NAP Coordinator Handbook  43 States and the District of Columbia, 83 Annual Venues
The Program The Coordinator's Role Volunteers Rules of Exhibit Jurying the Exhibit Target Audiences Press Materials Biography of Founder/Chairman
In 1983, when The National Arts Program® was established, our goal was to recognize and encourage creative and artistic accomplishment throughout the nation. Now in our 26th year, with 83 annual venues in 43 states and the District of Columbia, and steadily growing, we have reaffirmed our belief that there is genuine artistic talent in all of society that is often not recognized. And our goal is still the same; we seek to identify the nations indigenous visual art talents. The art community by nature is somewhat exclusive. The National Arts Program® seeks to remove the obstacles to artistic expression by giving people an easily accessible forum to develop and showcase their talent. Participants are given an opportunity to share their creativity with their co-workers, their family, their peers, and the community. You will be astonished at the degree of hidden talent within employees and their family members in your area and throughout the nation. Current participants include: employees of municipalities and their families, counties, and special venues (such as airports, hospitals, courts, and the general public). This year, we have introduced a new level of public exposure for artists: an Interactive Gallery. It allows all participating artists to post a personal biography and up to four pictures of their personal artworks on the internet. The gallery also includes two Blogs where artists and coordinators may communicate directly with other artists and coordinators. The National Arts Program® enables each participating venue to show the human creative side of employees and their family members the public rarely sees. We know you will find it personally rewarding to help discover and cultivate the artistic talent in your community. Thank you for joining us in this creative mission. THE NATIONAL ARTS PROGRAM FOUNDATION The National Arts Program® is an idea first conceived by Leonard Andrews in the early 1970's. The pilot exhibit was held in Philadelphia in 1985. Its purpose is to recognize and encourage creative and artistic accomplishment throughout the nation and to identify hidden artistic talent in America. The program primarily provides professional and nonprofessional artists alike with a rare opportunity to exhibit their works publicly -- free of charge and free of screening. Artistic, creative talent resides in everyone -- and our intent is to give the people a forum to expand and showcase their talent, and to make the forum accessible to the greatest number of people. In doing so, The National Arts Program® encourages greater appreciation of art among the general public. Artists of all ages and backgrounds exhibit their art in public and compete for cash awards and continuing art education scholarships. Cash prizes are awarded by classification (Amateur, Intermediate, and Professional, Youth under 12, Youth 12-18). When a venue is selected and joins The National Arts Program®, it becomes an annual event, a part of the organization's ongoing cultural experience. New venues are added each year, and the program expects to one day reach every major region of the country. In this our 26th year of The National Arts Program®, we have introduced a new level of public exposure for artists: an Interactive Gallery. It allows all participating artists to post a personal biography and up to four pictures of their personal artworks on the internet. The gallery also includes a Forum where artists and coordinators may communicate directly with other artists, coordinators, and the public world wide. Funding is provided by The National Arts Program Foundation. The Coordinator's role is pivotal to the success of the program. The scheduling of the exhibit itself, and the events leading up to and attendant to the program is one of your first priorities. Participation is key to the spirit of the program -- personal involvement by people from all parts of your organization in the exhibition and related activities is crucial. You are our expert for your venue as well as the official representative of The National Arts Program®. To attract widespread participation, we need the cooperation of others, and you play the vital role. Involving reliable volunteers may well be among the first tasks you undertake in order to be prepared for handling the works of art themselves: assembling, documenting, installing them for exhibit, and returning them. The Rules of Exhibit are clearly explained in the registration brochure. Volunteers are needed to:
Eligibility
Artwork will be judged in the classification of the artist’s selection; however, the exhibition judges will make the final determination in some cases. Adult Youth Prizes and Awards Adult (Amateur, Intermediate, & Professional) Medium Categories Painting (oils, acrylic) Not included in The National Arts Program® are performing arts, film & computer presentation. Preparing Entries
The jurors will determine all awards. Each work will be judged within its classification. Each artist selects the classification in which his/her work will be judged; however, the exhibition judges will make the final determination in special cases. Classifications of skill:
Jurying, by local professionals, is completed before the exhibition opens and awards are announced then. Decisions of the jury are final. All employees and their families. All municipal employees (and their families); for example: City Council members, the Mayor, Police, fire, sanitation, transit departments, professional and administrative employees, corporate executives, retirees, part time employees and the public at large (optional). Specific venues such as the Orlando International Airport, the Los Angeles Superior Court, University of Chicago Hospitals and others. WHAT: Exhibition of paintings, watercolors, photographs, sculptures, crafts and other visual art works by employees and their families at special venues in large and small cities; the participating audience is gradually expanding to include the general public. WHERE: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY, and the District of Columbia. WHEN: Year round nationally WHY: To showcase art indigenous to the United States and to help foster creativity, personal accomplishment, self-worth, and a positive attitude. FUNDING: Conceived by Leonard E. B. Andrews, art collector, poet, and former publisher, the program is funded by The National Arts Program Foundation ADMISSION: Free of charge to participants and visitors. HISTORY: The first program was in 1985 at Philadelphia. EXPANSION: The Program currently reaches more than 450 cities and communities in 43 states and the District of Columbia, a total of 45 million people, in 83 annual venues. PRIZES AND SCHOLARSHIPS: First, Second and Third place cash prizes ($300, $200, $100 respectively) are awarded in each adult classification: amateur, intermediate and professional; $75 (1st), $50 (2nd), and $25 (3rd) cash awards are presented in each youth classification: youth (under 12) and youth (12-18). In addition, scholarships for continuing art education are awarded. LEADERSHIP: The National Arts Program Foundation
Publisher, poet, writer and art collector, Leonard E. B. Andrews is the visionary behind The National Arts Program®, "Artistic, creative talent resides in everyone--and our intent is to establish a platform for undiscovered artists whose work is indigenous to America". The idea became a reality in Philadelphia in 1985, where more than 700 full-time Philadelphia firemen, policemen, teachers and other municipal workers and family members had their artworks displayed at the Philadelphia Civic Center. The National Arts Program® now reaches more than 450 cities and communities in 43 states throughout the nation and the District of Columbia. Born in Nacogdoches, Texas in 1925, Andrews grew up during the depression and attended public schools in Dallas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as an aviation cadet and became a pilot and Second Lieutenant. He served 3 ½ years. After the war, he attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas and 2 ½ years later was recalled into service during the Korean War, where he was a 19th Air Division staff officer and a pilot in the Strategic Air Command. After his Korean War service, Andrews returned to the business world, where he ultimately held senior management positions in banking, financial underwriting, marketing and publishing in Texas, New York and Pennsylvania. He pioneered the concept of national litigation reporting in one of his companies, Andrews Publications, Inc., which was the nation’s foremost litigation and business bankruptcy reporter. He sold the company in April of 1987. Andrews is an accomplished writer, poet and author of "Ponder This," a collection of poems and prose which has been widely published in newspapers, magazines and as a full-length book.
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