New City Arts Initiative • Charlottesville, Virginia

Spring For The Arts is an annual celebration to support Piedmont Council for the Arts (PCA), with a silent auction, gallery exhibition, and live performances!

The silent auction features original artwork by Dean Dass, John Borden Evans, Kristin Reiber Harris, Tim O’Kane, and other local artists.

Additional auction items include tickets and arts-related items from the American Shakespeare Center, Chroma Projects, Leah Stoddard Consulting, Live Arts, LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph, Virginia Film Festival, Virginia Arts of the Book Center, Wintergreen Performing Arts, and more!

Guests will also enjoy a gallery exhibition and live performances by Beleza (formerly Beleza Brasil) and the Charlottesville Ballet, with signature drinks and hors d’oeuvres by Harvest Moon Catering and wine selections from Market Street Wineshops. Free ‘Spring For The Arts’ cocktails will be available with dinner at Commonwealth Restaurant after the event.

$40 for PCA members; $60* for non-members

*Includes a complimentary one-year membership for new members

Tickets are now available at www.charlottesvillearts.org/rsvp.

On Friday, April 6th, join PCA from 5:00–7:00pm for a Frist Fridays opening of “The Poetic Justice Tour” at CitySpace.  Then, from 8:00-9:00 pm, there is a poetry and song performance entitled “Lament and Hope.”

The Poetic Justice World Tour is an around the world creative venture in which Ebony Walden (a former New City Arts board member) traveled to 12 countries in 9 months to write poetry and coordinate poetry activities at schools, orphanages, community centers and arts organizations. This journey channeled the creative power of poetry to give voice to the world’s impoverished and disadvantaged communities (whose voices are often muted). She endeavors to use poetry as a creative tool to highlight the beauty of different cultures and generate awareness about social injustices in other areas of the world.

PCA co-presents an ongoing series of seminars with the Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, navigating the legal processes for arts-related issues.

On Wednesday, April 25th, from 6:00–8:00 pm, as part of the series, Richmond lawyers Ian Titley, Esq. and Kirk Schroder, Esq. will lead this helpful seminar for artists on the topic of copyrights. The presenters will speak on the topic and answer questions from attendees. Pizza and beverages will be provided for all attendees.

$5 for PCA members, $10 for non-members.

Registration Required

Join theRockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, March 17th, 5:00- 8:00pm at CitySpace, for an evening of art, food, and fun and help RWS raise matching funds for our exciting expansion plans.

Don’t miss the opportunity to buy the best wildlife art in this area, from many well-known artists and photographers.

The $10 cover includes food and drink.

On December 5, from 6:00-7:30pm, join PCA for this fun introduction to basic money management skills and techniques for artists and arts organizations. Helene Downs will discuss and answer questions about recordkeeping, tax forms, budgeting, retirement planning, and more.

Pizza and beer (and other beverages) will be provided for all attendees. Helene Downs is a CPA at Hantzmon Wiebel LLP in downtown Charlottesville. She is also the Board Treasurer for Piedmont Council for the Arts.

FREE for PCA members, $5 for non-members.

Come join CitySpace and PCA for a First Fridays opening, on December 2, from 5:30 – 7 PM at CitySpace.

The Crescent Hall Quilters group formed approximately nine years ago, as a way for residents to meet one another and strengthen their community. Crescent Halls is one of seven public housing sites in the city and was built in the 1970’s for the elderly and disabled. With the help of Vice Mayor Holly Edwards, the quilting group obtained fabric donations, used sewing machines, and grant funding to get off the ground.

This exhibition showcases the work of current members in the group and will be on display through December 30, 2011. Attendance is FREE and open to the public. All proceeds from quilt sales go to the Crescent Hall Quilters. 

Join Piedmont Council of the Arts for the 2011 Rising Stars Celebration and Exhibition Opening, Friday, October 7th, from 5:00-7:00 pm at the CitySpace Gallery!

PCA will be recognizing the recipients of The Arthur C. Greene Rising Star Youth Incentive Award. Winners of this award are high school juniors and seniors selected by their teachers for their outstanding talent and promise in the arts.

The exhibition will be on display through October 31 and is open Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

Featured image courtesy of Morgan Munson.

PCA is celebrating their new office at CitySpace! The evening will provide an opportunity to check out their new space overlooking the Downtown Mall, including the CitySpace Gallery which will feature the Storyline 2011 exhibit throughout September.

Guests will also enjoy light refreshments, raffle prizes, and special announcements – including the unveiling of a new Art Drinks location for the fall and PCA’s 2010-11 Annual Report.

This event is FREE and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated and can be sent here.

On Friday, September 16, from 8:00-9:00am, join Piedmont Council for the Arts and New City Arts for a speed-networking event for local arts organizations and outreach coordinators at CitySpace.

Enjoy Spudnuts and coffee from Mudhouse while chatting with other outreach coordinators from local arts organizations, direct-service non-profits, and churches. This is a great way to learn more about exciting projects in the area and explore opportunities for collaboration and resource-sharing. If you’re not familiar with speed-networking, don’t fret– it’s easy and fun!

This event is open to anyone in an outreach position at an arts organization, non-profit, or church. Attendance is FREE but registration is required. Please RSVP to Sarah Lawson by September 12.