"If I can make it here...": Spanish Consulate offers help

Want to make it in New York?

Spanish cultural professionals interested in presenting arts projects or making a career in New York City can download a new series of pdf guides--covering everything from funding resources to media outlets--directed to professionals in architecture and design, film, gastronomy, literature, humanities and science, music, performing arts and visual arts.

These How to Make It in New York guides should be useful for any newcomer--Spanish or not. So, click here for more information on this project and to download links for each of the covered arts and culture disciplines.

Financial crisis hits Europe's arts

The Euro Crisis Is Hurting Cultural Groups
by Larry Rohter, The New York Times, March 24, 2012

Dialogues Across Culture: reflecting on international exchange

Dialogues Across Culture: A Model for Building Enduring Partnerships

a free, two-day symposium presented by

MAPP International Productions and The Africa Contemporary Arts Consortium in partnership with the Museum for African Art, The Center for African Education at Teachers College and the Institute of African Studies at Columbia University

Friday, October 28 (7pm-9pm)
Saturday, October 29 (11am-4pm) 

This symposium is designed to open up conversations around international cultural exchange, to share lessons learned through case studies, to introduce some of the projects and artists with whom the Consortium has partnered, and to promote and build understanding and connections among artists, arts organizations, and public communities in the United States and the African continent.

Activities of the symposium include informal performances by choreographers Faustin Linyekula, from Democratic Republic of Congo, and Maria Helena Pinto from Mozambique; interviews with the choreographers; and presentations and discussions with members of the Consortium, MAPP, the Museum for African Art, and Columbia University faculty.

Friday, October 28 (7pm-9pm)

Performances followed by a reception

This event will take place at The Milbank Chapel at Teachers College, Columbia University. Enter on 120th Street midway between Broadway and Amsterdam (State-issued ID required for entry)

Saturday, October 29 (11am to 4pm)

Plenary session, interviews with artists, project presentations and discussions including: 

Investing in Curatorial Research

Dana Elmquist, Producer of Theater Programs at the Museum for African Art (NY)

Lisa Binder, Visual Art Curator, the Museum for African Art (NY)

Ken Foster, Executive Director, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco)


Advancing the Creativity of the Artist

Faustin Linyekula, Artist (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Ralph Lemon, Artist (NY)

Randy Gener, American Theater magazine (NY)

 
Connecting Artists and Communities

Maria Helena Pinto, Artist (Mozambique)

Laura Faure, Director, Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, ME)


Building and Sharing Knowledge

Zoe Strother, Professor of African Art at Columbia University (NY)

Ann-Marie Bouttiaux, Royal Museum for Central Africa (Brussels)

Joan Frosch, Director, World Arts & Culture at University of Florida (Gainesville)

This event will take place at The Institute of African Studies, Columbia University
606 West 122nd Street (State-issued ID required for entry)

Admission for both days is free. Reservations required.

To RSVP for the October 28th event, click here.

Stanford Makishi takes new role at Asian Cultural Council

Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Executive Director Jennifer P. Goodale announced the appointment of Stanford Makishi as Director of Programs. The newly created position signifies ACC’s ongoing, dynamic response to the changing needs of cultural, educational and artistic exchange between the United States and Asia. Mr. Makishi begins the new position on August 1.

“Ever since it was founded by John D. Rockefeller 3rd in 1963, ACC has played a crucial and visionary role in promoting major cultural and artistic exchanges between the United States and Asia as well as between the countries of Asia,” said Ms. Goodale in announcing Mr. Makishi’s appointment. “Stanford’s uniquely rich and varied artistic, cultural, and intellectual background will offer a new perspective on our work and facilitate ACC’s ability to meet the needs of contemporary artists at critical stages in their careers and the shifting issues that mark cultural exchange in our rapidly changing world.”

Mr. Makishi’s responsibilities will include leadership of the organization’s grant-making process, as well as exploring and creating new ways to meet the unique needs of each of the creative individuals funded by ACC.

“ACC has been remarkably forward-thinking in its support of important emerging artists, revered masters and scholars from a vast Asia, long before the digital age shrank our world,” said Mr. Makishi. “The organization is now identifying new ways to enrich the lives and careers of creative people, while remaining true to the far-sighted goals set forth by John D. Rockefeller 3rd nearly 50 years ago. I am thrilled and humbled to be able to help make this possible.”

Prior to his present appointment at the ACC, Mr. Makishi was Executive Director of the Baryshnikov Arts Center, where he oversaw all facets of the organization, including fundraising, strategic planning, capital expansion, budget oversight, artistic planning and programming, and general management of staff and facilities. During his tenure, in addition to more than doubling BAC’s annual operating budget, he put in motion a $15 million capital campaign, led the purchase and renovation of BAC’s new Jerome Robbins Theater, greatly expanded the Center’s robust residency program, and was closely involved with the launch of an international festival at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida.

As Director of Creative Services at Carnegie Hall, Makishi oversaw the group that serviced and optimized institutional brand management, publishing operations, Internet activity, fundraising efforts, pedagogy, and communications. Mr. Makishi was a performer with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and became the company’s development director after he retired from dancing. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mr. Makishi, 46, is a graduate of Harvard University, where he was recognized as a Harvard National Scholar and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. He is presently a panelist for the dance program at the New York State Council on the Arts, a board member of the Trisha Brown Dance Company, and the Artistic Advisor for the Fall for Dance Festival at New York City Center.

The Asian Cultural Council awards an average of 100 grants a year for travel and study, totaling approximately $1.5 million annually, with offices and affiliates in Hong Kong, Manila, Taiwan and Tokyo. To date, the ACC has supported nearly 6,000 artists and scholars in cultural exchange programs; among them are Cai Guo-Qiang, Ushio Torikai, Lee Breuer, Yang Meiqi, Meredith Monk, Lin Hwai-min, Robert Wilson, Ming Cho Lee, and Barbara London.

Cuban artists issued US visas

US Welcomes Cuban Artists

by AIA Staff, Art in America, October 25, 2010

Artists are not easily controlled!

Bronx Museum to Run State Dept. Cultural Ambassadors Program

by Kate Taylor, The New York Times, October 25, 2010

U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange

Artists See Increase in U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchanges

by Victoria Burnett, The New York Times, July 24, 2010