Lending a helping hand to area artists, the Wood River Arts Alliance, the Sun Valley Gallery Association and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts have joined forces to co-sponsor a presentation from the Idaho Commission on the Arts. Guest speaker Barbara Robinson, Idaho Commission on the Arts director of the artist services program, will give a free talk to Wood River Valley arts community at The Center in Hailey, 314 Second Ave., S., on Wednesday, April 9, at 5:30 p.m.
Robinson will discuss the grants and awards available for individual artists and the types of works that are typically funded by the commission. Robinson manages the individual artists fellowship program, assists artists with professional development and arranges exhibition opportunities and visibility for artists.
"Barbara Robinson wants to help local artists understand the resources available to them and make the process less daunting for them," said Wood River Arts Alliance Executive Director Shannon Finnegan. "She will show how to prepare for grants and show examples of what works are being funded."
Robinson is a consultant for the public art program at the Boise City Arts Commission and has served as a panelist for arts agencies in Kentucky, Utah and West Virginia, as well as for the Boise Art Museum Art in the Park, Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival and the Boise State University Women's Alumni Exhibition.
Recently Robinson has been working on several projects including managing the touring fellowship exhibition, and producing a revised instructional DVD about photographing artwork. She is also a member of the Arts, History and Culture Committee for renovating the state Capitol and is manager of the Art in Public Places initiative.
"The last few months the Wood River Arts Alliance focus has been the children's art festival, and now our focus is on membership and providing opportunities," Finnegan said. "My hope is that people will understand the application process and have a better understanding of what is out there for them."
To attend the talk, rsvp to wrartsalliance@mac.com or call 578-7720.
Barbara Robinson is the director of the artist services program at the Idaho Commission on the Arts.
