ArtMatters ACCC Newsletter – December 2019 issue, Enjoy!

End of Year Donations Accepted

We rely on donations, sponsorships, memberships, grants, and contributions to support our initiatives and programs throughout the year. We work to fulfill our mission of elevating the arts within our communities. If you’d like to make a year-end donation, we have open arms for your support. We accept donations from individuals, families, charitable funds, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, schools, government agencies and nonprofits. You don’t need to be an artist to support the ARTS!

As a 501(c)3, the Arts Consortium of Carver County is a registered charitable organization. Your Donation should be 100% tax deductible. Please verify with your accountant. Thank you for your support! Donate TODAY on our website. Join us by becoming a valued Member.

Mark Your Calendar and Shop the Holiday Gift Show

Writers Read Their Books Thursday, Dec 5, 7-9pm
Holiday Gift Show open until Saturday, Dec 21
Youth Art Show-IAA – January 8-31
Artists’ Reception for Youth Art Show – IAA (Integrated Arts Academy) Thurs, Jan 9 6:30-8:30pm
Next Step Fund Grant Workshop by MRAC Wednesday, Jan 8 4-5:30pm
New Song Collective – Friday, Jan 10 7-8:30pm
Class – How To Get Started Writing a Book Sat, January 18, 11am-1pm (Registration required)

Arts Center Gift Shop and Gallery open until December 21, 2019 Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat 9am to 3pm
Open extended hours Saturday, Dec. 7, 14 & 21 9am to 5pm
Please check the website for additional hours and special event openings

Arts Center will be closed December 22 – January 7, 2020.
Check our online Calendar for more events and classes

Arts Center in December

Writers Read Their Books

Do you like to give a good book as a present or buy one for yourself? Come hear Carver County writers tell you about their books for sale in the ACCC Arts Center on December 5 at 7-9 pm. Writers Read Their Books will include short presentations by authors S. Collin Ellsworth, Barb Hone, Jim Kane, Sheri Kramer, Doug Munson, April Munson, Dan O’Brien, and Heidi Skarie. They work in a variety of genres and have written mysteries, children’s books, historical fiction, magical realism, science fiction, books on Barn Quilts, and much more. You will have a chance to talk with each of them and have them autograph any book that you buy. Refreshments will be served. The Holiday Gift Show will be in process. Do join us on Dec. 5 for Writers Read Their Books! Questions: Contact Literary Liaison Susan Coultrap-McQuin at literary@artsofcarvercounty.org.

Holiday Gift Show

Shop for some of the most unique gift ideas of the season! Bring your friends and relatives and help to promote the Arts in Carver County! We have transformed the Arts Center into a Holiday Market with over 50 artist’s works featuring paintings in watercolor, oils and acrylics, mixed media, pottery, jewelry, photography, textiles, unique gifts, wood, blown glass, kiln formed glass, sculpture, ornaments,metal, local authors books, felted wool, greeting cards, local musicians music CD’s and more. Delight yourself in the spirit of the Holidays while you shop for your special loved ones. Enjoy the Season!

January Gallery Exhibit

Enjoy the creative designs of student art in both 2D and 3D work. This is the first annual show for the IAA with the Arts Consortium and it will certainly be an impressive group of work. The show runs January 8-31. Join us for the Artists’ Reception on Thursday, January 9th from 6:30-8:30pm to meet the student artists and find out the secrets behind the art. Everyone is invited. Savor light appetizers and beverages as you enjoy the music and art of the evening. Free to attend.

Register For Workshop

Next Step Fund Grant Workshop by MRAC
Wednesday, January 8th from 4-5:30pm

The Next Step Fund, funded by the McKnight Foundation, provides project grants up to $5,000 to artists in any discipline for the purpose of career development and artistic achievement. Applicants may be at any stage of their career, but must demonstrate achievement in their artistic field and have a history of public presentation or community contribution. This is a highly competitive program and potential applicants are encouraged to attend a grant workshop to learn about this grant opportunity and the program intent.

MRAC brings these workshops out into the community in an effort to reach as many artists, makers, and creatives as possible. This is a free workshop held at the ACCC Arts Center, Registration is required through the MRAC (Metro Regional Arts Council) website. Limited to 30.

Register For Class

ACCC Membership Benefit – Members, be sure to get the current Discount Code from your ACCC Account before you register. Discount Code saves you 10% on all ACCC Classes.

How to Get Started Writing a Book with Debbie Johnson
Saturday, January 18th from 11am to 1pm. If inclement weather, backup date is Sat Jan 25th, same time.
Even if you don’t know what you want to write about, you will find out in this class, and get started simply, with step-by-step instructions in this two hour workshop by best-selling author, editor, publisher, and award-winning filmmaker, Debbie Johnson. Appropriate for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenplays and teleplays, workbooks, tech-manuals, whatever!

What students said who participated in this class in November:
“I thought it was a great class with very useful information, I would love to take more in the future.” G Seiffert, Victoria MN
“I got direction and feel like I can move forward.” and “Very informative.”

Agriculture Photography Contest Winners

In November the Arts Consortium of Carver County held their 5th photography contest. The subject of this year’s contest was AGRICULTURE and the entries fell into 5 categories by grade, resident and nonresident. Artists/photographers explored all seasons of agriculture from winter through harvest. Images were made of people, animals and the business of agriculture. Most of the images were in color, some images came close to black and white and a few were black and white. Award night participants were able to see the work and listen to a critique of photo composition. This year’s judge was Mary Strother, ACCC Visual Arts Liaison. After the announcement event, attendees shopped the Holiday Gift Show at the Arts Center.

Photo Contest Winners
Grade K-4
Blue Ribbon Charlie Szybnski, East Union Elementary
Red Ribbon Benjamin Szybnski, East Union Elementary
Yellow Ribbon Charlie Szybnski, East Union Elementary

Grade 9-12
Blue Ribbon Disha Thakkar, Chanhassen High School
Red Ribbon Disha Thakkar, Chanhassen High School
Yellow Ribbon Disha Thakkar, Chanhassen High School

Adult 18+ Carver County Resident
Blue Ribbon Bret Bailey
Red Ribbon Rebecca Willette
Yellow Ribbon Steve Kelzer

Adult 18+ Non-Resident of Carver County
Blue Ribbon Kyle Peterson
Red Ribbon Jeff Hillis
Yellow Ribbon Kyle Peterson

View winning photos on our 2019 Photo Contest Winners page

Literary Arts

The ACCC Literary Committee is looking forward to an exciting 2020, and we are hoping you will join us at several of our events. In the first part of the year we are sponsoring contests in Flash Fiction and Poetry, and we will host celebrations for each to which the public will be invited. All those who submit to the contests will have an opportunity to read their own works at the celebrations and to hear the announcements of the winners. The Flash Fiction contest is now open with a closing deadline of January 31 and a celebration date of March 5. The Poetry Contest will open in January with a closing date of March 1 and a celebration date of April 23. Later in the year we will host open readings as well as collaborative projects with artists and with musicians. We look forward to seeing you in 2020. Literary Liaison Contact Susan Coultrap-McQuin, literary@artsofcarvercounty.org.

Attention Writers! The 4th Annual ACCC Flash Fiction Contest Opens

Get your creative juices flowing. The 2020 flash fiction contest sponsored by the Arts Consortium of Carver County (ACCC) begins Dec. 1, 2019. The theme is IN THE BEGINNING, and entries must be 600 words or less. That three-word theme does not have to appear in the body of the story. Deadline for submissions is Jan 31, 2020. For the first time our contest will have two categories: Young Adult (ages 13-18) and Adult (19 and older). Submit your work in the body of an email sent to: flashfiction@artsofcarvercounty.org. Include your name, phone number, age category and story title with your entry. Attached files and handwritten entries will not be accepted. Judges will determine the top three winners in each category. All submitting authors are invited to an event scheduled for Mar. 5, 2020 at the Arts Center in Victoria. Winners will be announced, and there will be an opportunity for everyone to read submissions. You can consult the website for more details and to read winning entries from previous years 2019, 2018, and 2017. Please send questions to flashfiction@artsofcarvercounty.org.

ACCC is Seeking new Board Members

ACCC is Seeking new Board members
The Arts Consortium of Carver County is seeking new board members. The Board serves over 250 ACCC members, including visual artists, writers, musicians, performers, business patrons, and community supporters of the arts. We have sponsored events such as ArtStock, Victoria Fine Art Fair, community concerts, art exhibitions, and author events since 2009. Our board members are actively involved in these events and as volunteers in the new Arts Center in Victoria. They serve on the board and work on projects or committees with other volunteers. We are seeking board members from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We hope to bring a diversity of new talents to the board.

Qualifications:

Involvement in the arts, whether visual, literary, musical, or performing, as a practitioner or as a supporter of the arts
Willingness to contribute your time, talents, and passion to our many projects
Skills or experience in one or more of the following areas: social media, education, program/festival coordination, business, finance, and/or marketing.
Membership in the Arts Consortium of Carver County
Volunteer involvement with ACCC activities, the Arts Center, or service on other non-profit boards a plus

To apply:
Please fill out the application form on line at https://artsofcarvercounty.org/about/meet-boardstaff/ to describe your background (work and volunteer) and qualifications and to provide the names of two people we can contact as references for you. Please complete the application beginning now through January 15. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Membership News

Welcome!
The holidays are upon us and our group continues to grow. Please join me in welcoming new members Andrea Merboth and Stacy & Christopher Kelly. We’re happy to have them join our community!

Get Noticed!
One of the biggest artistic challenges is getting our work (and info about ourselves) noticed by potential buyers and admirers. Your ACCC membership offers you an ideal opportunity to get yourself in the public’s eye by filling out your Artist Profile on the ACCC website.

Many of our members do have their profiles filled out (kudos to you!), but for others it’s a challenge. I’ve learned some members aren’t sure what info to include in the description or they don’t have decent images of their work. A few members also said they’ve been meaning to get it done but haven’t had the time. (I can relate!) As we move into 2020, ACCC will be exploring more ways to help our member artists connect with buyers. Having your Artist Profile filled out will be essential to participating in this process. So over the next few weeks I’ll be writing some short blog posts with tips to help you get your Artist Profile completed. I’ll email links to the posts as they’re published.

In the meantime, I’d love for you to check out a few of the Artist Profiles currently on the ACCC website. Some great examples are Cynthia Anderson (sculpture), Jackson Atkins (songwriter/musician), Andrea Merboth (painter/children’s book author), and Waconia Center For Dance Arts. You’ll find each artist approached their profile in the way that suited their art and their personal style in a way that felt comfortable for them. If you haven’t filled out your Artist Profile yet, I’d love to help you get that done in 2020!
Beth Billstrom Membership@artsofcarvercounty.org.

ArtMatters ACCC Newsletter – December 2019 issue

ArtMatters Newsletter Dec 2019