Upcoming at the Loft Literary Center

In January, keep an eye out for the following events at the Loft!

The Education Open House:
Thursday, January 13, 2011 - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

An evening full of listening, learning, and deciding! Here's what is in store for you:
* Mini-class presentations by a number of Loft teaching artists
* Winter/spring term student reading cohosted by Greg Breining and Jorie Miller
* Mix and mingle opportunities--with teaching artists, Loft staff, and prospective students
* Light refreshments

Take advantage of this time to figure out which creative writing class you'll take next, get your questions answered by Loft staff, be inspired by the words of current Loft students.

The Magazine Mingle
Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 5:30 pm-7:30 PM

The Loft Literary Center and the Minnesota Magazine and Publishing Association team up for the eighth time to host a casual networking event that also celebrates the breadth of Minnesota’s magazines.

Editors and freelance writers gather for inspiration, education, and networking. A unique event to meet magazine professionals in a casual setting. Magazines from around the state will be on display. Put faces to names. Meet new folks. Light refreshments. Cash bar. Fabulous door prizes. Register at mmpa.net. Registration discounts when you register early and bring a colleague or two.

In February, you'll also want to reserve out some time for the Loft's Literary Love Fest as local literati shine as they riff about love. Or hate. Or the departure of an ex. Family. Community. Whatever makes their hearts go pitter patter around Valentine's Day. Featuring multiple readers and genres. Always a good time. Writers sharing the love include Phebe Hanson, Klecko, Tim Nolan, Jim Northrup, and Shannon Olson. This will be held at Kieran's Irish Pub, 601 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis. This is a Raking Through Books event cosponsored by the Loft, Kieran's, and the U of M Bookstores on Wednesday, February 09, 2011 starting at 5:30 pm.

Upcoming MN State Art Board grants available

The Minnesota State Arts Board has several grant application deadlines in January.  Eligible individuals and organizations are encouraged to apply.

Folk and Traditional Arts - grants to support the artistic traditions and customs practiced within community and/or cultural groups by identifying, documenting, preserving, presenting, and honoring Minnesota's folk arts and traditions.  Application instructions and forms are available on the Arts Board Web site:  http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf-fata.htm

Application deadline is January 7, 2011.

Minnesota Festival Support - grants to sponsoring or presenting organizations to feature Minnesota individual artists and Minnesota arts groups in arts festivals, or in the arts components of broader, community-based festivals.  Application instructions and forms are available on the Arts Board Web site:  http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf-mfs.htm

Application deadline is January 7, 2011.

Operating Support - general operating support grants to high quality, established arts organizations that produce, present, or exhibit works of art; to nonprofit organizations that provide a broad range of services to artists; and to community arts schools and conservatories that make arts learning available to Minnesotans of all ages and abilities.  Application instructions and forms are available on the Arts Board Web site: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/operating-support.htm

Application deadline is January 21, 2011.

New Minnesota State Arts Board jobs available

The Minnesota State Arts Board is seeking qualified candidates for the following program positions

Program officer, arts learning and access
(10ARTB000009)

The program officer will manage Arts Board grant programs and services that expand access to the arts and promote lifelong learning in the arts. The program officer will manage several Arts Board grant programs including Arts Learning, Community Arts Schools and Conservatories, and Arts Access. The program officer also will manage the board’s professional development initiatives and its annual participation in the national Poetry Out Loud program.

Program officer, artist assistance
(10ARTB000010)

The program officer will manage Arts Board grant programs designed to support and promote the work of individual artists (Artist Initiative, Cultural Community Partnership, Folk and Traditional Arts, and Minnesota Festival Support).

Program associate, outreach
(10ARTB000008)

The program associate will help to increase awareness and understanding of, and participation in, Arts Board programs and services by helping to build relationships between the board and constituents that could benefit from its programs and services; helping to develop and implement strategies to promote Arts Board grant programs and services; and providing technical assistance to potential applicants.

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited visit the State of Minnesota employment Web site and review the Arts Board job postings and the minimum and preferred qualifications for each position.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter as directed in the job posting. Individuals who are interested in, and qualified for, more than one position may submit an application for one or more of the positions.

Applications must be submitted no later than January 3, 2011.

LAO Report on UXO and Convention on Cluster Munitions: 12/30

Save the Date -- Thursday Dec. 30th, 2010!

Join the Lao community and Jack Rossbach for an interesting presentation that will include the report from LAO about the successful 1st Meeting of States Parties for the Convention on Cluster Munitions Held in Nov. 2010 Laos (1MSP) along with more general information about the wonderful people of Laos.

1MSP is an international effort to ban cluster munitions (121 Countries formally attended).

Come and celebrate with notable Lao community members, Nobel Peace Prize winning Laureates and other fine individuals. Artifacts, Photos and video from 1MSP will be present. Bring friends, family and anyone else that you can convince this is a good time. Entertainers welcome. As always we will have a pot luck dinner with hopefully Lao food so bring something even if it is only yourself.

When: Thursday, December 30th 5:00-9:00PN+.

Where: The Lao Family building located at 320 University Ave. W., St. Paul (Near Western and University before Rice). Contact at Lao Family Yao Lo 651-221- 0069 for additional information.

Who: Jack Rossbach, Coordinator of the Minnesota Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions in partnership with the Lao community calls the annual meeting to order while celebrating his birthday, much to the dismay of his children. Contact Jack for additional information. Home 651-488-0524 or jack2ros@yahoo.com

Whoops. This blog needs a new post! :)

Welcome to December, everyone and my apologies for not keeping the blog updated in the last two months. As a quick recap of the year in review, we've recently successfully held and taken down the Legacies of War exhibit in Minnesota and the full staging of Refugee Nation with Ova Saopeng, Lidet Viravong and Leilani Chan. I'm currently focusing on gathering oral histories from Lao Minnesotans and will also be doing some side projects in California as well.

I'm also continuing to serve as the community liaison for the Minnesota State Arts Board to assist Minnesotans in accessing the wonderful and exciting opportunities that are available to them. Be sure to check out http://arts.state.mn.us regularly to see upcoming grant deadlines in particular. With the right planning and timing, you can plan anything from festivals to exhibits and readings to keep this a vibrant community.

Stay tuned for a few updates documenting the Fresno community. I think you'll enjoy them! Stay warm out there!