office, Feb. 12, 2008

Albany CEG workshop, City Councilwoman Inez Dickens and State Senator Jose Serrano, Jr., Feb. 12, 2008

Albany CEG workshop: Speaker Sheldon Silver with CEG members Laurie Cumbo of MoCADA and Bob Lee of AAAC

CEG members and Albany legislators at Albany CEG workshop, Feb. 12, 2008

CEG members at Malcolm X mural, Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Center

Asian American Arts Centre Presents: Lunar New Year Folk Festival

Sunday, February 10th, 2008 from 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Arts Centre is pleased to
announce "A Lunar New Year Folk Arts Festival" featuring Chinese, and
Mongolian Folk Artists. Five traditional artists/crafts people will be
giving hands on demonstrations. Artists include a Chinese miniature
dough figurine artist, a Sumi ink calligrapher, an Indian Mahendi hand
painting artist, an Er Hu performer, together with Chinese and
Mongolian folk dance performance. New Year delicacies will also be
served.

Audiences will have the opportunity to interact with skilled folk
artists who demonstrate their crafts and will have the opportunity to
ask questions, make requests and the chance to learn and delight in
the magic of a traditional craft and to enjoy traditional folk dance.
This is an ideal event for families. The music, art and performances
will delight both old and young alike.

Festival Admission: $12 - General; $6 - Senior Citizens, Students;
Children 3 - 12 - $6: and for Children 3 and under - Free.

Come early. Space is limited. For reservation and information write
to aaacinfo@artspiral.org or call (212) 233-2154.

The Festival Artists
Kavita Vyas practices the Art of Mehandi, the art of painting designs
on hands and feet. Mehandi designs use animals and floral patterns,
sometimes even musical instruments, taking hours to finish. It began
over 100 years ago in India by the Muslims, mostly in Pakistan. It is
also widely done by the Arab people. She learned this art form from
the master Mrs. Saroj Oza, who created the cone method. Kavita loves
Mehandi art because she can create new designs each time she paints.
Kavita and her Mehandi art was covered on the 10 o'clock news, Channel
11.

Kwok Kay Choey was born in Singapore and learned to play the Er Hu as
a teenager with Wu Gong-xi. Since 1964, he has been a resident member
of the New York Chinese Music Ensemble and has performed in its
bi-annual season each year in New York City as well as performing in
the tri-state area. He is also a painter, calligrapher and Tai Chi
master.

Ye Xun, born in Zhejiang, has combined the qualities of both his
master teachers, the poetic sensibility of Master Zhao Kou Ming with
the realistic representation of color and manner of Master Lang Shao
An (his grandfather). His figures appear life-like with a sense of
vitality in the scenes and characters of his work. His work includes
the famous mythological characters such as the Monkey King from
"Journey to the West", the Eight Immortals and the Goddess of Mercy.
He has also won numerous awards for his designs including First Place
in the Zhejiang Provincial Competition for Best Design.

Rose Sigal-Ibsen has practiced calligraphy for many years and won
critical acclaim for her work. Born in Romania and migrating from
Israel to the US, she worked as an enamelist after studying at FIT.
In 1979 she began her study of Sumi ink at the KoHo School of Sumi-e
in NY and later Chinese brushwork at the Zhejiang Academy in China.
She has won Awards of Excellence from the Kampo Cultural Center and
from the Manhattan Arts International magazine. She has exhibited
widely, for example, in China at the Fourth World Conference on Women
in Beijing, in Bucharest at the Romanian Cultural Foundation, and in
the US at the Steinhardt Conservatory and the National Museum of Women
in the Arts in Washington DC.

In addition, an exhibition of Chinese Tribal Textiles from the
Minority Peoples of China will be on view during this festival,
through February 29, 2008. These are museum quality richly woven and
traditionally batik dyed and embroidered textiles representative of
historical tribal traditions. They are from the peoples known as:
Miao, Gejia,Yao, Yi, Dai, Li, and Zhang. Many garments, banners,
festival jackets and blankets fill the gallery, and some are quite
fashionable for use today.

Rare Tribal Textiles from China

November 23rd to December 7th, 2007
December 14th to February29th, 2008

Accompanying the Fibers exhibition from November 23rd to December 7th will be an exhibition of Chinese Tribal Textiles from the Minority Peoples of China.  These are museum quality fabrics from Dr. Andrew Wang, a collector of tribal arts and textiles from Asia, representative of historical tribal traditions. They are from the peoples known as: Miao, Gejia,Yao, Yi, Dai, Li, and Zhang.  A selection of these will be on display to match the contemporary Fibers exhibition. The public is invited to view fibers as an art form, both traditional and contemporary, and to consider these two in relation to each other.  In this way the Art of the New can be seen in the context of the Art of the Traditional.

A more extensive selection of these garments will be exhibited filling the entire gallery through the holiday season, from December 14th to February 29th, 2008. A reception will be held to mark this exquisite display of pattern and skill, the highest quality embroidery of China.

Fibers: Fiero, Kotani & Kim

Artists Columbia Fiero, Akiko Kotani and Soon-im Kim

Extended till December 7th, 2007
Open on Saturday evening of December 1st, 6p.m. to 9p.m.
Open House: Sunday, December 2nd  1p.m. to 7p.m.

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 11th, 5:30 to 8 p.m.

These three artists, Columbia Fiero, Akiko Kotani and Soon-im Kim, work in the medium of fibers, using materials such as thread, cloth, and cotton demonstrating how common materials can be innovatively used to integrate both Asian and Western sensibilities. In doing so they touch on a lightness and informality that is physical yet intangible, daring to harness the intangible lightness of air. Each artist in her own way touches upon a vital presumption about matter’s physicality and its seemingly ephemeral properties. This exhibition is organized by Robert Lee with assistance from Marisa Stenson.

ArtSlams

For the past few years, the Asian American Arts Centre has held ArtSlams, an interactive gathering of artists, curators, and community members. The ArtSlam engenders an environment in which the audience and artists engage in dialogue that provides constructive criticism and feedback to emerging artists who are influenced by Asia or Asian America. With the assistance of additional funding, we hope to host more ArtSlams to further the professional and creative growth of fledgling artists.

"I cannot begin to express what you gave me other than to say a whole new confidence in the value of continuing to take risks, make mistakes and do it all again. Thank you for the opportunity you gave my work to be seen and criticized by young professional artists and educators and well-informed artists as yourselves." -- Lathoriel Badenhausen
(read full letter)

"I cannot quantify the impact that ArtSlam has brought to my art career since the event, but the confidence that I got from the success of the event was tremendous, and gave me the strength and belief required to further pursue and sustain my practice in the art which eventually led to more valuable opportunity and endeavors." -- Eugenie Tung
(read full letter)

"ArtSlams program provides emerging and young artists a competitive yet productive occasion for presenting their works and receiving feedbacks. "-- Reiko Tomii
(read full letter)

"What I found that evening [of the ArtSlam] was a group of artists who were hungry to show their work and to dialog with other artists and critics. They absorbed the conversation around each others' work and participated generously, giving their own thoughts and observations. I thought the ArtSlam was exactly what a community of artists needs periodically. They need a chance to come together, share and test out their work and ideas in an intimate environment. Outside the university setting, this kind of evening is all too rare and precious." Emily Cheng
(read full letter)

"I am sure that the artists felt fantastic from the serious manner in which their work was discussed by the audience critics and curators. I thought the program was well organized and the tone was casual yet professional." -- Barbara Ellmann
(read full letter)

"The ArtSlam afforded me a much needed chance to express my views on my work in a supportive environment. This was very beneficial as English is not my mother tongue." -- Soyeon Cho

"The audience benefits because it lets them into a world seldom seen other than within the artist's studio. For the artist it is invaluable. Contact with a community group enriches the solitary artist by provocative feed back to take to their studio."-- Akiko Kotani

"In addition, ArtSlams are also a very unique and valuable program that offer the kind of opportunity that is unlike other art institutions, such as commercial galleries and museums that don't always focus on assisting young and under-represented artists to develop their professional portfolios and skills necessary for their budding careers." -- Bovey Lee
(read full letter)

"The ArtSlam programs are an invaluable resource for artists, from which they can develop networks, receive feedback, and learn presentation skills. Artists thrive best within a community that allows a free exchange of ideas and opinions, and this dynamic allows their work to thrive as well." -- Deanna Lee

"...the AAAC's ArtSlams have offered [participating artists] the rare opportunity to transcend the myriad cultural and ethnic barriers that can falsely and sadly divide New York's artists rather than offer them a larger and richer heritage." -- Libby Seaberg

Saturday Children Art Classes

Saturday Children Art Classes
Fall term: Sept 29, 2007 – Feb 2, 2008,
Age 41/2-6 / 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM, Saturday
Age 6-9 / 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM, Saturday
Age 9 and up / 2:30 - 4:00 PM, Saturday

1st Art Class, Ages 4-6: A program designed for those new to the arts to stimulate the student's creativity and capacity to explore their own artistic originality and cultural background.

2nd Art Class, Ages 6-8: This program is designed to further stimulate student's creativity and capacity to explore their own artistic originality and cultural background.

3rd Art Class, 9-14: For children focuses on portfolio-building with an emphasis on advanced techniques with individual personal instruction by the Centre's art educators and specialists.

$195 Tuition, $30 Supplies and Materials

Lori Kent Curriculum Advisor (Teachers College,Columbia University) Marisa Stenson, Art Teacher
Elisa Soliven-Gerber, Assistant Art Teacher

For information: (212) 233-2154
Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 1-6pm
Asian American Arts Centre, 26 Bowery, 3rd Fl, New York, NY 10013.

Taichi Chuan with Eleanor Yung, L.Ac.

Saturday 10am – 11am Oct 27 to Dec 22, 2007

At 26 Bowery. Eleanor Yung, licensed acupuncturist, has been teaching Taichi for more than ten years. For more information – esyung@aol.com

AAAC fights to Keep 26 Bowery
AAAC's legal action to prevent eviction from 26 Bowery is over. However the rent will soon double, and then gradually go up till it is four times current rates. What we won is time to increase annual income and grants and/or time to plan to move to a more modest facility. More information is in Local Issues.More information is in Local Issues.

To contribute:

See: addition to Programs Chronology from 2002 to present, particularly the AAAC Story conference materials.

See: Chinese article about Nuo that can be found under Traditional Arts