In 1990, the President's Council for the Arts was created with Mort Caplin as its chair. The first annual fund grant was made by the Arts Council to the University in 1999 for a studio art building plan. This began as an informal process of contributions from the Arts Council to advance areas of the arts at U.Va. The formal grant process was launched formally in 2003.

Mission

The Arts Council provides advocacy, advice, and support in the Arts at the University of Virginia. The Council strives to develop and strengthen the bonds of interest and participation among the Departments and programs of the McIntire Department of Art, the Department of Drama including the Dance Program, Media Studies including the Virginia Film Festival, and McIntire Department of Music; the School of Architecture; the Fiske Kimball Fine Arts Library and the Music Library; the University of Virginia Art Museum; and the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection; and their alumni and friends; to advocate on their behalf; to advise and assist with communications; and to help raise funds in support of academic programs, facilities, and special events.

Advocacy
The Arts Council works on Grounds, in the Charlottesville community, and beyond to promote the Arts at the University.

Advice
Arts Council members' advise the University through meetings, focus groups, and through larger discussions on aspects of arts facilities or programs. Between meetings, selected members are called upon on by faculty and administration to serve as arts experts. Direct interaction with deans, arts department chairs, program directors, with artists and patrons are part of this function.

Support
A $2,500 annual contribution to the Annual Fund for the Arts is an expectation of Arts Council membership over and above gifts to other programs at the University to which Council members already contribute. Each Council member is strongly encouraged to make a leadership gift for Arts capital projects, programs, or endowment.

Council Membership
Approved April 4, 2008

The Council seeks to develop a group experienced with the University's unique and complex arts environment and who share a vision for the future of the Arts at U.Va. The Council shall have between 30 and 40 members whose interests and experiences span the visual and performing arts, and whose ages, geographic locations, genders, cultures, and ethnicities reflect the diversity of the University's constituencies and its arts community. Preference in membership will be given to those who have demonstrated significant support for the University and the arts.

There are three categories of members—Active, Emeritus and Ex-Officio.

Active members of the Arts Council are:

Volunteers with an expressed and demonstrated interest in the Arts at U.Va..

Volunteers sitting on other University advisory boards such as the Board of Visitors, the Campaign Executive Committee, or NCOUR.

Up to three University of Virginia students majoring in art, drama, media studies or music are identified by the dean of the College with input from the department chairs are presented to the Nominating Committee. Their role is to provide a student perspective on the U.Va. arts experience.

Representatives of other arts related University boards and foundations such as, for example, the University of Virginia Art Museum Advisory Board, Charlottesville Symphony Society Board of Directors or Campaign Cabinet, Virginia Film Festival Advisory Board or Council of Friends, Media Studies Advisory Board, School of Architecture Foundation, College Foundation, or the Heritage Repertory Theatre Guild.

Elected for a three (3) year renewable term. There is not a limit to the number of renewals.

Emeritus members of the Arts Council:

Include former active members of the Arts Council. Emeritus status is conferred at the conclusion of an active member's term(s).

Remain informed and receive invitations to Arts Council meetings, while not under the obligation to attend meetings or contribute to the Annual Fund for the Arts.

May serve on Arts Council committees and vote on committee business.

Ex-Officio members of the Arts Council

Are the Vice Provost for the Arts and the Director of the Arts Grounds Campaign who function as the primary staff support for and University liaisons to the Arts Council.

Serve on the Executive Committee and may serve on other Arts Council committees but cannot vote on Council or committee business.

Current Members

Honorary Chair Mortimer M. Caplin (College '37, Law '40) Chair Stephen P. Smiley (College '71) Vice Chair Edith S. Champ Treasurer Thomas Osborne Student Member Sarah Steely		Members Robin Baliles (Darden '90) Chris Bierly (Commerce '86) John Birdsall III (College '66) Mary-Scott B. Birdsall (College '66) E. Roger Boyle III (College '64, Law '67) Nina Brown de Clercq(Psychology '90) Elizabeth Buck, PhD (College '85) Elizabeth Cauthen (Graduate School of Arts & Sciences '55) Med Clinard Ruth C. Cross Margaret Doyle Lee Ellen Fleming (Art History/Art Studio '09) Joan Fry Bebe Heiner (Medicine '97) Terry J. Lockhart (College '74) Thomas C. MacAvoy Byron F. Marchant (Law '87) J. Sanford Miller (College '71) Jeff Miller (College '74) Patty Reid Joanne Robinson Emily Robson Thomas Stephenson (Darden '81) Gretchen Tibbits (College '89) Jim Tune (Foreign Affairs '64) Kathy Tune Laurie Turner (Commerce '79) Paul Junger Witt (College '63)

Annual Fund Grant Guidelines
Updated: January 2008
Approved April 4, 2008

Annual Fund Grants will be made once per year, for the following academic year. The schedule will be one granting cycle in the spring. A Request for Proposals will be sent [via email] in January and decisions finalized at the spring meeting of the Arts Council. Funding decisions are dependent upon the monies available in a given year.

Gifts supporting this program will be solicited from Arts Council members on a calendar year basis. Funds will be deposited in an interest-bearing but not endowment account.

Funds will go to academic schools, departments, programs, and groups with faculty advisors as a first preference, but student groups may be considered if endorsed in advance by the appropriate academic department. Proposals should come through and be prioritized by the department chair's office.

Projects should be specific and substantive, with a direct impact on students. This is not intended as a "fix-it" or petty cash fund.

The grants may be offered up to $10,000.

Efforts will be made to diversify recipients so that one department or unit does not consistently receive the lion's share of monies.

The Arts Council contribution needs to be recognized in any printed materials (programs, CD liner notes, exhibition posters, etc.) resulting from grants. For projects wholly supported by an Arts Council grant, the phrase "underwritten by the University of Virginia Council for the Arts" could be used; for partial funding, use the phrase "supported by the University of Virginia Council for the Arts."

Applications for grants should be received by the posted deadline, usually one month in advance of a full Council meeting, to give the Committee time to research each project and make recommendations.

Applications must include brief reports on the use of previous grants, or progress reports on longer term projects.

Grants will first be discussed by the Annual Fund Committee, and then presented to the full Council for final approval. As of 2008, the following are eligible to apply for grants: Departments and programs within the departments of Art, Drama including Dance, Media Studies including the Virginia Film Festival, and Music; the School of Architecture; the Fiske Kimball Fine Arts Library; the Music Library; the University of Virginia Art Museum and the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection.

Contact Us

For help or additional information, please contact:

Beth Turner, Vice Provost for the Arts

1709 University Avenue
PO Box 400308
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4222

434.242.1701 tel
434.982.2920 fax

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Lindsey Hepler, Arts in Action Coordinator

1709 University Avenue
PO Box 400308
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4222

434.243.8446 tel
434.982.2920 fax

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