http://t.co/TYzhQ3Sz http://t.co/aPzIViiz

Short story submission deadline is February 21, 2012

New Orleanians are invited to enter short works and artwork for New Orleans by New Orleans, an upcoming collection of stories and art inspired by New Orleans and the people who live there.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Information:
Easy-to-use take home screening kits will be distributed. Men and women age 50 and older who have not been screened for colorectal cancer in the past 12 months are eligible. Does not replace a medical examination or other screening procedures.

Breast Cancer Screening Information: 
Free clinical breast exams will be performed by a physician or nurse practitioner for women 18 and older. Screening mammograms will be available for women 40 and older who do not have a doctor and have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months. Insurance will be billed for mammograms; there will be no charge for women without insurance.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

February 4 - Baton Rouge – 07:30 am – 12:30 pm
Free Skin and Colorectal Cancer Screening

New Orleans, LA (February 24, 2012) – The New Orleans Alliance (NOPA) is proud to announce a call for applications for the Michael P. Smith Fund for Documentary Photography (MPS Fund) 2012 grant. This fund, established by NOPA to honor the legendary New Orleans photographer Michael P. Smith, will award one $5,000 grant annually to a Gulf Coast photographer whose work combines artistic excellence and a sustained commitment to a long-term cultural documentary project.

Both emerging and established photographers residing in the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are eligible to apply. The subject matter for the proposed project, however, is not limited to the Gulf Coast region. NOPA will accept grant applications from February 1 through March 30, 2012. For submission guidelines and to download an application form, visit the Michael P. Smith Fund’s website.

The MPS Fund grant is awarded through a two-part review process. We are proud to announce our 2012 jurors. Three preliminary jurors will select ten finalists. They are Glenn Ruga, director of the Photographic Resource Center and the SocialDocumentary.net website, Paul Moakley, Photo Editor at TIME magazine, and Ellen Fleurov, Director of the Silver Center For Photography. Brett Abbott, the Curator of Photography at the High Museum in Atlanta GA will select the 2012 recipient from the ten finalists.

About NOPA
The New Orleans Photo Alliance is comprised of a diverse group of photographers who joined forces in 2006 to create unity and opportunity for photographers in the Gulf South. It is a volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which currently includes more than 400 members from across Louisiana and the United States. Since its inception, the New Orleans Photo Alliance has sponsored numerous photographic exhibitions, workshops, and educational programs including PhotoNOLA, the annual photography festival in New Orleans. NOPA administers two $5000 annual awards, The Michael P. Smith Fund For Documentary Photography and the Clarence John Laughlin Award. Please visit www.neworleansphotoalliance.org for more information.

Here are our grantees with their Parish and artistic discipline:

Nonprofits

1. Artist International Connection, Inc. (AKA Artist Inc.) – Orleans – Performing Arts
2. Arts Council of New Orleans – Orleans - Multi-disciplinary
3. Backbeat Foundation, Inc. – Orleans - Multi-disciplinary
4. Cooley House Foundation - Ouachita  - Architecture
5. Creative Alliance of New Orleans – Orleans - Multi-disciplinary
6. Edible Enterprises – St. Charles - Culinary Arts
7. Freetown Studios Inc – Lafayette - Mixed Media
8. Houma Regional Arts Council – Terrebonne - Multi-disciplinary
9. Louisiana Bucket Brigade – Orleans - Multi-disciplinary
10. New Orleans Film Society – Orleans - Filmmaking
11. Saint Joseph Arts, Inc. - Tensas – Music
12. Collaborative of Performing Artists (Fiscal Agent: South Arts) - East Baton Rouge – Music
13. Southern Rep Theatre – Orleans - Performing Arts

Individuals

1. Andara , Frank – St. Charles - Traditional Crafts
2. Blum, Harriet – St. Tammany - Photography
3. Brinkman, Amanda – Orleans - Multi-disciplinary
4. Chaudoir, Elizabeth – East Baton Rouge - Jewelry Design
5. Divine, Johanna – Lafayette - Multi-disciplinary
6. Edmunds, Christopher – Jefferson - Musician
7. Guillory, Kristi – Lafayette - Musician
8. Ledoux, Christine – St. Landry - Arts and Crafts
9. Meissner, Joseph – Orleans - Actor (Stage or Film)
10. Rogers, Adam – East Baton Rouge - Other Performer
11. Sauer, Christine – Orleans - Mixed Media
12. Shannon, Elizabeth – Orleans - Mixed Media
13. Timmons-Harris, Anne – Orleans – Jewelry Design

Businesses

1. Absolut Art Glass Studio, Inc. – Lafayette - Traditional Crafts
2. Anne Dale Jeweller, LLC - St. Tammany – Jewelry Design
3. Follette Pottery – Lincoln - Sculpting / 3-D
4. Fruits of My Lens Photography & Consulting, LLC – St. Tammany – Photography
5. Sandoz Marketing Specialists, LLC - East Baton Rouge – Culinary Arts
6. Sarah Dunn Arts – Orleans – Mixed Media

2011 EOF Grantee Testimonials

ORLEANS PARISH

Nonprofit Grantee: Arts Council of New Orleans

“Arts Council of New Orleans appreciates the opportunity provided through the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation Economic Opportunity Grant to develop our ArtsNewOrleans.org website into a mobile phone application, increasing access to information about local arts events, venues and artists for locals and visitors on the go,” Arts Council of New Orleans Interim President and CEO Mary Len Costa said.  “LCEF support provides the first step in making this project a reality and expanding our potential to provide greater exposure, awareness and increased revenue for the New Orleans arts community through enhanced technology.”

Lindsay Glatz
Director of Marketing & Communication
Arts Council of New Orleans

Nonprofit Grantee: The Louisiana Bucket Brigade

“The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is proud to be a recipient of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation’s 2011 Economic Opportunity Fund grant.  Our goal is to transform Mardi Gras into a more sustainable event while reducing the demand for petrochemicals and creating green jobs in New Orleans.  The Louisiana Bucket Brigade will use this grant to further a new, clean and green model of economic development—one in which Mardi Gras is made right here in New Orleans.”

Lenora Gobert, Social Business Director
Louisiana Bucket Brigade
New Orleans, LA

Individual Grantee: Ann Timmons-Harris

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to participate in the upcoming Couture Jewelry Show in the Designer Atelier May 31 – June 4, 2012. With the grant from LCEF and the assistance and encouragement of my family, I am looking forward to exhibiting and showcasing my jewelry designs. I am grateful for the way Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation nurtures our creative entrepreneurs.”

Anne Timmons-Harris
A.R.T. Precious Collectible Jewelry
New Orleans, LA

Individual Grantee: Joseph Meissner

“The LCEF-EOF grant has enabled me to share with other Louisiana actors and filmmakers the lessons I’ve learned in the process of making Flood Streets, a film which has garnered awards, critical praise, and audience raves at film festivals across the country. The emphasis on that project was not only on cinematography, but on subtle, truthful, and intimate acting and writing. I’ve been able to assemble a state-of-the-art teaching studio with an HD video projector, screen, and audio system, so that I can bring together actors and filmmakers to create new projects with nuanced, spontaneous and very real performances. I am modeling the class in part after a production workshop that I took as a drama student at Brown University with Pulitzer-winning playwright Paula Vogel and MacArthur “Genius Grant” winning writer/director/performer Anna Deavere-Smith. That class brought together writers, directors, and actors to create new projects for the stage. I hope to aid other Louisiana actors and filmmakers to achieve a higher level of success with their projects so that we can build an indigenous film community coexisting and comingling with “Hollywood South.”

Joseph Meissner
Actor/Filmmaker
New Orleans, LA

Individual Grantee: Christopher Edmunds

“Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation has provided me the means to compete on a national level as a composer in the 21^st century, allowing me to earn additional income from my craft.”

Chris Edmunds
Musician/Composer
New Orleans, LA

ST. TAMMANY PARISH

Business Grantee: Ann Dale Jeweler

“We are very excited about being awarded a Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation grant to promote LaPearlite. Thank you LCEF for this program, which is a fabulous way to provide seed funding in developing ideas that preserve and showcasing our unique way-of-life in Louisiana. The grant money will be used to market the new Official Louisiana State Gemstone derived from Louisiana oysters. The funding allows us the opportunity to spread the word about LaPearlite being relevant, timely, culturally on target while enhancing the Louisiana Seafood brand and beauty of Louisiana.”

Anne Dale
Anne Dale Jeweler
Mandeville, LA

Individual Grantee: Tana Stevenson

“I am so excited that I will be able to teach photography workshops with the multimedia projector equipment that is funded by LCEF. I can reach dozens of clients at one time versus the private individual lessons that I’ve been doing for the past year.”

Tana R.H. Stevenson
Photographer
Slidell, LA

ST. CHARLES PARISH

Nonprofit Grantee: Edible Enterprises – a program of Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana

“Edible Enterprises, the only Food Incubator in Louisiana, is so appreciative of the LCEF-EOF grant funding for our food center.  We assist food entrepreneurs in starting their own food businesses.  We assist 25 businesses at this time.  We are a non-profit and needed to start a business to bring in revenue to our center.  The grant money awarded to us will assist us in our graphic and packaging needs for our new line of food products “Louisiana Good Foods”. Our tenants also receive grant funding for their small food businesses.  What a great way to support our culinary artists from Louisiana.  Thanks LCEF!”

Gaye Sandoz
Director of Marketing and Tenant Services, Edible Enterprises
A program of Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana
Norco, LA

LAFAYETTE PARISH 

Individual Grantee: Johanna Divine

“My “French Connection” project was awarded an Economic Opportunity Fund grant from LCEF, allowing me to take my music overseas for the very first time. There truly aren’t words to adequately express my gratitude to the LCEF board, staff, and all donors who make these grants possible. Thank you for believing in me as an artist, and for giving me this rare opportunity to share abroad what I’ve cultivated right here at home. Thank you for your efforts in support of musicians, writers, artists, chefs, and craftsmen and women who are keeping Louisiana culture vibrant and alive.”

Johanna Divine
Musician/Composer/Performer
Lafayette, LA

OUACHITA PARISH

Nonprofit Grantee: The Cooley House

“The Cooley House Foundation is working to restore the Cooley House, which was designed by Walter Burley Griffin and is located in Monroe. We are grateful to the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation for the opportunity to reprint the book The Louisiana Architecture of William King Stubbs, written by F. Lestar Martin. Proceeds from the sale of this book will aid our efforts to restore the home. The publication of this book and subsequent programming will also help brand the Cooley House Foundation and establish our commitment to historical preservation in Northeast Louisiana.”

Evelyn Pell Stewart, Director
Masur Museum of Art /Cooley House
Monroe, LA

Anxiety levels rise with those that fear of owing more money than they have and others rejoice and dream of gadgets and hi-def TV’s they will soon possess, outstanding bills that will soon be off their backs or simply more money set aside for a rainy day.

Whatever category you fall under, one thing remains the same. If you are not an expert on the subject it is best to have someone prepare your taxes for you. Most of the time you will owe less or receive more when a trained professional is involved in the process.

There are resources such as local churches, banks, community centers, and libraries that offer free tax preparation services. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA sites, help low- to moderate-income families keep and earn more money by not charging for their services, and by making sure those who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claim it.

Claim Your EITC!

Each year, 2 million eligible Mid-Southerners lose out on approximately $4 billion because they did not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC ). One way to change this is to make sure people in our communities know what it is and how to access it. If every working, low-wealth family in the region claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit on their tax return it would allow families to maximize their incomes and inject extra cash into local economies. To see if you qualify for the EITC, click here. There are no additional forms required to file for the credit. The EITC credit is included in the form 1040.

For more information on how to locate a VITA site near you, or to start a VITA site, call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887.

Information provided by Foundation for the Mid South. Visit their site at www.fndmidsouth.org. To watch a video explaining more about VITA click here.

To download the application, please click HERE. With questions or for more information please email applications@astudiointhewoods.org
Ebb & Flow is a 6-week residency based on the premise that Southern Louisiana can be seen as a microcosm of the global environment, manifesting both the challenges and possibilities inherent in human interaction with urban and natural ecosystems. We ask artists to describe in detail how the region will affect their work, to propose a public component to their residency and to suggest ways in which they will engage with the local community. A Studio in the Woods, located in the Louisiana wetlands, has observed firsthand the dynamic nature of this rapidly changing territory which in turn affects the entire northern hemisphere. We envision this as a powerful context for the exploration of critical thinking, the development of new ideas and strategies, and using the creative process as a catalyst for social change.

“Water is H2O, hydrogen two parts, oxygen one, but there is also a third thing that makes water and nobody knows what it is.”
D.H. Lawrence, Pansies, 1929

The water we experience is not just hydrogen and oxygen but is the intersection of water as a physical, economic, legal, spiritual, cultural and artistic thing.   Those factors, and perhaps others, make up the third component of water, a component which this Studio in the Woods residency seeks to explore and express.

Click here for statistics and info on quitting smoking.

Get to know who you are, what makes you really happy, and learn to balance what you can and cannot change about yourself.

Winter is upon us, which means so is dry skin. Other causes of dry skin include heredity, aging, medical conditions (such as asthma or thyroid disease), daily skin care habits (such as washing with harsh soaps, using sanitizing or harsh cleansing agents, and scrubbing).

Tips for Relieving Dry Skin

1. Plug in a humidifier at home to help keep skin hydrated when indoor air is dry during winter months.
2. Eat foods rich in Omega-3. Essential fatty acids can help fortify the skin’s natural oil-retaining barriers. Foods rich in Omega-3 include cold-water fish (salmon, halibut, sardines), flax, walnuts, and safflower oil.
3. Skip long, hot showers. Hot water strips oils from the skin faster than warm water. Moisturize while skin is moist.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/cosmetic-procedures-skin-care-dry-skin

As you already know, many people make resolutions, but few keep them. The following are tips to help you keep that New Year’s resolution that you make every year but have given up, maybe as soon as January 2nd.

1. Be Realistic. Strive for a goal that is attainable.
2. Make a “Pro” and “Con” list. It may help to see a list of items on paper to keep your motivation strong. Develop this list over time, and ask others to contribute to it. Keep your list with you and refer to it when you need help keeping your resolve.
3. Don’t Beat Yourself Up. Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take each day one at a time.
4. Keep Trying. If your resolution has totally run out of steam by mid-February, don’t despair. Start over again! There’s no reason you can’t make a “New Year’s resolution” any time of year.

For information and tips on these resolutions and more, click here.

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/mentalhealth/a/newyearresolve.htm

We are re-energized by the recent moves of both LCEF offices! Our Lafayette office has a lovely new space in a shared environment in downtown Lafayette. Our New Orleans office has relocated to 1540 Canal St., and we plan to cut the ribbon on March 1 to celebrate.

So much is happening around the state regarding our efforts to serve cultural workers and producers. We’re pleased to see the creation of cultural economy coalitions that reinforce our message that investment in culture grows the economy. LCEF is exploring how to assist these independent efforts to boost the financial stability of the sector.

Thanks to all that made a contribution to our end-of-year campaign (and it’s not too late to make a gift to LCEF). Our Board of Directors has pledged to match each gift, so your donation will be at least doubled by their generosity. Thanks to all for your commitment to Louisiana’s cultural economy!

OneBeatSM is an international music exchange that celebrates musical collaboration and social engagement through innovative people-to-people diplomacy. In the fall of 2012, 30 musicians (ages 19-35) from around the world will come together in the U.S. for four weeks to collaboratively write, produce, and perform original music, and develop ways that music can make a positive impact on our local and global communities.

OneBeat will be a musical journey like no other. It is a chance for adventurous musicians from an incredible diversity of traditions to seek common ground, creating new musical combinations, pushing the boundaries of music technology, and finding ways to involve all members of society in the process of musical creativity. OneBeat endeavors to be the nexus of a new way of thinking about how music can connect people from across the world and around the block.

For more information, please visit www.1beat.org

Save Our Cemeteries is now accepting submissions for its 20th annual Cemeteryscape photography contest and exhibit. Photographers will compete for up to $2,000 in cash and prizes. For entry requirements and deadlines, visitwww.cemeteryscape.org or e-mail membership@saveourcemeteries.org.

The St. Tammany Art Association announces the 47th National Juried Exhibit July 14-August 11, 2012, awarding over $1000 cash and other prizes. Juried by Miranda Lash, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Entries are accepted March 1-31, 2012.

Open to all artists 18+ in the United States, STAA’s annual juried show of contemporary visual art is one of the most diverse in the Southeast. Accepted artwork is original visual art completed within the past two years and not previously exhibited at STAA. Not admitted: reproductions of original artwork, film/video, and large installations.

For more information, please visit www.sttammanyartassociation.org

All women artists residing in Louisiana are invited to participate in a state-wide non-juried visual art exhibition celebrating Femme Fest 2012. Held at the Jazz and Heritage Foundation Gallery Mar. 30-Apr. 21, the Femme Fest 2012 art exhibit is sponsored by Jazz and Heritage Foundation and organized by the Women’s Caucus for Art of Louisiana (WCA/LA). Eligibility:

• Open to all women artists who are residents of Louisiana.
• All artwork must be original and never have been exhibited in a WCA/LA exhibit.
• This show is limited to the first 35 artists who pre-register for the show.

Entry Guidelines:

• All media accepted including: Painting, drawing. sculpture, photography, fiber, and digital media.
• Only one art work per artist will be accepted.
• Artworks not to exceed 48” in width.
• Work must be suitable for public exhibition. The Femme Fest exhibit is an open call. It is not juried. The first 35 entrants will be accepted. Send your email to pbpstudio@yahoo.com with the subject title: Femme Fest 2011 included full name, email and media.

For more information, please visit www.atlantaartsfestival.com

The Cincinnati Art Museum announces the Marjorie Schiele Prize, a triennial competition that honors the work and legacy of Marjorie Schiele, a Cincinnati artist whose generous bequest established it. Eligibility is restricted to living artists who present a vision or model for transforming our present reality by stretching the limitations of painting and sculpture. Applicants must hold a degree from an accredited school of art and have received prior recognition in publication or exhibition beyond a local level.

For more information, please click here.

The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation’s Exhibition Award supports innovative art exhibitions throughout the United States that challenge convention through the exploration of critical ideas in contemporary art. Curators partnered with an established nonprofit exhibition space are encouraged to apply for the awards, which range from $50,000 to $150,000. Awards are intended to fund exhibitions at the beginning stage of their development and to provide the curator with the support needed to fully explore the concept and realize the exhibition

For more information, please click here.

• What we mean by branding?
• What makes a great brand.
• The importance of authenticity.
• How to best use graphic design.
• Integrating your brand into everything you do.

Branding the Arts: an Arts Council webinar
presented by Lindsay Glatz.
Thursday, February 9th at 12 noon

For a link to the webinar, Please Email Us.

Can’t join the webinar live? Don’t worry, the archived version will be posted for free streaming on the Arts Council website on February 10th. But live is the only time to ask Lindsay your questions!

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support comes from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation

• Understanding online copyright infringement.
• Problems from online piracy.
• Your rights and takedown notices.
• Step by step removal instructions.

You can now stream this webinar for free over the internet! To view the webinar, please click here.
 To see all of the Arts Council’s Arts Business Development webinars, just visit the webinars section the our website
These webinars are presented in part with support from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation.

An annual program of the Sundance Institute, the Sundance Creative Producing Fellowship is a year-long program designed to nurture emerging independent film producers with project-specific support through labs, grants, and long-term advisor relationships.

The fellowship program is designed for the holistic producer — that is, someone who identifies, options, develops, and pitches material; champions and challenges the writer/director creatively; raises financing; leads the casting/packaging process; hires and inspires crew; and navigates the sales, distribution, and marketing arenas. The program is designed to hone emerging producers’ creative instincts and further develop their communicating and problem-solving skills at all stages of realizing a project.

Five producers will be selected for the one-year fellowship (July 2, 2012, to June 29, 2013), which will include participation in a feature film creative producing lab and creative producing summit, as well as attendance at the Sundance Film Festival (including screenings, curated meetings, and networking opportunities). Fellows also will receive a $5,000 living stipend, a $5,000 pre-production grant, year-round mentorship from two industry advisors, and year-round support from Sundance Institute staff.

To be eligible, candidates must have produced at least one short or feature-length narrative or documentary film (no more than two narrative features total); must have a completed, legally-optioned, scripted narrative project in hand with a director attached to the project; may not be the writer or director of the submitted project; and must live in the United States, though the project may be filmed internationally.

Visit the Sundance Web site for complete program guidelines, the application, and an FAQ.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP