Comedy Night: MEZCLA edition!

On Saturday August 12, 8-9:30pm, VAE will host four hilarious Latinx comedians in conjunction with our MEZCLA exhibition, curated by Claudia Corletto. This is the first of three Comedy Nights happening this year. The goal is to showcase talented comedy performers while creating deeper experiences of our exhibitions, encouraging new community connections, and giving you a chance to laugh your head off for 90 minutes. Who doesn't need a good laugh nowadays?!

For August, comedy guru and host Adam Cohen is bringing Rene Luna, Freddy Valoy, Kenyon Adamcik, and Carlos Valencia to tickle your funny bones. That's a whole lot of silly under one roof-- don't miss it! Doors open at 7 so you can check out our amazing MEZCLA exhibition. Show starts at 8!

Cost: $10
Ages 18+

>> FUTURE COMEDY NIGHTS
While you've got your babysitter on the phone, have her pencil in these dates too!

Comedy Night: Black On Black edition!
Saturday, November 4, 8-9:30pm

Comedy Night: Feminine Spectrum edition!
Saturday, April 14, 8-9:30pm

Ignite Gallery Owners Speed Date →

MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH @ VAE RALEIGH

SPEED DATES are thematized 30-minute one-on-ones with area smartypants who can answer your pressing professional questions! This time, we are excited to host four gallery owners from the Triangle area to answer your questions about how to get your work seen and out into the world. Space is limited. Grab yourself a date before it's too late! 

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HOW IT WORKS

This is your chance to pick some smart brains in a relaxed, comfortable environment! You should come with a few questions you want to ask your guru(s) during your 30-minute meeting(s). The Speed Date registration form will give them a little background on you before you meet so you won't have to start your conversation totally from scratch.

This event will be held from 2-6 pm on Monday, August 14. That time frame is just when the gurus are available to meet. You get to pick who you meet with and when (depending on availability). You are not expected to be at the event the whole four hours it's happening. Pick and choose to suit your needs and schedule!

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REGISTRATION

STEP ONE: Complete the registration form through Wufoo [CLICK HERE]. You will be asked for your contact information and a short survey of questions to help the gurus understand your needs. This event is FREE for current VAE members and $10 for non-members.

Questions/prompts Include:
 - What are the five words that BEST describe your creative work?
 - What kids of marketing do you currently do?
 - What marketing outreach do you enjoy doing? 
 - What are the main challenges with marketing your creative work? 

STEP TWO: Once you've completed step one we'll give you a link to an outside scheduling service called Sign Up Genius where you will choose the guru(s) and time(s) you want – remember! MAX is TWO gurus + time selection per registrant. Once you've done that and hit submit, you're 100% registered!

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MEET YOUR DATES

Shelley Smith Anchorlight, Raleigh
Anchorlight is an interdisciplinary creative space, founded with the intent of fostering artists and small businesses at varying stages of their development. The space provides exhibition, performance and production space in addition to artist studios and residency opportunities. 
Shelley Smith is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Raleigh, NC, and a Master of Art + Design candidate at the NCSU College of Design. 

 

Laura Ritchie The Carrack, Durham 
The Carrack is an artist-centered, volunteer-run, zero-commission exhibition and event space in downtown Durham. The mission of the organization is to empower local artists to forge productive cultural and social-economic ties with their community through professional exhibit and performance opportunities.
Laura Ritchie is the co-founder and director of The Carrack. She is passionate about creating opportunities across the arts and is working with her community to build safe, inclusive space for underrepresented and emerging artists. Currently, she is in pursuing a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at Duke University.

Stacy Bloom-Rexrode, The Block Gallery, Raleigh
The Block Gallery connects local artists to community through ongoing exhibitions and public outreach. Located on the first and second floors of the Raleigh Municipal Building, five to six exhibitions are displayed each year and feature works by artists who live or work in Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange or Wake County. Exhibitions are scheduled through a call for artists, juried by a selection panel of visual arts professionals, Raleigh Arts Commissioners and City staff.
Stacy Bloom-Rexrode is the Curator of Exhibitions and Collections with the Office of Raleigh Arts. She also holds a MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Studio Art-Painting and Sculpture. 

 

Kelly McChesney, LUMP, Raleigh
Lump has served the community by providing a space for the presentation of thought-provoking art, while acting as a pipeline between NC and the world of contemporary art.
Kelly McChesney, re-directed her efforts as director of Flanders Gallery to serve as the Director of Lump as it transitioned into a non-profit entity. McChesney is known for eyeing emerging contemporary artists and for supporting up-and-coming artists. 
 

VAE PROM

VAE PROM
June 24, 7-10pm @ VAE

Join us for the weirdest prom you've ever been to (probably)! VAE's first ever prom night fundraiser will be a visual smorgasbord of all things prom, with dancing, awkward portraits, custom boutonnieres + corsages made on-site by artists, punch (spiked, naturally), snacks, a prom king + queen competition, tacky glitz, and of course your amazing outfits!

Theme: ALL THE THEMES! Over the Rainbow, Under the Sea and everything in between!
Attire: Come dressed as your favorite prom theme! 
Tickets: $50 for couples, $30 individual

Ages 21+

WANT TO BE A PROM SPONSOR AND GET SWEET PERKS? CLICK HERE!

Ignite Marketing Speed Date →

SOLD OUT! More SPEED DATE opportunities, here. 

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MONDAY, MAY 15TH @ VAE RALEIGH

SPEED DATES are thematized 30-minute one-on-ones with area smartypants who can answer your pressing professional questions! This time, we are excited to host four marketing experts from Centerline Digital to answer your questions about how to get the word out about your creative projects. Learn how to stand out from the crowd! Register now while space is available! 

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HOW IT WORKS

This is your chance to pick some smart brains in a relaxed, comfortable environment! You should come with a few questions you want to ask your guru(s) during your 30-minute meeting(s). The Speed Date registration form will give them a little background on you before you meet so you won't have to start your conversation totally from scratch.

This event will be held from 2-6 pm on Monday, May 15. That time frame is just when the gurus are available to meet. You get to pick who you meet with and when (depending on availability). You are not expected to be at the event the whole four hours it's happening. Pick and choose to suit your needs and schedule!

---

REGISTRATION

STEP ONE: Complete the registration form through Wufoo [CLICK HERE]. You will be asked for your contact information and a short survey of questions to help the gurus understand your needs. This event is FREE for current VAE members and $10 for non-members.

Questions/prompts Include:
 - What are the five words that BEST describe your creative work?
 - What kids of marketing do you currently do?
 - What marketing outreach do you enjoy doing? 
 - What are the main challenges with marketing your creative work? 

STEP TWO: Once you've completed step one we'll give you a link to an outside scheduling service called Sign Up Genius where you will choose the guru(s) and time(s) you want. Once you've done that and hit submit, you're 100% registered!

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MEET YOUR DATES

Meghan McKeon
Senior Digital Strategist: AKA, get eyes on digital platforms
Meghan specializes in content strategy for social media, and analytical reporting. So if you need tips on how to best use social media to reach potential customers, Meghan is your gal!

Brenna Mickey
Senior Interactive Designer: AKA, turns digital platforms into art
Brenna is a web designer who can help you organize your website and social media posts to look amazing and connect with your future customers. She has a knack for thinking about online platforms as opportunities for creativity and personal storytelling.

JT Moore
Associate Strategy Director: AKA, temporary press agent!
JT is a business creator, the ultimate pro at connecting artists to buyers, target audiences, and people who "dig" what you do. This guy is terrific at listening to your challenges and brainstorming creative solutions! He can help you find the heart of your 'brand'.

Brittany Kotary
Communications Manager: AKA plans the talking to meet your goals  
Brittany creates goal-oriented communication plans for web-based outreach. So much of marketing creative work is finding your voice and telling your story. Brittany can help you do that. 

IGNITE CREATIVITY SUMMIT

Let us rock your brain for 36 hours.

The Ignite Creativity Summit is designed to empower creative people of all persuasions by inspiring them to think bigger, make connections and become familiar with the resources available to them, both locally and nationally.

Ignite is not a professional conference. It is a blow-your-mind learning experience.

Through Ignite, VAE is rethinking and retooling professional education for creative makers. Online search engines have changed the way people learn. With information just seconds away, the job of educating artists is no longer about providing data, but about teaching artists how to apply data to build stronger careers and communities. Ignite offers a new interactive learning structure to fit the times, providing creative entrepreneurs with learning experiences that can’t be googled.

The 2017 summit theme is ALLIES: How can artists use creativity to empower and engage marginalized communities, creating relationships that are reciprocally beneficial and that bring about positive social change?

This year’s programming includes: 

• A free public keynote address by New Orleans citizen artist Imani Jacqueline Brown, a founding cultural activist of Blights Out, an organization that serves a cultural connective tissue to join oppositional groups of people in order to heal literal and figurative blights in New Orleans.

• Cool regional panelists and speakers speaking about the ways that creative symbiosis between art and community unlocked unexpected artistic and professional opportunities for them.

• A facilitated charrette (which is a fancy word for group problem solving and brainstorming) around the idea of using and building alliances as artists to meet needs within the community. Ignite has $3000 to give away as seed money for projects resulting from these discussions and interactions!

• A live recording of the Don't You Lie to Me podcast.

• Two delicious meals and a fun cocktail reception.

COSTS:

$35 for VAE members, $50 for non-members

IGNITE GRANT WRITING SPEED DATES

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH, 2PM-6PM @ VAE RALEIGH

SPEED DATES are thematized 30-minute one-on-ones with area smartypants who can answer your pressing professional questions! This time, we are excited to host four grant writing experts from across the Triangle to answer your questions about funding your creative projects through grants! Money for art? Yes please! Register now while space is available! 

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HOW IT WORKS

STEP ONE: Complete the registration form through Wufoo [CLICK HERE]. You will be asked for your contact information and a short survey of questions to help the gurus understand your needs. This event is FREE for current VAE members and $10 for non-members.

Questions/prompts Include:
 -What are the five words that BEST describe your creative work?
 -What kinds of grants are you looking to apply for? 
 -What short term professional goals do you have?
 -What are most hoping to learn at this event?

STEP TWO: Once you've completed step one we'll give you a link to an outside scheduling service called Sign Up Genius where you will choose the guru(s) and time(s) you want. Once you've done that and hit submit, you're 100% registered!

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MEET YOUR DATES

Jeff Pettus
Senior Program Director of Arts in Communities, North Carolina Arts Council

Jeff  oversees most of the grants programs and services to artists and arts organizations at the NC Arts Council, like the North Carolina Artist Fellowship! He studied at Princeton University and the University of North Carolina and worked in book publishing and art museum administration prior to coming to the Arts Council.

Emily Catherine Mealor
Arts in Communities Coordinator, North Carolina Arts Council

Emily Catherine manages grants related to arts in accessibility, aging, and healthcare. Emily Catherine has degrees in English and Social Work from Appalachian State University and Washington University in St. Louis, where she focused on community development and arts integration. She's also involved with SPARKcon and serves on the committee for the Arts Learning Community for Universal Access through The Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and the Office of Raleigh Arts.

Brandi Neuwirth
Art Coordinator, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County

Brandi curates public art spaces and administrates the Professional Development Grant for Artists at United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. She moved to the Triangle in 2005 from Los Angeles, where she worked in entertainment for 20th Century Fox, Vanguard Films/DreamWorks and Conde Nast. The child of two artists, she is proud to be a part of the vibrant arts community in Raleigh and the Triangle.
 

Margaret DeMott
Director of Artist Services, Durham Arts Council 

Margaret brings 34 years arts experience, overseeing Durham Arts Council's four grant programs, exhibit programs and technical assistance for arts organizations and artists. She has served on many artist selection panels, and grant review panels, managed the community process for the Durham Cultural Master Plan, coordinated a 3 year, multi-county audience development initiative and currently provides support for the Durham SmART Initiative.

Clarenda Stanley-Anderson
VP of Institutional Advancement, Shaw University

Clarenda Stanley-Anderson is a fundraising generalist who has earned the coveted Certified Fund Raising Expert (CFRE) designation. Selected as the 2016 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association for Fundraising Professionals Triangle Chapter, she specializes in individual giving and major gifts, having raised more than $51M in her decade-plus career. As Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Shaw University, she spearheaded the University’s 70% increase in private philanthropy last year. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!