Bravo for the Arts

Tippecanoe Arts Federation held their annual Bravo for the Arts this afternoon. Bravo for the Arts brings together legislators, business owners and employees, arts administrators, artists and community volunteers to celebrate all those who create and support the arts. The event was made possible through the generosity of Duke Energy, WBAA, University Plaza Hotel, Greater Lafayette Commerce and artist Zach Medler.

Beginning with a proclamation of Arts and Humanities Month from Mayors John Dennis and Tony Roswarski, Representative Shelia Klinker, and Senator Ron Alting; the event highlights included a keynote address by Dr. Terry Whitt Bailey, President and CEO of Cornerstone Center for the Arts and President of the Indiana Coalition for the Arts who gave and energetic and inspiring address about the importance of the arts and voicing that enthusiasm for the arts in our community. Additionally, Salin Bank received the 2009 Bravo Award for their outstanding contributions to arts and cultural organizations and this year’s John Corey Award went to Virgil St. John for his hard work and dedication to many of the arts and cultural organizations in Tippecanoe County.

Tippecanoe Arts Federation and the Indiana Arts Commission recognized the following recipients of the FY2010 Regional Partnership Initiative grants for Region 4:

Civic Theater of Greater Lafayette, Purdue University Convocations, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, Friends of the Frankfort Public Library, Kokomo Civic Theater, Bach Chorale Singers, Prairie Arts Council, Logansport Art Association, Long Center for the Performing Arts, IU Kokomo Gallery,
Kokomo Park Band, Book Readers & Horn Blowers, Psi Iota, Beta Alpha Chapter, Kokomo Community Concerts, Indiana Fiddlers’ Gathering, Purdue University Jazz, Tippecanoe County Historical Association, Tipton County Pork Festival, Delphi Elementary School, Flora Monroe Township Library, Friends of Bob Music Co-op, Words on the Go,
Tri Kappa, Art League of Montgomery County, Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society, All Saints Catholic School, & Wabash Valley Youth Symphony.

Several programs of Lafayette/West Lafayette Cultural Plan already taking shape under TAF's leadership

Check it out! The Cultural Plan is starting to take shape!


The Cultural Plan for Lafayette/West Lafayette, led by the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, is already listing several successes early in its implementation process.

* The Tippecanoe Arts Federation officially assumed leadership of implementing the Cultural Plan for Lafayette/West Lafayette on July 1.

* A formal Arts Facility Needs Assessment Committee was formed to oversee an assessment of the community's cultural venues. The North Central Health Services' foundation arm has awarded funding toward this study with additional funds from the Barnabas Foundation. A unanimous decision by the TAF board of directors to support the committee’s recommendation to engage a consulting team consisting of leading professionals from Progressive AE, Webb Management and Jones and Phillip took place in August. This team of experts will conduct the Facility Needs Assessment, which is scheduled to be completed by January of 2010.

* The communities of Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County have expressed their commitment and support for the implementation of the Cultural Plan.

* In August TAF launched ASAP, an After School Arts Program in conjunction with the cultural plan to have more arts activities for youth, teens and young adults as well as make a meaningful difference in the lives of youth in our community. TAF is pleased to announce the McAllister Foundation has provided generous support for this program.

* A Cultural Asset Map, designed to provide an inventory of the community’s arts and cultural resources, will be completed in the coming months thanks to a partnership with the Purdue Center for Regional Development.

"Working for tomorrow starts today," said Tetia Lee, executive director of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, who is leading implementation of the Cultural Plan for Lafayette/West Lafayette. "The plan, drawn from input from more than 200 local residents and community leaders, is beginning to take shape as a roadmap for action for the next 10 to 15 years and reflects a vision for arts and cultural development in the community."

Artist in Residence Program Returns

The Tippecanoe Arts Federation is pleased to announce that thousands of students will have the opportunity to work directly with top professional artists for the second consecutive year. This opportunity has been made possible through a grant Tippecanoe Arts Federation received from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation. Funds will be used to provide libraries, community centers and schools with the ability to bring in artists that are trained, knowledgeable, practicing professionals that are enthusiastic and motivated, into settings where they can share the joy and benefits of the creative process.

Last year, this program benefited 10 counties throughout Region 4: Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Jasper, Newton, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Warren, and White and brought the arts to a new level within our communities. Recipient organizations included the Frankfort Community Public Library, Delphi Public Library, Tipton County Public Library, Seeger High School, Happy Hollow Elementary, Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University, Prairie Crossing Elementary and the Prairie Arts Council.

The Tippecanoe Arts Federation is the umbrella organization and arts council for fourteen counties. TAF provides educational opportunities in the visual, performing, and literary arts, outreach programs for both underserved communities and at-risk youth, and funding for operational expenses to fellow arts organizations region-wide. For more information about the Tippecanoe Arts Federation or to apply for an artist residency, contact Tetia Lee at 765-423-2787, tetial@tippecanoearts.org or on the web at www.tippecanoearts.org