Employment Opportunities at the Maine Arts Commission

Do you want to help further the cultural sector of Maine? If you would like to be a part of decision making on a statewide scale then review the following positions and apply today.

The Maine Arts Commission currently has two open positions, one for a Director of Operations and the other for Director of Communication. The deadlines for applications are January 3 and December 27 respectively.

The Director of Operations will assist the Executive Director in the day-to-day operations of the Maine Arts Commission and will oversee certain program initiatives. The agency is interested in applicants who are deeply and broadly knowledgeable in the arts, with a proven career engagement with arts innovation, engagement with artists and arts organizations and general diplomacy. Development skills are a plus, excellent written and verbal skills are essential. Responsibilities include human resource management, strategic planning implementation, internal fiscal and office management affairs, coordinating agency programs, and acting as liaison with arts organizations, the Maine Arts Commission members, as well as regional, federal and state agencies and commissions. This position entails assistance with human resources generally, demonstrable problem solving skills and a willingness to learn and follow bureaucratic systems. Work is performed under administrative direction. The salary range for this position is $52,478.40 to $72,155.20/annually.

The Communication Director will be responsible for leading a wide range of communications work to promote and improve public, employee and funder understanding of the Maine Arts Commission’s objectives and achievements and of relevant cultural-related issues. This may include, but is not limited to: communications and marketing strategy development, communications program planning and execution, oversee media relations, materials and events; media relations and website management. The salary range for this position is $37,918.40 to $ 51,376.00 annually.

November 22 Deadline is Approaching; Register Now!

Poetry Out Loud is a fabulous opportunity for high school students! Begun in high schools nationwide in 2006, the program encourages our nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

Poetry Out Loud is organized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation; it is administered at the state level by the Maine Arts Commission. Schools can now register quickly and easily online by visiting www.MaineArts.com. Please note that Poetry Out Loud can take place in your school anytime between now and January 17, 2014, as the program does not require full class periods and can be completed in just two to three weeks.

As part of the Maine Poetry Out Loud program the students and teachers are invited to attend an after-school poetry workshop that provides a guidance and mentoring opportunity with Maine poets. Teachers who attend receive contact hours.

Please review the following timeline as you consider registering your school:

• September – November 2013 School Registration (ongoing)
• November 22, 2013 Last day to register for Poetry Out Loud
• January 17, 2014 Last day for school-wide competitions
• January 28, 2014 Southern Regional Workshop
• January 30, 2014 Northern Regional Workshop
• February 6, 2014 Southern Regional Regional Finals
• February 12, 2014 Northern Regional Finals
• February 26, 2014 Maine State Finals
• April 28-30, 2014 Poetry Out Loud National Finals

Please visit www.MaineArts.com to find more information about the benefits of Poetry Out Loud and all of the Maine Arts Commission’s educational programming.

If you have questions or would like assistance to register please contact Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education, Maine Arts Commission, at Argy.Nestor@maine.gov

Call for Student Art

Presented by the First Lady of Maine, Ann LePage, In partnership with the Maine Arts Commission

Scope:

The Maine Arts Commission, in partnership with the First Lady of Maine Ann LePage, is issuing a call for student art for inclusion in the Spring 2014 Maine Youth Excellence in Art exhibition at the State Capitol Complex in Augusta. Art teachers from public, private and parochial schools in Maine are invited to submit one piece of two-dimensional artwork that represents artistic excellence from a K-12 student. Selected works will hang in various locations including the State House, Cross Office Building (second floor), the Blaine House and the office of the Maine Arts Commission for approximately four months. Selected artists, their families and submitting teachers will be invited to an opening reception at the Blaine House hosted by the First Lady Ann LePage where they will receive recognition for their artistic achievements.

Process:

One piece of 2-D artwork may be submitted per school. Each school should have one designated teacher to submit the chosen artwork for that school. The program will exhibit approximately forty-five student works. Selection will be made on a first come, first served basis per Superintendent Region. Five pieces of work will be accepted from each of the nine Superintendent Regions. The regions are as follows:

• Aroostook
• Cumberland County
• Hancock County
• Kennebec County
• Mid Coast
• Penquis
• Washington County
• Western Maine
• York County

If you are unsure of which region your school is located in, please refer to the directory on the Maine Department of Education website by clicking this link.

As an added element to this year’s showing we would like to collect a statement from each artist. If the child’s work is selected, we will ask the submitting teacher to provide a brief (one sentence) statement/quote from the artist’s work about their thoughts either toward making art in general, or about the specific piece that they are entering. These statements will be printed on each artwork’s label for the public to read. We believe this added element will assist in enlightening the audience about the essential need for art making in providing children with a comprehensive learning experience.

Teachers interested in submitting should e-mail Julie Horn at the Maine Arts Commission with any questions and/or a request to participate in the program. Please use the subject heading “SPRING 2014 MYEA” in your e-mail to Julie at julie.horn@maine.gov. Your confirmation e-mail will include further instructions and all necessary paperwork.

Important:

Only two-dimensional artwork will be accepted. Submitted art work must fit the maximum dimension of 18” x 24.” When submitting smaller artwork it has to be mounted on an 18” x 24” mat or poster board. There is a combined maximum thickness of 3/16’’ for artwork and mat together. The artwork can be exhibited vertically or horizontally (please indicate) and will be placed in pre-existing frames. Artwork submitted that does not fulfill these size requirements will be considered ineligible. All artwork must be labeled on the back with the student’s name, school, and grade. Please do not send artwork in cylinders or mailing tubes.

Deadline:

Artwork and paperwork must be received by Friday, December 6, 2013 for consideration in the exhibition.

The Maine Arts Commission reserves the right of final selection and display of all works for this exhibition.The Maine Arts Commission assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged artwork.

Free Transportation Offered for NEFA Idea Swap

The New England Foundation for the Arts Idea Swap will take place in Worcester Massachusetts on November 7, 2013 (9:30am – 3:00pm at Mechanics Hall). The Idea Swap provides an opportunity for nonprofit presenting organizations to network, share project ideas and build partnerships that may qualify for funding from the Expeditions grant program. Registration for the Idea Swap is $50.

The Maine Arts Commission would like to encourage presenting organization staff from Maine to attend. To do this we are providing a free shuttle service between Portland and the conference. The carpool will leave Portland (from the Portland Mall) at 7:00 a.m., on November 7, to arrive in Worcester at 9:30 a.m. The vehicle will leave Worcester at 3:00 p.m., arriving back in Portland around 5:30 p.m.

If you would like to take advantage of this free service please contact Kerstin Gilg at the Maine Arts Commission. This offer will expire when the seats are filled. This trip was extremely popular last year and we expect seats to go quickly, so please contact Kerstin as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Kerstin can be reached through e-mail at kerstin.gilg@maine.gov, or by phone at 207/287-6719.

Registration has Begun for Poetry Out Loud

It is that time of year again when the Maine Arts Commission calls for participation for one of its most enjoyable and successful arts education programs. Poetry Out Loud has just been amazing since we began it in 2006. We have had thousands of competitors, thousands of audience members, live radio broadcasts, live TV broadcasts, and been joined by celebrities, such as Richard Blanco. We already have 21 schools signed up and we are looking for more. The school registration deadline for this year’s Poetry Out Loud program is November 22, 2013.

The Poetry Out Loud competition is organized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation; it is administered at the state level by the Maine Arts Commission. Begun in high schools nationwide in 2006, the program encourages our nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. In addition to providing a meaningful arts education experience of poetry in written and spoken form, awards are provided to successful students and schools at the state and national level, including a $20,000 scholarship awarded to the POL National Champion. The Maine state winner receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip (with an adult chaperone) to Washington, D.C. to represent our state at the National Finals. His or her school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The Maine state runner-up receives $100 and his or her school receives $200 for the purchase of poetry books.

Over 7,500 students and more than 185 teachers from 36 high schools across Maine participated in Poetry Out Loud in 2012-2013. We anticipate that 2014 will be just as exciting and we encourage all teachers to consider giving their students the chance to shine in this nationwide celebration of poetry!

The Maine Arts Commission is pleased that schools can now register quickly and easily online by visiting www.MaineArts.com. Please note that Poetry Out Loud can take place in your school anytime between now and January 17, 2014, as the program does not require full class periods and can be completed in just two to three weeks. However, there are many opportunities to make Poetry Out Loud a larger part of your high school’s curriculum in English Language Arts or Visual and Performing Arts, including the program’s alignment with the Common Core English Language Arts Standards in the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading and for Language (http://www.poetryoutloud.org/teaching-resources/ncte-english-teaching-standards).

Please review the following timeline as you consider registering your school:

• September – November 2013 School Registration (ongoing)
• November 22, 2013 Last day to register for Poetry Out Loud
• January 17, 2014 Last day for school-wide competitions
• January 28 and 30, 2014 Poetry Out Loud Regional Workshops (locations to be determined)
• February 6 and 12, 2014 Maine Regional Finals (locations to be determined)
• February 7 and 13, 2014 Snow dates for Regional Finals February 27, 2014 Maine State Finals (location to be determined)
• February 28, 2014 Snow date for State Finals
• April 28-30, 2014 POL National Finals

The Maine Arts Commission believes that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education. Through our Arts in Education program, we strive to create and support innovative arts learning opportunities that engage both students and teachers in creative thinking, arts participation and the building of vibrant learning communities. Please visit www.MaineArts.com to find more information about the benefits of Poetry Out Loud and all of the Maine Arts Commission’s educational programming.

Please contact Argy Nestor if you need any assistance with registration or programmatic planning. She welcomes the opportunity to work with you and your high school on this exciting opportunity!

Ms. Argy Nestor Director of Arts Education Maine Arts Commission 207/287-2713 argy.nestor@maine.gov MaineArts.com

Mike Daisey Show Free for Conference Attendees

It's official, the Collins Center for the Arts are including free tickets to Friday night's performance of Mike Daisey -- THE SECRET WAR for registrants of the Maine International Conference on the Arts.

Mike Daisey is an American monologist, author, actor and raconteur best known for his monologue "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" about the life of Steve Jobs, our enchantment with technology, and the story of how those devices are made in China. This transcript was downloaded over 100,000 times in the first week it was made available. Under a revolutionary open license it has seen more than forty productions around the world and been translated into six languages.

In this controversial new work, Mike Daisey is telling the most important story we're not allowed to talk about: the story of secrets. Why we make things secret, how we keep secrets, and the power that secrecy has over our world. From the personal to the political, Daisey talks about three men who were driven to reveal secrets: Edward Snowden, an NSA contractor who exposed how America spies on its citizens, Bradley Manning, imprisoned for years after revealing war crimes and atrocities, and Daniel Ellsberg, who released the Pentagon Papers that changed the course of the Vietnam War. These men are polarizing figures, all have been called traitors and heroes, whistleblowers and villains, as many struggle to define them. By focusing on the human, Daisey provides a startling look at how we all keep secrets and the price we pay for them.

This show will be at the Collins Center for the Arts during the Maine International Conference on the Arts, and it will be free to conference attendees. Tickets will be provided when registrants collect their materials from the registration desk. Register today to take advantage of this, and all the other amazing things on offer at the Maine International Conference on the Arts.

National Expert on Marketing Presents Two-hour Workshop at MICA Conference

Every workshop at the Maine International Conference on the Arts promises to provide an incredible learning experience for conference goers. One of these amazing opportunities to learn is the marketing workshop provided by Stephen Belth. This workshop will provide you with everything you need to develop a strong marketing strategy for yourself, your organization, or your community. This workshop alone is worth the registration fee.

It is not possible to find many people more qualified to teach a two-hour workshop on marketing in the arts than Stephen Belth. As Director of Arts Marketing Network, Inc. (AMN), Stephen has developed literally hundreds of audience acquisition and retention campaigns for cultural institutions throughout the United States. With expertise in direct marketing, market research, interactive and e-promotion, graphic design, and strategic planning, his programs have delivered millions of dollars in ticket sales and membership revenue and have helped orchestras, performing arts organizations, and museums dramatically increase their audiences.

His client roster has been highlighted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seattle's ACT Theatre, Live From Lincoln Center, the Brookfield (IL) Zoo, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, KUOW-FM, Seattle’s Public Radio station, Indiana University, Arts Administration Program, IU Auditorium, Tanglewood, Ravinia, and the Cleveland Orchestra, among others.

Prior to founding AMN, Belth held the position of Vice President for Marketing and Communications for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) from 1995-1998. While there, he supervised all promotion, brand identity, graphics, and communications of this 107-year-old company, during which annual sales revenue grew from $15 million to nearly $23 million.

Prior to his work at the CSO, Belth was Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl, a $40 million-a-year institution, credited with the most individual tickets sold of any major orchestra. Among his campaign highlights were “Philharmonic Style,” a program designed to attract younger audiences to concertgoing, and “The Pool Circle,” a Hollywood Bowl value-added subscription program which created a platinum circle among the Bowl’s already affluent subscribers.

In the decade before going to the LA Philharmonic, Belth was President and Founder of Arts and Science Development Service, Inc., a unique service company, providing database marketing to more than 300 hundred arts and cultural institutions nationally (ASDS).

Belth currently serves on the Steering Committee of the National Arts Marketing Project of Americans for the Arts. He has presented seminars in performing arts marketing for the League of American Orchestras (formerly American Symphony Orchestra League,) Indiana University, University of Chicago, and the Arts and Business Council of Chicago and is a frequent speaker at marketing conferences and trade shows. He has taught marketing at Columbia College, Chicago, has published several articles on marketing, and is currently working on a book on audience development.

Visit MaineArts.com for full MICA conference details.

Visit the registration page today to see the exceptional cost structure for the conference.