Community Artist Connection TV

It has been acclaimed "a great success".

January 29th was the taping debut of "Community Artist Connection" Public Access TV show. WCA San Diego's President, Laura Jean Thompson taped her first in a series of shows that will feature San Diego Artists. The airing date has not been set yet, but it will be aired on Cox Channel 23 in South San Diego and Channel 18 in North County.

The first taping was hosted by Community Leader and Activist, Walter Davis. Mr. Davis interviewed Laura Jean, President WCA SD, on her reason for wanting to have a public access show, simply put, she wants San Diego Artists (visual, performing, music) to have free access to TV. She intends to interview one artist per half-hour show. She was excited to announce that she has so many worthy artists asking to be part of this show that it has become difficult to decide who to have first.

She will be taping 2 shows per month. Her next taping date is March 5th.

Laura said that she is looking for more people interested in being part of her crew. NO is experience needed. You can become part of the exciting world of TV, be behind the camera, learn how the credits appear, learn the technology behind the "sound board", learn to direct, and be a floor manager, you can do it all!

Herstory 3rd Annual Exhibition at WHM

March 7th
7:30 p.m.

Third Annual Juried Exhibition"Herstory"
Opening Reception
Women's History Museum San Diego
2323 Broadway #107
San Diego

Art Action Alert

February 6, 2009

Breaking News

This afternoon the U.S. Senate, during their consideration of the economic recovery bill, approved an egregious amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) that stated “None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project.” Unfortunately, the amendment passed by a wide vote margin of 73-24, and surprisingly included support from many high profile Senators including Chuck Schumer of New York, Dianne Feinstein of California, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and several other Democratic and Republican Senators.If the Coburn amendment language is included in the final conference version of this legislation, many arts groups will be prevented from receiving economic recovery funds from any portion of this specific stimulus bill. It is clear that there is still much work to be done in the Senate and in the media about the role that nonprofit arts organizations and artists play in the nation’s economy and workforce.

Plan of Action

Arts advocates need to quickly contact Senators who voted for the Coburn Amendment and express your extreme disappointment with their vote. We need these Senators to know that their vote would detrimentally impact nonprofit arts organizations and the jobs they support in their state. We have crafted a customized message for you to send to your Senators based on their vote on the Coburn Amendment. The correct letter, customized to each of your Senators will appear when you enter your zip code. If your Senator voted for this funding prohibition, you can send them a message expressing your disappointment and ask them to work to delete this language in the final conference bill with the House. If your Senator voted against the Coburn Amendment, you can thank them for their support of the arts.

We need as many news articles as possible this coming week to publish stories about the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry and how the recession is negatively affecting arts groups across the country. Please click here to customize an opinion editorial to your local media. We have provided you with easy-to-use talking points.

Next week, Americans for the Arts will be sending you another action alert that targets the White House and the soon-to-be-named Senators and Representatives who will serve as conferees to the final economic recovery bill. Please be prepared to take action on this alert as well.

Americans for the Arts itself is submitting op-eds to several national newspapers and online blogs. We are enlisting high profile leaders to co-sign these letters as well.

Americans for the Arts is purchasing full-page ads titled “The Arts = Jobs” in Washington’s top political newspapers in Roll Call, Politico and The Hill on Monday and Tuesday of next week. We encourage you to post the ad on your social network sites.

Please help us continue this important work by becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund. Play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today -- it's free and simple.