Everyone is invited to the Toe River Valley Business Opportunity Summit being held Nov 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the main campus of Mayland Community College. The Opportunity Summit is for all Toe River Valley residents, especially those who farm, are artists and craftsmen, own or want to start a business, or have an entrepreneurial spirit.  The Summit is free, but you need to register with the Mayland Small Business Center at (828) 765-7351, extension 249 by November 13.
A dinner of pinto beans, coleslaw, cornbread muffins and fried potatoes will provide sustenance while a select panel of experts in the fields of alternative agriculture, arts and crafts, renewable energy and green technologies, and entrepreneurship will energize the brain. Ged Moody, the ‘Entrepreneur-in-Residence’ at Appalachian State University will be the keynote speaker.  He will be joined by Dr. Jeanine Davis, Associate Professor at NC State University and director of the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center and Becky Anderson, the founder and former director of Handmade in America, consultant on rural development and noted speaker on the economic impact of arts and crafts.
The Toe River Valley Business Opportunity Summit is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commissions of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties, AMY Regional Library System, MAY Coalition, Toe River Arts Council, and Mayland Community College and its Small Business Center. The Summit will be held on the Main Campus of Mayland Community College just east of Spruce Pine. To register to attend or to obtain additional information, please call the Mayland Small Business Center at (828) 765-7351, extension 249.

Greenville Museum of Art - Executive Director. Lead the museum that leads the cultural life of Greenville. The Greenville Museum of Art, the leading center for the visual arts in the city since 1937, seeks applicants for its Executive Director. This position reports to the Board of Trustees. The successful applicant should possess the following qualities: Visionary leadership, passion and drive to enhance the role of GMA as the leader in visual arts in Eastern North Carolina. A proven track record of effective fund raising and grant writing. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to administer annual budgets and oversee a growing endowment. Ability to lead, manage and motivate paid staff and a cadre of energetic volunteers. Artistic leadership in acquiring, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art. Ability to project a professional presence and foster relationships in the community
Salary for the position is commensurate with education and experience. For consideration, candidates must possess a four-year college degree from an accredited university. A major in arts administration or a related field is preferred. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter with professional references to: Greenville Museum of Art. ATTN: Director Search Committee, 1210-B E Arlington Blvd. Greenville NC 27858

Hanging by a Thread is celebrated with an opening reception from 5 to 7 pm, Friday, Nov 21, at The Design Gallery, 7 South Main Street, Burnsville, North Carolina. Claire Simpson-Jones’ mixed media series focuses on WNC’s rapidly vanishing landscapes and the habitats they provide. A representative from the Nature Conservancy will speak at 6:00 pm and a portion of the sales will be donated to the Nature Conservancy and the Toe River Valley Watch. The show runs through Jan 10. For more information, call The Design Gallery at 828-678-9869.

Global Education Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is currently requesting proposals from artists wishing to display work in our gallery. The Center is a hub of international and educational activity and on average hosts well over 1,000 people each week, including members of the University community (students, faculty and staff), local community and visitors from around the world. Please help us promote this opportunity to interested artists. Laura Griest, Events Coordinator, FedEx Global Education Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Pittsboro Street, Office 1207, Campus Box 3268, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, lauragriest@unc.edu, (919) 962.0318 work, www.global.unc.edu

Greetings from the Craft Center -
Make plans now to attend the Annual Holiday Festival at the Appalachian Center for Craft overlooking Center Hill Lake near Smithville TN, the Friday, Saturday & Sunday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 28-30). From I-40 take exit 273 (Smithville/McMinnville). Click the link below for hours, craft demonstration schedule, and details. http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/holiday.html

The Clayton Center Auditorium and Conference Center located 15 miles east of Raleigh is a multi-use venue featuring a 600 seat auditorium and 12,000 SF of meeting space.  This position will primarily serve to coordinate all events for the conference center.  Key responsibilities include: work with clients to determine their rental needs; act as a booking agent for the facility, advising clients of regulations and issuing contracts; facilitate set-up requirements with staff and other Town Departments.  Actively markets the Conference Center to potential clients—responds to all client inquiries regarding rental space and availability.  This position is responsible for the scheduling and supervision of part-time event staff for all Conference Center events.  Requirements: BA required plus two years conference center or event planning experience desirable. Must have sharp attention to detail and excellent communication and organizational skills; strong computer skills for both Mac and Windows platforms (proficient in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), knowledge of specialized computer software programs and email systems. Dreamweaver and Photoshop preferred. A flexible schedule is a must, since night and evening work is required. Interested applicants must complete a Town of Clayton application and submit to the HR Dept., PO Box 879, Clayton NC 27528.  Visit us at http://www.townofclaytonnc.org/.

Arts for Life Charlotte, an arts and healthcare organization, is seeking artists to teach visuals arts, music, and creative writing to young patients at Presbyterian Hospital. In our Fellowship Program, Arts for Life staff trains & supervises artists in teaching children and adolescents in the hospital setting for 4-12 hours each week. Artists Fellows:
1. Develop, prepare, and teach successful art lessons for young patients.
2. Write and document lessons and share this information with Arts for Life staff.
3. Work successfully with hospital staff and adhere to hospital regulations.
Fellows must have experience teaching, and must have participated in gallery exhibits, performances, or publications. Fellows must be residents of North Carolina. BFA or BA preferred. To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and three images of your artwork to the following address by December 3, 2008: Arts for Life, Fellowship Program, PO Box 788, Weaverville NC 28787. Arts for Life (AFL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives and healthcare experiences of children battling cancer and other serious illnesses in North Carolina.

The AMY Regional Library will offer a 2-hour workshop on grantwriting for artists at the Spruce Pine Public Library on 13 November 2008 beginning at 6 p.m. The AMY Regional Library is a Cooperative Collection of the Foundation Center which allows users to access the Foundation Center Online database. The database is the world’s largest resource for those seeking funding for non-profit organizations and individual artists and students. Dr. Daniel Barron will conduct the workshop which will provide an overview of the services of the Center, a review of the Foundation Center Online database and how it can be used, and an introduction to grantwriting. The first part of the workshop will be useful for seasoned grantwriters, with the second half primarily for those with limited experience with grantwriting. The workshop is free through the collaborative efforts of the AMY Regional Library, Mayland Community College, and TRAC with the Foundation Center of New York. Registration is requested. Please call Cathy Silver at 828. 765.4673 or Daniel Barron at 828.682.4476 for additional information.

The Asheville Area Arts Council will host a gallery opening this Fri, Nov 7 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm. Live music and refreshments included. In the Front Gallery, the Arts Council presents “Four Women…Four Views”, an exhibit featuring new works by Laleah Adams, Beth Jolicoeur, Ann Vasilik and Cindy Walton. Adams creates tall colorful houses from clay representing the beauty of oddness. Beth Jolicoeur paints as a form of meditation; color is the vehicle for expressing a mood or feeling. Ann Vasilik works in watercolor to bring solid objects to life. Cindy Walton uses oil charcoal to visit memories of family portraits and to explore the meaning of being and having sisters. In the Back Gallery, Laura J. Tompkins’ latest series of mixed media on paper will also be available for view. Tompkins’ work displays the organic shapes of freshwater mussels found in local creeks and streams. In the Boardroom Gallery, we will be showing Mitchell Lonas and his current series that focuses on nests. The images are carved into sheets of aluminum and steel reflecting light back to the observer. Beautifully rendered, the nests might suggest loss and abandonment or nurturing and home. For more information, please contact Sarah Meyer at 258-0710 x 106 or smeyer@ashevillearts.com

Please plan to come to the Empty Bowls event in Burnsville this Fri, Nov 7 between 4 and 7pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church (above the new Food City and Rose’s). Many local potters and students from Brian Ransom’s class have donated bowls for this event, which will feature delicious soups, breads, and desserts. The cost is $20 for adults, and $10 for children under 12 years old, and you get to take home the handmade bowl as a reminder of the many empty bowls in our world. 75% of proceeds will benefit the Reconciliation House food pantry in Burnsville, and 25% will benefit UNICEF”s food relief efforts for children and families in desperate need all over the world. Penland has helped with this event through the donation of clay and glazes (leftover from past Kids Camp and adult classes). Over 20 youth gathered at John Hartom’s studio in October and November to make bowls for the children attending the event. Core student Joshua helped them throw and make their bowls – thank you! I hope you will plan to attend, and will help spread the word to make this a very successful event.