The Best 38 Minutes You'll Spend!

Of course no one has time. Nevermind time to sit in front of your computer and watch a video on creativity.

HOWEVER, if you're sitting at your desk and eating lunch, this video will aid your digestion. Listen (if you can't watch) to Sir Ken Robinson speak at the National Governor's Association Conference last week. He speaks passionately, eloquently, humorously, and engagingly about the need to nurture creativity, not only in education (and through education), but as vital to the future of American culture and the economy. Something we must nurture in NJ legislators!!

Here's the link (copy and paste it into your browser) and scroll down the page to August 7.
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=365dab5b42f5c010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=530f749a71302010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD

I guarantee it's the best 38 minutes you'll spend on the computer this summer. Thanks to Bob Morrison at the Music for All Foundation for posting it in his Music for All News today!

A Girl's Gotta Do What A Girl's Gotta Do!

Cultural tourism? How about spa and an afternoon at the theater? How about yoga, green tea and a show at George Street Playhouse?

GSP has got it down, girlfriends! From the Diva's Deluxe Retreat to Zen Friends to La Dolce Vita to redhatchat...some extremely creative theater packages that cater to the ladies and a special treat to zap the stress out of your life...for an afternoon or evening at least!

Check out georgestplayhouse.org and click on packages for all the details. Diva's Deluxe Retreat takes you to the East Brunswick Hilton's Boca Salon & Spa for a facial, massage, or manicure/pedicure and a shuttle directly to the theater with overnight accommodations back at the Hilton and breakfast the next morning!!!

Zen Friends starts with an afternoon yoga session with green tea or a smoothie at Port City Java afterwards and a 2 pm matinee performance. La Dolce Vita takes you to Catherine Lombardi Italian Restaurant right before the GSP show and redhatchat caters to chapters of the Red Hat Society with post-show dessert and coffee and guest speakers from the artistic team of the theater.

Go for it! I dare you!!!

So What Difference DOES $3.586 mil Less Mean to NJ Arts?

Well it was interesting reality on Tuesday at the NJSCA annual meeting. The Council celebrated its 40th anniversary and it was very clear that it's come a long way since its infancy when only a few grants were awarded and it was just getting its feet wet as a grantmaker.

Here we are 40 years later and after one year with a record $22.86 million to give to non-profit arts groups, political reality has taken hold, and the funding level is back to $19.112 million for what year? 2007??!! Shades of a few other administrations...like 1990 when funding was $19.060...and 2000 when it was $19.369 million. See if you can guess who the chief executives were for those budget years! And remember the old slogan of "20 by 2000??" Makes you wonder what "dedicated revenue" really means, doesn't it?

All cynicism and sarcasm aside, it's time to move ahead and I don't want to see $19 million or less again...EVER!!! Are you with me???