All,

An article I thought might interest you.

And a little update. I'm currently still working at Valparaiso University. I have moved from the Center for the Arts to the Campus-wide Marketing Department. I am now responsible for VU's arts marketing. Quite a challenge in this changing organization! I have wandered a bit from my passion for the visual arts, galleries and museums, but I hope that my career will wander back to the visual arts in the future. Life is always interesting! If any of you are in the Chicago/NW Indiana area and interested in coffee and a chat, I always look forward to hearing from you all!

Lexie

Hope you enjoy the article:

WASHINGTON, DC (AP).- The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the largest private donation in its history Monday — a $22.5 million gift from Dick and Betsy DeVos to endow a management training program for arts leaders. Arts organizations have been struggling or even closing their doors in the recession and need expert leadership to survive, Betsy DeVos said. The gift is among the largest ever by the Michigan couple. "We spend millions and billions of dollars training the most talented artists in the world, and yet we have invested very little historically in actually helping train and prepare their leadership, those who manage and employ them," she said. The gift will help fund two-year arts management training programs across the country. The center already has trained leaders from more than 400 small to mid-sized groups in New York, Chicago and Washington since 2001. It also hosts fellows each year. more...

Hello from Houston

Hello,



I have been thinking about (and missing) you all lately. I hope everybody is doing well!



So I don't believe I actually wrote the blog and told everyone I am down here in Texas. We love it. I work in the Education department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. In particular I work with families - creating resources for them to use at the museum, teaching in the galleries, and even arranging performances (thank goodness for that event planning class!).



My job started last August - so Luke and I left NYC and had a few weeks with family before hauling it down here. Let me know if you all are going to be in town - or if you are thinking of moving here. There is a HUGE arts scene in Houston (that I didn't even really know about) and the economy hasn't been hit as hard.



Write and tell us what you are up to. I would love to hear from everyone.



Best,

t