Friday, September 21, 2007

HAF and AIA host Kakaako Pump Station Work Party

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), in association with the Hawaii Architectural Foundation (HAF), is seeking 20 volunteers on Saturday, October 27, 2007 for its third Pump Station Work Party. Bring your work and painting clothes, yard cleaning tools and $100 tax deductible volunteer donation to help maintain this historic structure. We’ll be painting the historic arch doors, clearing the gutters and downspouts, and cleaning the yard from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm. Lunch will be served and volunteers will receive an autographed book on Chinatown “A Close Call,” courtesy of David Cheever. Donations will pay for supplies and the balance will benefit the HAF scholarship endowment fund. Corporate sponsors include Painter’s Warehouse, Skylights Hawaii, Ferraro Choi, and Clifford Projects Inc. For reservation call Dawn Watanabe at 537-3544, by Friday, October 26, 2007. Click here for a PDF flyer with more information about this event.

NEA Delivers The Big Read to Hawai'i

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jackie Smythe
September 18, 2007
808-371-4366
SassHawaii@hawaii.rr.com

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES BIG READ GRANT TO HAWAI'I CAPITAL CULTURAL DISTRICT

TO CELEBRATE - THE JOY LUCK CLUB

Washington, D.C.—September 18, 2007—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that Hawai'i Capital Cultural District (HCCD) is one of 117 organizations that received grants to support Big Read programs between September and December 2007. The Big Read, launched nationally in 2006 by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss a single book. The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs. The Big Read in the state of Hawai'i received $20,000 for program which will take place throughout the month of October.

“Culture in Hawai'i is revered, and literature is a powerful way to communicate our cultural experiences, both within and outside of our communities. Besides studies show literary reading promotes community involvement and an appreciation for culture and arts" said HCCD President, Mona Abadir "We are honored to receive this nationally competitive grant. HCCD and our partners are thrilled to be part of the Big Read, in order to share our diverse and unique programs associated with our book selection, The Joy Luck Club.”

Modeled on successful “one book, one community” programs, the Big Read was created to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the NEA’s 2004 landmark survey Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America. The survey showed that less than half the American adult population now reads literature.

To encourage community-wide participation, Hawai'i Capital Cultural District, the Office of the Governor, Hawai'i State Library System, Department of Education, Hawai'i Council for the Humanities, the Manoa Foundation and University of Hawai'i are collaborating to develop a program on activities related to the selected novel. Big Read events in Hawai'i include celebrity readings, theatrical interpretations, movie screenings, cultural events and panel discussions throughout the state.

“It is inspiring to see so many community-based organizations pull together to support The Big Read. Partnerships at the federal, state, county and private levels will ensure the success of this important campaign for community literacy and lifelong learning. The book selection, The Joy Luck Club, is a perfect fit for Hawai'i because it represents several themes that permeate our rich culture: diversity, immigration, family and love. I am anxious to read the book again, along with members of the community statewide” said Governor Linda Lingle.

“By joining the Big Read, these cities and towns are showing that reading is necessary to the cultural, civic, even economic fabric of their communities. They understand the benefit of having people from different generations and walks of life reading and discussing a great book,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “Yes, this is about reading, but it’s also about getting people to leave their homes and offices, unplug themselves for a few hours, and enjoy the pleasures of literature with their neighbors.”

“We are pleased to announce this second round of Big Read grants. The first-round grantees created innovative and exciting partnership activities that exceeded our expectations,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice, Ph.D. “We’re eager to support these additional communities in launching their collaborative efforts. Through the Big Read, IMLS and NEA are assisting people all across the country as they come together in community to rediscover the great American novel.”

The NEA has provided participating communities with a library of free materials, including readers’ and teachers’ guides for each of the Big Read novels, an audio guide for each novel featuring distinguished actors and writers, an online organizer’s guide for hosting a Big Read program, Big Read publicity materials, and a comprehensive program Web site. The Big Read for military communities is made possible by The Boeing Company.

For a complete list of communities participating in the Big Read, a list of the Big Read novels, program application guidelines to view reading at risk survey, or more information on Hawai'i’s program, please visit www.neabigread.org and www.hawaiicapitalculture.org

The Hawai'i Capital Cultural District coalition is a dynamic partnership of arts and cultural organizations, businesses, public agencies, and individuals who share a vision of a vibrant and active downtown Honolulu characterized by Hawai'i’s unique and diverse heritage, cultures, and arts. The organization’s mission is to preserve, nurture, and interpret the rich heritage of Hawai'i’s past and present; promote Hawai'i as a premier destination for cultural and heritage tourism; and generate economic development and neighborhood vitality in the collective District through its cultural assets.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: www.imls.gov.

Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.

Four Appointed or Reappointed to ACHP

September 18, 2007
Contact: Bruce Milhans
202-606-8513
bmilhans@achp.gov

President Announces Four Appointments to
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush has announced his appointment of four individuals to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).

New appointments to the ACHP are Mayor Thomas R. Miller of Franklin, Tennessee, and John A. Garcia of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Miller will serve as the ACHP’s designated representative for the nation’s mayors. Garcia will fill one of the general public positions on the 23-member council.

Reappointed to the ACHP to historic preservation expert positions for a second four-year term are Julia A. King of St. Mary’s City, Maryland, and Ann A. Pritzlaff of Denver, Colorado.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Garcia and Mayor Miller to the ACHP, and to retain the expertise and enthusiasm of Ms. Pritzlaff and Dr. King who have been vital to our preservation efforts,” said John L. Nau, III, ACHP chairman.

Thomas R. Miller is mayor of Franklin, Tennessee. He is a strong advocate of historic preservation and citizen involvement in civic affairs, and has a professional real estate and other business background in addition to his public sector and volunteer activities. Franklin was the first Preserve America Community in Tennessee and the mayor has been a leader in the effort to acquire and reclaim a 110-acre portion of the Battle of Franklin, a Civil War episode of great historic significance that has been underappreciated. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

John A Garcia is chief economic development officer for the University of New Mexico. He also consults for Grubb & Ellis New Mexico and oversees his management company, Hospitotally. He is the former Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and the New Mexico Economic Development Department, and served as the Senior Officer of Cultural Affairs for the state of New Mexico. He has experience on a statewide level in developing cultural tourism. He received his BBA from the Anderson School of Business at the University of New Mexico.

Julia A. King is associate professor of archaeology and anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She has been a major force in the ACHP effort to update archaeological guidelines with reference to the federal and national preservation structure. With more than two decades’ experience as an archaeologist, researcher, author, and educator, King holds a doctorate in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in anthropology from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from the College of William and Mary.

Ann A. Pritzlaff is outreach coordinator for Colorado Preservation, Inc., where she oversees the annual Saving Places conference—the largest statewide preservation conference in the nation and promotes
youth programs and heritage tourism. Through her service with the ACHP she has played a key role helping to create, grow, and sustain the Administration’s Preserve America initiative. With a long preservation resume that includes serving as the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont.

About the ACHP: An independent federal agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our nation’s historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It also provides a forum for influencing federal activities, programs, and policies that affect historic properties. In addition, the ACHP has a key role in carrying out the Administration’s Preserve America initiative. For more information, please visit www.achp.gov.