Hey everyone, thanks so much for all your letters of support and all your donations to the My Words Are My Shelter project. It apparently struck a deep chord in many people and the response has been amazing. The update is this: In the very first day, I got $507! That is enough to send a box of journals, pens and pencils to every single woman at my mom’s shelter. I haven’t even checked my P.O. box for checks yet and today, some other donations came in. What I decided to do with the extra money, is to use the money for a ticket to go to Cleveland to the shelter (no need for housing as I have friends there) and do a poetry workshop with the women there this coming February. Any left-over money from this My Words project after that will be donated to the shelter in either check form or in the form of more journals or books (they really need books too!). So that’s the update. I’ll run this project until December 20th for now. I think that it will become an on-going project for the future and I hope that it inspires other such actions across the globe. Actually, it already has---I have heard from several people around the world who said they were going to do the same thing. Very cool! And all because of YOU!
Okay...onward and upward! I have a couple opportunities and will post more tomorrow or Friday. Have a great day and thanks once again for your support. I’ll keep you updated on the project.
Cheers,
Mirabee
(WRITERS & ARTISTS) Provincetown Residencies—The Provincetown Community Compact is accepting applications for residencies in two dune shacks in the Cape Cod National Seashore (Provincetown, MA USA). These primitive dwellings in a magnificent setting provide one to three week stays, one with a $500 fellowship for a visual artist, and two funded writers' weeks. For details go to: www.thecompact.org
(MN or NY ARTISTS) The 2011 Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant Program—will award grants to emerging creative artists (composers, sound artists, playwrights, creators of performance art and experimental theater, and visual artists). Minnesota-based executive and program administrators working for nonprofit organizations in music, theater, and visual arts are also eligible to apply. The deadline for applications in Music, Theater, and Visual Arts is February 28, 2011.
(MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS) Music Omni Residency: Each August, approximately a dozen musicians--composers and performers from around the globe--gather for two and a half weeks to share in a unique collaborative music making residency program. Music Omi encourages its residents to participate as members of an international musical community; sharing ideas, performing each others works and writing music for one another while exploring their own musical vision. Music Omi invites applicants from all musical disciplines who wish to broaden their artistic horizons and engage actively with a diversity of other musicians.
Unlike most artists residency programs, where artists come to work in isolation, Music Omi actively encourages the exchange of ideas and the sharing of cultures through active collaboration. A singular feature of the Music Omi experience is the presentation of two public concerts at the conclusion of the program (one on the Art Omi campus itself near the conclusion of the residency, and the other at a New York City venue the day following the conclusion of the residency).
Applicants may be primarily composers, improvisers or performers, but have some proficiency in each of these areas. Music Omi welcomes academically trained musicians, musicians "of the street," players of traditional instruments, concert instruments, vocalists, and sound artists of all kinds. "Pop," "jazz," "classical," "folk," "experimental," and other such labels have no bearing on the selection process, only musical excellence and a wish to collaborate. It is recommended that applicants come not with specific projects in mind, but rather with a willingness to share their skills and sensibilities, and an openness to working together with others on jointly conceived musical projects.
All awarded fellows commit to remaining for the entire residency and to participating in the concluding concerts. Everyone accepted to Music Omi receives full room and board during his or her stay (note that Art Omi is unable to provide travel funds).