POET LAUREATE NOMINATIONS Who will be Missouri’s sixth poet laureate? The two-year position includes a $2,500 annual honorarium. Nominations are open through March 22. Find more information here. The Missouri Poet Laureate program is facilitated by the Missouri Arts Council on behalf of the Office of the Governor. DOES THIS NEED TO BE A ZOOM? Artists, writers, and curators share…
LUMINARY OPENS FUTURES FUND The Luminary’s Futures Fund is accepting applications for grants ranging from $2,500 to $8,000. The deadline is March 8. Futures Fund, a re-granting initiative funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, supports innovative, experimental, and future-focused artist projects throughout the St. Louis region. An info session will be held on February 17 at 6:00…
SMARTER KIDS If we want our children to be smarter, we’re better off having them learn a musical instrument or take music education in school, rather than teaching them how to code. Read why here. ATTENTION MURALISTS! The Lambert Art and Culture Program at STL Airport will select a St. Louis artist or artist team to design and paint a mural on…
REPAYMENT BLUES Has the Missouri Division of Employment Security asked you to repay unemployment benefits? You’re not alone. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran this article quoting Ben Wheeler, musician, who received a notice claiming he was overpaid and that he owes the state $8,000. If you need assistance filing an appeal, please contact us. And while we wait for Missouri…
AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR ARTISTS The St. Louis Art Place Initiative is accepting applications for its first development, located in Gravois Park. The initiative, which seeks to build wealth and equity through homeownership, was co-founded by Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Incarnate Word Foundation, and Regional Arts Commission. Two VLAA board members, Pacia Elaine Anderson and Gary Pierson, serve on the initiative’s board…
COVID-19 VACCINATION AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE Wednesday, January 27 at 4:00 PM While 2020 has come to an end, COVID-19 related employment issues, unfortunately, have not. In fact, in the new year, employers will be faced with a whole new host of issues, including: • The COVID-19 vaccine is coming, but can employers require employees to be vaccinated when it…
Our volunteer accountants aren’t available to prepare tax returns for our pro bono clients between January and April. To accommodate our region’s artists, we’ve hosted free tax preparation clinics in partnership with Gateway EITC and the Davis Tax Foundation since 2013. With safety in mind, we won’t be sponsoring these clinics this year. Here are some options to consider if you…
RECORDKEEPING RESOLUTIONS As we look ahead with both hope and uncertainty to 2021, here’s a suggestion that may help you overcome that nagging feeling of being held hostage by the pandemic: Take deliberate control of your creative business. That involves making a commitment to recordkeeping. You can simplify the process with a separate credit card and checking account. Read more.…
By Sue Greenberg, executive director As we look ahead with both hope and uncertainty to 2021, here’s a suggestion that may help you overcome that nagging feeling of being held hostage by the pandemic: Take deliberate control of your creative business. That involves making a commitment to recordkeeping. You can simplify the process by using a separate credit card and…
OMNIBUS SPENDING, CORONAVIRUS RELIEF: WHAT'S IN IT FOR US? The down-to-the-wire bipartisan legislation that Congress passed on December 21 includes $900 billion for Covid-19 economic relief and a $1.4 trillion Omnibus FY21 spending bill that funds the federal government. President Donald Trump signed the bill on December 27. Here’s an inexhaustive look at what the legislation will mean for the…