For immediate release
September 25, 2007
Contact: April Sullivan, VSA arts of Texas, (512) 454-9912
View the artistic talent of City of Austin employees at the National Arts Program in Austin
Over one hundred City of Austin employees, retired employees, and family members of employees have entered 220 works of art into the fifth annual National Arts Program in Austin. This visual art exhibit will be on display at the South Austin Senior Activity Center, 3911 Manchaca Road through October 5th with an opening reception and awards ceremony on Saturday, September 29th from 2-4 pm. City Manager Toby Futrell and Assistant Director of the Parks and Recreations Dept, Cora Wright will be presenting the cash awards and scholarships to artists in amateur, intermediate, and professional adult levels, and in youth under 12 and youth 12-18. Judges for the exhibit were Damian Prior, Texas Artist of Year in 3D, Kelli Montgomery, Executive Director of the Austin Visual Arts Association, and Dar McClelland, Round Rock ISD Art Teacher. Scholarship awards have been donated by Abrakadoodle, ClayWays and Artist S’Zanne Reynolds.
The National Arts Program Foundation was founded in 1985 by publisher, poet, writer and art collector Leonard E. B. Andrews. “Artistic, creative talent resides in everyone—and our intent is to establish a platform to find undiscovered artistic talent indigenous to America,†said Andrews. The National Arts Program currently partners to provide exhibits in over 250 cities nationwide. The concept of the National Arts Program is to provide an uninhibited opportunity for all people to present their talents, at whatever level, in a public exhibition, free to artists and the public.
This Austin event is sponsored by The National Arts Program Foundation, VSA arts of Texas, and the City of Austin. VSA arts of Texas is a statewide non-profit organization based in Austin that promotes the creative power in people with disabilities. “Bringing the arts to all people is a goal that we share with the National Arts Program,†says Celia Hughes, Director of VSA arts of Texas.
For more information on the National Arts Program in Austin or the artists involved contact April Sullivan at VSA arts of Texas at 454-9912 or [email protected]. # # #