The Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize honors internationally celebrated North Carolina novelist Thomas Wolfe. The winner receives $1,000 and possible publication in The Thomas Wolfe Review. The final judge for the 2008 award is well-known editor Shannon Ravenel, who has had a long career in publishing, first as an editor at Houghton Mifflin, later as Series Editor of THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES for 13 years, and finally as a co-founder with Louis Rubin of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill where she established the annual anthology NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH. Currently, she directs her own Algonquin imprint, Shannon Ravenel Books. Eligibility and Guidelines. The Thomas Wolfe Fiction competition is open to all writers without regard to geographical region or previous publication. Entrants should submit two copies of an unpublished fiction manuscript not to exceed 12 double-spaced pages. Names should not appear on manuscripts, but on separate sheet along with address, phone number, email address and manuscript title. Entries will not be returned. An entry fee must accompany manuscript: $15 for members of the NCWN, $25 for non-members. You may pay the member entry fee if you join the Network with your submission. Send submissions, indicating name of competition, to: Professor Anthony Abbott, PO Box 7096, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036

At both the October and November meetings of the Joint Subcommittee on Arts Education, the committee began to move progressively forward in their discussions about arts policy for North Carolina. At the next meeting scheduled for November 18th from 10 - 12 in LB 1225 at the General Assembly, the Committee will discuss the wealth of opinion and research that has informed our discussions, and it is likely that the Committee will formulate a recommendation for legislation to be introduced when the General Assembly convenes in January.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE FILL THE ROOM ON NOVEMBER 18TH. Even as Legislators move to their courageous and wise deliberations about the absolutely necessary function of arts education in our public schools, they have begun to send signals that the arts industry must carry the water once a decision has been made. Please make your plans to be there and contact karen@artsnc.org if you need additional information.

North Carolina’s Board of Directors met yesterday and reviewed the North Carolina Arts Council’s 2009-2013 Strategic Plan with NCAC Executive Director Mary Regan. The plan is rich, complex, and far-reaching. It is also a Draft. YOU have the opportunity between now and December to help shape the future of the arts in North Carolina by responding to the Draft plan in one of two ways. You can go to their website (www.ncarts.org) and read the plan, then:
-Attend the public meeting scheduled for November 6 in Greenville.
-If you can’t attend the meeting, the web site allows you to respond in writing to what you understand from reading the plan.
We strongly encourage everyone to read the plan through the lens of a unified industry and a vision of what North Carolina would be like if we secured a $20,000,000 increase in public funding for the arts. While we will certainly be prudent about when we introduce the request for increased funding to the Legislature, we know that now is the time to get ready, to help create an agenda that addresses the needs and wants of our entire industry. This process is not one of “what’s wrong.” It is a process of what’s right and what can become significantly more right.

TRAC is looking for someone who might build pedestals for the TRAC galleries. Materials and design plans are provided. If you are interested in this project call Kathryn Andree at 765-0520.

TRAC Center needs volunteers to help during the TRAC Tour, Dec. 6 and 7. If interested call Kathryn at 765-0520.

Learn the business side of being an artist. Visual Art Exchange presents this three-part series of lectures and panel discussions designed to educate professional visual artists and provide them with tools to become savvy small business people. This series is open to the public. Due to space constraints pre-registration is required.

ART MARKETING, MARKETING, MARKETING Public Relations for Artists. Speaker: Scott Misner of Misner & Associates. Creative Marketing Solutions. Speaker: George Wallace of The Marketing Department. Fast & Easy Web-sites. Speaker: Sarah Powers, Executive Director of VAE. Date: Wednesday, November 5, 7-9pm Cost: Free for VAE members. $5 for non-members. Location: Long View Center (118 South Person St., Raleigh).

part two. GET YOUR ART OUT THERE How to Approach a Gallery. Speaker: Rory Parnell Co-owner of The Collectors Gallery. The Ins & Outs of Public Art. Speaker: Denise Dickens, Town of Cary Public Art Coordinator. How to Apply for Residencies. Speaker: Lia Newman, Artspace Director of Programs & Exhibitions. Date: Thursday, November 13, 7-9pm Cost: Free for VAE members. $5 for non-members. Location: Long View Center (118 South Person St., Raleigh).

part three. MAKING MONEY THROUGH ART Applying to be an Art Instructor. Speaker: Robbie Stone, Director of Pullen Arts Center. Pricing & Presenting to Sell. Speaker: Mary Kay Kennedy, Manager of The Collectors Gallery. How to Sell Online. Speaker: Michelle Lyon, Owner of Knockabout. Applying for Artist Grants. Speaker: Eleanor H. Oakley, President/CEO of United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. Date: Thursday November 20, 7-9 pm Cost: Free for VAE members. $5 for non-members. Location: Long View Center (118 South Person St., Raleigh).

Registration: Space is limited and will go quickly. Reserve your seat by calling Visual Art Exchange at 919-828-7834, extension 6853, or emailing Programs Director Rachel Herrick at rherrick@visualartexchange.org.

We’re happy to announce the 2008 date for Circa Gallery’s HOLIDAY HOOPLA!! Sat, Dec 13th 9 to 4 pm. This year’s event that will be held at the Asheboro Farmer’s Market, outside Circa Gallery in downtown Asheboro. The gallery will be set up as a hospitality area for the vendors. If you’re interested in participating as a vendor, the application will be available on our website till Oct 31. http://www.circagallerync.com In order to maintain the highest quality, all applications are reviewed before acceptance. Every year people flock to super stores to purchase manufactured goods for their families…this year we would like to give people the opportunity to by handmade for the holiday season. The Holiday Hoopla will feature over 30 artists, designers and crafters from NC who make original one of kind pieces of art. Questions? Shoot us an email (circagallery@gmail.com) or call 336 625-3578

Christine Kane, nationally recognized singer/songwriter will perform at the Carolina Theatre, 91 Locust Street, Spruce Pine on Nov 1 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door. www.thecarolinabarndance.org

Golden Pass Opportunity at the Carolina Theatre

The Carolina Theatre in Spruce Pine recently announced an unique opportunity to receive a Golden Pass ticket to upcoming events. This Golden Pass admits ticket holders to the following events: Christine Kane (Nov. 1st), One Leg Up Jazz (Nov. 15th), & It’s A Wonderful Life, a NC Stage Co play (Dec. 12th). This is a limited time offer and benefits the historic Carolina Theatre restoration project. This special discounted pass can only be purchased online at www.thecarolinabarndance.org for $35 until Nov. 1st.

The residency is open to established artists living in the US. The residency takes place during the month of July. During this period the artist is expected to teach one class for youths and one for adults. Artists present a lecture sometime during the month of July. After the residency, the artist opens an exhibition of his/her work, running from the August First Friday reception through mid-September. Stipend for residency; teaching fees paid. Housing not guaranteed but Artspace assists artists in finding inexpensive or free arrangements. Deadline for applications: December 1, 2008. More info at www.artspacenc.org.