Petition Tag - art

Charlottetown, PEI is a small city with a growing graffiti scene full of talented artists. However, they have no way to express themselves or show their work legally without a legal graffiti wall.

When asked about building a wall in May 2009, Clifford Lee said he would never consider building a legal graffiti wall in the city. Our city officials need to understand that youth in Charlottetown need a wall to paint as an outlet, without the wall their creativity is stifled.

This petition is a message to Charlottetown's head officials: we artists have a lot of support in this city, it's not just us who want to see a legal wall! Many people in Charlottetown have seen how incredible graffiti can look if you give it a place to appear, and want to see what we can do. It's not expensive to build, and once it's done you will have a free art gallery that updates itself constantly.

Legal wall now!

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The Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (recently renamed Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro) www.iscr.beniculturali.it was founded in 1939, based on a project developed by Giulio Carlo Argan and Cesare Brandi, to ensure that restoration and conservation activities would be carried out on a scientific basis – human and natural sciences – and to unify conservation methods applied to works of art and archaeological artefacts.

Cesare Brandi was its first director and the author of the first “Theory of Restoration”, a fundamental text for conservators throughout the world, now translated into numerous languages.

In the 70 years of its activity, the Instituto has played a major role in the international field of conservation and has influenced schools and conservation programs in many countries. The recent eviction and consequential precipitous transfer of the Institute to inadequate premises will compromise its role and existence, and will seriously damage the structure of Italian Cultural Heritage.

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Courtesy of the Sarnia Artists' Workshop, here are some questions and answers about the new home for Gallery Lambton:

This is info on the new Gallery 16 Questions answered

1. Why do we need a new art gallery? Isn't the space at Bayside Centre sufficient?

Over the past few years Gallery Lambton has experienced a growth in attendance by 75%. In its current Bayside Centre location however, Gallery Lambton is limited and has long suffered from many problems including: lack of visibility, limited and inadequate exhibition and programming space, issues surrounding climate control, insufficient & inadequate storage space and inadequate administration areas.

2. How many people use or visit the Gallery?

Currently, visitor attendance is approximately 20,000/year. This reflects a considerable increase in the past two years (20% each year), due to a renewed artistic vision which has resulted in an exhibition program that is more relevant to our community and more dynamic ancillary programming. After a surge in the first few years once the new Gallery is opened (where attendance could easily be double this number as a result of the novelty and curiosity effect) attendance is expected to settle into a new norm of approximately 25,000 visits annually. This is a conservative estimate based on attendance at public art galleries in similar communities.

3. Where is the new Gallery going to be located?

In the fall of 2009, the County of Lambton purchased the former Sak's Building and John Howard Society Building at the corner of Christina and Lochiel Streets in Downtown Sarnia for the new Gallery Lambton.

4. Isn't the Sak's Building in too bad of shape? Will it be new construction, or a renovation of the existing building?

Current plans call for the façade of the Saks building to be preserved. The interior of the Saks and the John Howard Building will be demolished and there will be new construction. The façade is just a 'skin'. The gallery will be a combination of three types of construction; historic restoration, new build and adaptive re-use on the second floor of the CIBC.

5. Is there enough space in that building for a new Gallery, and how is CIBC, the next door neighbor involved?

In total, the size of the new Gallery will be 17,400 square feet and this will meet all of the Gallery's needs. The CIBC has agreed to allow the County to use the second floor of their adjoining building for additional space.

6. Have you completed a study to ensure there is enough parking?

County Lambton staff consulted with the City of Sarnia staff. There are 510 free parking spaces and 24 free handicapped spaces available in the immediate vicinity of the new gallery. In surrounding parking lots there are an additional 673 regular and 12 handicapped parking spaces.

7. Why is it going to cost $9.2 million to build it, and why have some people claimed that the estimate keeps rising, from an original $6 million.

The County will not know the cost of building the new gallery until it reviews proposals from three proponents who are interested in the project. However, a report from two independent consulting firms over the past two years noted that a new gallery could cost anywhere between 6.4 and 10 million depending on the type of construction - new build or adaptive re-use.

The reason this estimate is more expensive than a traditional building is because an art gallery is a specialized building on top of which Gallery Lambton is a designated Category A Gallery. The Gallery has the privilege to collect and show significant works of art that have been identified by the Canadian Government as important pieces of Canadian Cultural property. In order to achieve this honor, the Gallery is required to meet a variety of strict building and operational standards which include high level environmental, lighting and security controls. In order to achieve these standards the facility will require highly specialized mechanical systems and the building envelope will require specialized treatment as well.

8. Shouldn't taxpayers' money be spent on more critical infrastructure or social programs in this difficult economy?

The funds that have been allocated for the project to date (3 million from the federal government and 2.6 from County Lambton) come at no additional cost to County Taxpayers. 1.1 million is part of the 3.3 million that came to the County through the "Investing in Ontario Infrastructure Grant". These funds have to be spent on Infrastructure. The County distributed that 3.3 million to Roads (680,000), to upgrading elevators in County social housing (470,000) and 1 million to preparing the site for the new social housing unit on London Road and 1.1 million to the new gallery. The other 1.5 million are funds that will be realized through lease hold savings over a 20 year period ….so again, these are dollars that are already designated to the gallery and cannot be allocated elsewhere.

The federal government's Economic Stimulus Program which has been set up to stimulate our difficult economy, recognizes Cultural Infrastructure as critical to the overall economic recovery of our country. The federal government in Ottawa awarded the County of Lambton $3 million in funding through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. This money is set aside specifically for cultural projects, such as the construction of a new art gallery.

Because this funding is part of the stimulus program, there are tight timelines connected to its spending. One third of the three million must be spent by March 31, 2010 the remainder by March 31, 2011, Therefore, the timing is right to move forward on this cultural project. Without this significant federal funding, the project just simply could not be completed. If this $3 million is not spent in Lambton County on this project, it will be spent elsewhere in Canada for a similar Cultural infrastructure project.

9. Why should a community even invest in 'cultural' projects?

First, investing in cultural projects provides cultural and social opportunities to residents living in Lambton County. This creates a healthy and balanced community. Secondly, investing in cultural projects provides an economic benefit.

Tourism will be a primary source of economic stimulation for Lambton County in the future. It is currently our 3rd largest industry. Located close to the waterfront, shops and restaurants, it will be a major draw in bringing cultural tourists and the accompanying economic benefits into the Lambton community.The Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM),was used to assess the economic impacts of this project at both regional and provincial levels. It has shown that the new gallery will have a positive economic impact on Lambton County.

A projected 30 FTE positions will be generated during the construction phase and a projected 4 FTE positions will be created on a permanent basis by the time the new gallery is fully staffed.

Cultural infrastructure contributes to the enhanced level and type of quality of life in the community that in turn attracts the creative thinkers. These people invest in and start businesses, therefore generating jobs.

10. How does an art gallery help the local economy?

There could be many economic 'spin-offs' as a result of constructing a new art gallery. Here are just a few:

• Restaurants, bars & hotels (tourism & visiting artists)
• Surrounding shops and boutiques (tourism)
• Printing & design (catalogues, posters, invitations, etc)
• Shipping companies (art)
• Fees to artists, instructors, lecturers
• Internet technicians (pod casts, on line exhibitions etc)
• Videographers (pod casts, documentation etc)
• Caterers for openings, other receptions & functions
• Musicians for openings, other receptions & functions

11. What kind of exhibits will be in the new gallery? Will we see a big change from the current exhibits?

The gallery remains committed to offering a broad range of high level contemporary and historical, traditional and avant-garde exhibitions to the community. We are excited that the new space positions us to borrow work and exhibitions from some of Canada's leading art institutions, something we are currently unable to do.

12. How many pieces are in Gallery Lambton's collection and what is it worth? Will the permanent collection, including pieces from the Group of Seven, be on display constantly in the new building, since you will have more space?

Gallery Lambton has a collection of 1089 works of art. The collection is priceless to our community, especially to those original members of the Sarnia Women's Conservation Art Association who donated the first 16 pieces by Group of Seven artists and their contemporaries. However, in 2006 the collection was valued at $12.8 million. The collection will be re-appraised when it moves to the new Gallery.

There will be a designated gallery space to showcase work from our permanent collection at all times. No work from the permanent collection will be up permanently.

There are a number of reasons why it is not a good idea to permanently display pieces of the collection. Extended exposure to the elements including temperature, humidity, light and pollutants, even in a controlled environment, shortens the life span of the art. Second, there are over 1000 works in the collection that have been acquired for the people of Lambton County and for the country. These works were acquired because of their importance in the story of Canadian art and we are obligated to tell their story as well. Third, if work is always available, even work by the Group of Seven, it becomes ‘invisible’ over time.

13. How much will it cost to run and maintain this new gallery?

The County of Lambton provides an annual operating budget of $634,010 to Gallery Lambton. Based on financial analysis, the operating costs for the new gallery could increase by an estimated $202,000. These additional funds will come from a combination of revenue generating opportunities such as facility rental and framing services, an annual gifting fund and planned giving program to which local residents and corporations may subscribe, and government cultural grants and/or an increased municipal levy.

14. What is so special about Gallery Lambton that makes it different from art galleries in other locations?

The gallery's programming is based on the cultural dynamics of our community within the framework of the larger (provincial & national) arts community. Encompassing a wide range of art forms and art practices, from performance and video art to traditional media like painting, photography and contemporary ceramics, our programming builds audience and offers opportunities for artistic and curatorial development at both the local and national level. An exploratory attitude together with a desire and capacity to be immediately responsive to our community is what sets us apart.
By providing the opportunity for artists to develop new works specifically for our gallery (Peter von Tiesenhausen, Mark Laliberte, the emerging artist series etc.) our programming contributes to the field of visual art practice. Additionally, we have commissioned emerging curators to work with the gallery curator in the development of new exhibitions specifically for our gallery (Connecting to Collections 1&2, Black Holes). In this way Gallery Lambton is beginning to contribute to the academic research on Canadian art.
The programming is directly connected to the pulse of the community. By re-imagining how art can be presented and by exploring what constitutes visual art and culture, the gallery's programming challenges and extends the traditional narratives of visual art within our community through contemporary and historical programming. By having the flexibility to be responsive to the community, we are able to develop programming that resonates in the moment, for example the Connecting to Collections exhibitions in response to the confusion around the role of the public gallery as it relates to the way it works with their permanent collection.

15. Were members of the public involved in this process and who was involved in the decision making process?
Absolutely - members of the public were involved in the process. This project actually started long ago - in 2002. An advisory committee, made up of members from the general public, artistic, business and political community was put in place to support the gallery and in 2002, launched a strategic planning process focused on determining the level of commitment in the community for a public art gallery.

The strategic planning process determined that there was a high level of support and a clear desire to see the gallery re-claim a position of vitality in the region through the offering of a dynamic program of visual art and culture. There was unanimous recognition that, should the gallery re-claim this position, the gallery would need to relocate to a site that would offer increased access to the visual arts and where it could stand as a locus for a creative community re-vitalization.

Since 2007 the gallery has experienced a 75% increase in audience participation as well as a 57% increase in the number of exhibitions presented through the utilization of off-site locations and the front reception spaces.

With Lambton County Council's approval, Gallery Lambton commissioned a study, "Gallery Lambton Expansion Planning Study" to evaluate the potential for a new and improved Gallery in order to better meet the needs of County residents and future visitors. The study included a business plan, the basics of a fundraising plan and examined possible locations. It also solicited information from the public through interviews, focus groups and a public meeting. The needs of the gallery were also identified. This report was presented to Lambton County Council on February 18, 2009. At that time, Lambton County Council directed staff to undertake a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to determine potential sites for a new gallery.

16. How much money does the County of Lambton want to raise through community fundraising? Who is taking on that task?

Gallery Lambton has set a fundraising goal of $3.5 million.

A fundraising company by the name of Ketchum Canada is organizing the fundraising campaign and they have appointed a person to work exclusively on this project. The fundraiser is working with government officials, senior staff, and members of the community to develop the fundraising campaign.

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Schools that have removed the Arts from their curriculum due to being deemed "at risk" by the No Child Left Behind Act suffer even more. Studies have shown that graduation rates decrease with the elimination of the Arts.

That is why we should petition Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, to incorporate the Arts into those schools that have eliminated them from their curriculum.

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On September 22nd the associated press published an article outlining the proposed final budget plan for the state of Pennsylvania. This proposed budget among other things calls for the addition of a 6% sales tax to concert and theater tickets.

From The PA Budget Website

"$100 million from lifting the sales tax exemption on admissions costs for theater, dance, concerts and performing arts, as well as museums, historical sites, zoos and parks."

There is a specific singling out of the performance arts in this proposal. Sporting events and other forms of entertainment are not slated to receive any additional taxation in the budget proposal.

This proposal has been confirmed with the Governor's office of public liaison. As of Sept 23rd 2009 the proposal is slated to be on the Governor's desk in to weeks time in bill form for signing.

In an already crippled live performance industry and an era of limited household incomes it is important to act quickly to keep entertainment outlets affordable.

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An Aboriginal Keeping Place


…celebrating our survival…

….growing our culture…

…protecting our heritage…

…keeping our community strong…


- by Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law, UTS

The Vision…

To create a National Aboriginal Keeping Place/Cultural Centre in Sydney that celebrates our survival providing a space for the contemporary expression of our contemporary culture, protects our heritage and keeps our community strong.

Our plan is to find a benefactor who will purchase the Black Fella's Dreaming Museum's collection and use it to found The Keeping Place for the absolute benefit of the Aboriginal communities. The benefactor will not sub-divide the collection. Artworks by Gordon Syron and photographs by Elaine Pelot-Syron will be loaned to and preserved by The Keeping Place.

Aboriginal communities will benefit in the following ways:

The Possibilities …

A Cultural Centre – There is a need for a national cultural centre in an urban area that provides a space for the celebration of and for interaction with our contemporary urban culture. This can include the hosting of workshops on painting, sculpture, performance, music, the creation of Aboriginal cultural artefacts and creative writing.

A Celebration of Survival – A space dedicated to the preservation of our culture & traditions and archives the history & stories of urban Aboriginal people.

An Educational Environment – A space dedicated to teaching our culture and history is a place where Aboriginal and non Aboriginal communities can learn about the diversity and vibrancy of our Aboriginal cultures.

An Opportunity for Economic Development – A cultural space that focuses on showcasing contemporary Aboriginal culture also provides an opportunity for economic development by creating a place where Aboriginal artists can sell their art to the public.

Self Development Programs: We hope that the cultural centre will be committed to developing youth, leadership and prison rehabilitation programs. These programs will be aimed at developing self-esteem, confidence and vital life skills

Opportunities for Employment and Training – The Keeping Place will provide a large range of opportunities for the employment and training of Aboriginal people in order to staff the centre, curate the material, educate the public and run the operations with transparency, accountability and good governance principles.

The Collection

The heart and starting point for the Keeping Place & Cultural Centre is the Syrons’ Black Fella's Dreaming Museum. It is an important collection that contains many of Australia’s leading traditional and contemporary Aboriginal artists.

On May 14th 2009, a catalogue of 1400 artworks in the Syron's collection was finished by the not-for-profit organisation & volunteers, headed by Rona Wade,
Executive Director and CEO,
UNILINC Limited, online.
http://www.unilinc.edu.au/events/seminar_nov08_program.pdf

A catalogue of 547 artworks was valued in 2009 by
Adrian Newstead, ex-CEO of Deutscher-Menzies Auctioneers and Director/Owner of Coo-ee Aboriginal
Art Gallery.

The acquisition of the Syron Collection will provide a significant foundation for the important cultural archive that the Keeping Place / Cultural Centre will host.

Here's the link for The Keeping Place documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37QvjbwcUs4

Director: Martin Adams
Producer & Sound: Jason De Santolo
DOP & Editor: Fabio Cavadini
Narrator: Amanda King

For more information and art display please go to :

http://www.thekeepingplace.org

http://www.pentateuch.com.au/thekeepingplace
http://www.pentateuch.com.au/gordonsyron
http://www.pentateuch.com.au/elainepelotsyron/

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It is with great concern for our children's future that we implore the school administrators to seek alternative measures in order to fulfill budget cuts and curriculum changes laid upon them. We understand that schools must comply with state standards but do not believe that removing Visual Arts or Music from our schools curriculum is the answer.

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Someone has started a petition to have Teruchan, an artist, banned from DeviantArt. The petition to ban can be found here: http://www.petitiononline.com/Saku1685/petition.html

Teruchan was accused of breaking rules that should have them banned, but if Teruchan had broken the rules, then she would have been banned already. That's how the site works.

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I feel we should support young australian designers:

http://astraldreamer.webs.com/magickalclothes.htm

http://www.zazzle.com/astraldreamer

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Graffiti should be allowed because its Art not scribble.

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deviantART is a popular online artistic community.

deviantART aims to provide a place for any artist, photographer, or writer to exhibit and discuss his or her works. It also provides a community of like-minded individuals and is visited by 1.5 million individuals per day who view 35 million pages (per day). The site consists of over 3.5 million users and over 28.5 million submissions as of December, 2006. Submissions to the site grow at a rate of 40,000 per day.

deviantART now displays multiple forms of art and creative expression laid out in an extensive category structure. The artwork on display includes photography, digital art, traditional art, literature and skins for applications. The site also has extensive downloadable resources for use within artworks such as tutorials and stock photography.

On January 16th 2009 "Etisalat" blocked DeviantART. A huge portion of UAE users have made DeviantArt their home, from Traditional Artists to Photographers to Writers.

Till now no reason has been given to block the website. I request Etisalat and TRA to kindly respond.

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As you all may know, Top Of The Pops is making a comeback to our screens this year and Art Brut frontman Eddie Argos is probably very excited about this as he loves it.

This is a petition to make a mans dream come true and to get the most underrated band in the world on screens in Britain at teatime.

We can make it happen!

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Polyvore.com allows users to swipe copywritten material from anywhere on the web and import it onto the site and then create collages or "sets" from imported images. Polyvore supplies the graphics application which can be used to create derivative works and remove watermarks and copyright information from imported images.

More often than not these images are not credited back to the original creator and in nearly every instance images are swiped without the express permission of their creators.

Here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/8504507@N02/3172837696/page2/ Pasha Sadri, owner of the Polyvore website, admits in a response to an artist whose original artwork was stolen and manipulated using Polyvore's graphics application to make illegal derivatives, "polyvore is meant to be a fashion website. people clip product images (from a site like gap.com) and use the images to create fashion layouts. that is why we have the clipping tool. we potentially earn money if someone goes from polyvore to gap to buy that product (eg: gap pays us a commision). we do not directly sell anything, like your images."

This means this service is a partnership with large retailers. This also means there is absolutely no reason why Polyvore should include an ability to clip any and every image from across the net if it is merely a "fashion website".

Polyvore has not actively educated its users on copyright and has not taken any initiative to aid in the protection of intellectual property, rather it has created an atmosphere that not only condones but encourages intellectual property theft. What's worse, Sarah from Polyvore stated last year on the Polyvore blog that they not only encouraged the printing of "sets" they were also considering setting up printing as a feature on the Polyvore website. ( http://blog.polyvore.com/2008/01/copyright-issues.html ) They are effectively encouraging the reproduction of copywritten work without the creator's ok, a guaranteed right to the copyholder via United States Copyright Laws. A right being unlawfully stripped away by Polyvore's encouragement of printing collages.

Coupled with the fact that the owner of the website has made his intentions clear, that the website is to be a "fashion website" and nothing more, this gross misuse of intellectual property that is so clearly outside the scope of the website's intent must cease immediately.

Cease and desist letters have been sent by droves of artists whose images were stolen from blogs, personal websites, portfolios, and venues through which work is sold and although images are taken down initially, many of the same images reappear on the site later on. A cease and desist does *not* expire and should not need to be sent more than once.

Images are taken from direct sources in an overwhelming majority of instances where the owner of the original work is easily accessible to reach regarding use of their work on the website. Users do not do this and simply import these images as they are found. Polyvore's system makes this a one click action aiding in the swift theft of intellectual property which is a direct violation of United States Copyright Laws.

Because this problem has persisted for the last year without a solution that satisfies both sides set in place as well as Pasha Sadri's apathy and subsequent income while artists original work become "casualties" of Polyvore's service and ultimate goal, we artists feel we have no other choice than to publicly call for the Polyvore website to be shut down.

If you would like more information regarding this ongoing issue, please visit the following links to see individual artists take on the matter -

http://etsynews.com/607/is-polyvore-stealing-your-images/

http://www.redbubble.com/people/crokuslabel/writing/266182-petition-to-stop-copyright-theft-at-polyvore-com

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5438055&page=1

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5438619&page=1

And most recently....

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5982886&page=1

We artists need to protect out intellectual property and will not stand idly by while our work is so clearly infringed upon. Thank you for your support.

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TAFE NSW is planning on scrapping their Digital Media courses and replacing them with an IT Diploma that has a few subjects of a similar nature.

Previously, due to an agreement between TAFE NSW (Wagga Wagga) and Charles Sturt University, graduates of the Diploma in Digital Media have been able to articulate directly into the third year of a Bachelor of Arts (Multimedia). This has been largely due to the outstanding quality of work produced by our students, as well as the years of dedication and hard work by the teaching staff.

Thanks to the hasty and ill-thought decision of TAFE NSW, students will no longer be able to take advantage of this agreement. Additionally, students who enrolled in the course at the beginning of this year, under the assumption that they too would be able to go on to university, now find themselves stranded – in any sane situation, that would be considered a breach of contract.

TAFE NSW contends that the course they have instituted in place of Digital Media covers the same subjects and achieves the same outcomes – this is patently false. The new course contains no practical art subjects and has what amounts to a brief overview of animation and design. Students who complete this course will not be able to transfer their skills to university and hope to gain any subject credit. Additionally, the new course will be promoted under the name “IT (Multimedia)”, which has the potential to turn away scores of young people intimidated by academia.

Australia is already far behind the rest of the world when it comes to the arts, music, film and animation – do we really want to work towards making our nation even further behind? There is nothing to say about this pitiful decision, save that it is just not okay. It is tremendously short sighted; it may make sense in the short term, it will certainly improve the TAFE NSW bottom line – but at what cost to the community? How many more young people will leave Wagga Wagga because we don’t value the arts?

Sign this petition and help put pressure on TAFE NSW to reverse this decision immediately. For them to do anything less is tantamount to spitting on the efforts of both past students and the hard working teachers of Digital Media.

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The goal of this petition is to send a strong message to Steven Harper and the Conservative Party that “ordinary citizens” value the arts and cultivate various art forms, everyday in Alberta and across Canada.

On October 1, Albertans For The Arts was inaugurated with a rally in Edmonton to demonstrate offense and anger at recent statements about artists by the Prime Minister.

"I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala of a bunch of people, you know, at a rich gala all subsidized by taxpayers, claiming their subsidies aren't high enough when they know those subsidies have actually gone up, I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people." (Steven Harper, September 23, 2008)

Artists around the country are speaking up against this kind of disdain for art exhibited by their elected officials. The paranoid caricature of art as an obscure activity, artificially propped up by social elites and government bureaucrats needs a clear response. Albertans are speaking.

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I know that many of you think that this will not take effect: The Government is sneaky. That is the reason for lobbyists.

If they believe that something will not happen, and they stop lobbying, the Government sneaks through and does what the lobbyists didn't want them to do.

I am asking many of my DeviantART friends, or other people who see this, to sign, please.

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The injustices surrounding this school:

-You sign up for an outlined curriculum that they won't deliver or they change without your knowlegde

-If you don't like your grades, your parents can call to have them changed, invalidating those of us who actually worked hard to get our grades

-Any issues within the school are subject to long drawn out and in most cases never resolved processes

-Some faculty and teachers are not qualified personnel, most guest speakers early in the year will become a teacher by the following quarter.

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A la comunidad de artistas escenicos de Mexico,

El Odin Teatret de Dinamarca podria viajar a la ciudad de Mexico en el proximo mes de septiembre para presentar cinco espectaculos y nueve talleres.
Esto puede ser posible si las autoridades culturales mexicanas y la embajada de Dinamarca en Mexico apoyan conjuntamente el proyecto y comparten los costos, para una estancia de toda la compania por aproximadamente un mes durante el mes de Septiembre del 2008.

Si quieres participar como parte de la comunidad de artistas escenicos de Mexico expresando tu deseo de que esta prestigiosa compania realice la gira mas ambiciosa de su trayectoria en nuestro pais, te pedimos firmes la carta adjunta dirigida a las autoridades mexicanas y danesas. Asimismo, te pedimos que extiendas esta peticion entre tus contactos a fin de que seamos muchos mas los que nos unimos en esta demanda.

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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Polaroid-Film.html?ex=1203138000&en=6ad6ca7de02ede1d&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Polaroid film was a technological breakthrough in the world of photography. In late 2008, Polaroid Co. plans to entirely discontinue their line of remaining polaroid films (Type 600 and Spectra are among the popular used labels).

This is a classic, time-and-tried art form. Don't let them stop manufacturing it!

Update May 2012: Since Polaroid Co filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, its technology has resurfaced. Since March 2010, instant film materials for Vintage Polaroid cameras have again become available on the market, developed and manufactured by a group called The Impossible Project, at the former Polaroid production plant in Enschede, The Netherlands.

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Celf o Gwmpas is an arts organisation that covers the whole of Powys. We provide high quality arts experiences primarily for adults with learning disabilities.

Working with over 200 people a year we run regular sessions and high profile projects. The Arts Council of Wales has decided to cut our revenue funding.

We believe that that the Arts Council of Wales has not fully appreciated the detail of the work that Celf o Gwmpas uniquely provides in Powys. Our focus on artistic excellence and maximum participation helps to overcome the social exclusion experienced by people with learning disabilities.

Our ten years of experience means we have an extensive network and long standing relationships with participants and their support services. Our awareness of the infrastructure that surrounds people with learning disabilities, including the Care Planning system and the frequent lack of advocacy, means that our art provision, with its potential to give a voice to often unheard people is especially valuable. Uniquely, we take the arts events out to each area of Powys.

We work, often one-to-one, with participants to enable people to get to and take part in the arts workshops. We feel it is this combination of artistic excellence and vision, high profile projects and learning disability awareness that makes Celf o Gwmpas so special, and which could not easily be replicated by another provider.

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The idea for an illustration major has been juggled around the Herron faculty for a few years now. In the past, it has nearly gone through to become a viable major among the other fine arts and visual communications majors. But each time it has inexplicably fallen short.

I think the main issue of it not becoming a major is that there is such a demand for it, the school is afraid an Illustration major will take away students from the other Fine Arts Majors. But in a school that offers Visual Communications (design in advertisements), and Printmaking (much of which look like illustrations) as majors, I think this is a pretty weak excuse. And, why would it not be considered art?!

I am outraged and believe it’s time to for the students, and artist everywhere, to make a stand!

For more information about Herron, please visit there website: www.herron.iupui.edu

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deviantART is a popular online artistic community. It was first launched on August 7, 2000 by Scott Jarkoff and Matthew Stephens. Angelo Sotira is the CEO.

deviantART aims to provide a place for any artist, photographer, or writer to exhibit and discuss his or her works. It also provides a community of like-minded individuals and is visited by 1.5 million individuals per day who view 35 million pages (per day). The site consists of over 3.5 million users and over 28.5 million submissions as of December, 2006. Submissions to the site grow at a rate of 40,000 per day.

deviantART now displays multiple forms of art and creative expression laid out in an extensive category structure. The artwork on display includes photography, digital art, traditional art, literature and skins for applications. The site also has extensive downloadable resources for use within artworks such as tutorials and stock photography.

On December 2006 "Etisalat" has Officaly blocked DeviantART.
A huge portion of UAE users have made DeviantArt their home, from Traditional Artists to Photographers to Writers.

To those who tried sending a complaint to Etisalat Help Desk got the following reply :

"Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting us with regards to the blocked web site.

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Research proves the benefits of an arts education. Study after study has proven that students with the opportunity to study the arts consistently outperform others in reading, vocabulary, language arts, and history.

They participate in youth groups more frequently, read for pleasure more often, and perform community service more often!

The arts are a “No Child Left Behind” mandated core academic subject! The No Child Left Behind Act defines the arts as a core academic subject, to be taught in the nation’s schools on par with math, science and language.

Our elementary school teachers are mandated to cover visual and performing arts subjects in their classrooms.

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BEHNAM AND FAMILY MUST STAY!

Behnam, an outstanding young artist and BA Hons Fine Art student at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, University of the Arts London, his younger brother, a gap year student, both former students at Quintin Kynaston School, and their mother, are in urgent need of asylum in the UK. They have lived in London since 2002.

What Behnam and his mother face is deportation to prison, torture and likely death.

As a former teacher at the boys' school and now a close family friend, I have known Behnam since his arrival at the school in 2003. I vouch for the family's complete integrity and for the authenticity of their asylum claim.

Behnam is a delightful, popular young man, an excellent role model for young people. In recognition of his achievements under adversity he was Highly Commended at the Anne Frank Awards in 2007. In 2008 he was made an Ambassador for Refugees and Arts by the Refugees & the Arts Initiative. In June 2009 Behnam was invited to work alongside an established artist facilitating a day of workshops on Islamic glasspainting at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Much of Behnam's artwork reflects his open-minded approach to politics and religion and his strong opposition to the current theocratic regime in Iran. This, alone, would place him in great danger in today's Iran.

In 2008 Behnam held an exhibition "Visions of Freedom" at the Watermans Arts Centre, Brentford, his fifth solo art exhibition in London. His latest travelling exhibition, "Where is Their Vote?", was inspired by the courage of the protesters following the Presidential Election of June, 2009. He has also exhibited alongside other artists including at venues that include the Human Rights Centre of Amnesty International,St Ethelberga's Church of Reconciliation, Portsmouth University and the Free Word Centre. He and his family are an enormous asset to our society.

The image included is "Hope for Freedom" by Behnam, aged 16, depicting the view of a political prisoner looking out towards freedom. The doves and the Statue of Liberty are outlined in the colours of the Iranian flag. Around the image are representaions of the ancient Persian Human Rights Codes of Cyrus.

In April 2005 two of Behnam's friends were arrested at Behnam's family's home in Tehran for allegedly printing and distributing anti-regime literature.

Three days later Behnam's father was arrested on arrival at Tehran Airport. Beaten and interrogated about the whereabouts of his wife and older son, Behnam's father was released following the payment of money.

He warned his wife in London, that she and Behnam were wanted by the authorities and could not return to Iran. He was subsequently re-arrested and held in the notorious Evin Prison for 15 months until he was conditionally released.

The family claimed asylum in the UK, but their claim was rejected. It again failed on appeal and this was upheld at a reconsideration hearing. Shortly after receiving this news the boys' mother collapsed and was taken to hospital. This has happened on a number of occasions since this situation arose and is clearly related to deep fears.

The family sought to take the case to the Court of Appeal, especially as there is evidence which was not available at the earlier hearing, but their application was rejected.

A fresh asylum claim, based on substantial additional evidence, was submitted in April 2008. This time the family has a highly competent solicitor. For seventeen long months there was no response from the Home Office but there have now been indications that the Home Office is about to consider the fresh application.

Should the fresh application, however, be rejected, their position is one of great danger. Both Behnam and his mother have been tried and sentenced in absentia by a court in Iran on political charges. Behnam has been sentenced prison for 5 years, his mother to 7 years.

Even more shocking is that they have been warned that they will receive lashes, 70 in Behnam's case and 100 in the mother's. Knowing the people concerned we cannot see how they could survive such a brutal ordeal.

The Iranian regime has an appalling, and deteriorating, Human Rights record - including executions of minors, floggings, rape and other forms of torture. The already lamentable state of human rights in Iran has worsened even further following the phoney Presidetial election of June 2009, with groups such as students and artists being targetted.

We are completely dismayed and outraged by the suffering this delightful family are going through. They fell victim of serious malpractice by their previous legal representative.The family has so far been denied justice.

Should the fresh application be refused,the family is at real risk of deportation to Iran. This petition is part of a campaign to stop this.

Please sign the onlne petition if you have not signed the paper one. In all, over 11,200 people have so far signed the petition, demonstrating the enormous concern there is for this much loved, vulnerable family in such danger.

Included in a long list of prominent supporters of the campaign are Isabelle Allende, Michael Palin, Nicole Farhi, Katherine Hammett, Paula Rego, Mark Titchner, Ken Loache, Polly Toynbee, Yasmin Allibhai-Brown, Rory Bremner, Darius Campbell Danesh , Eva Schloss (Anne Frank's step-sister), faith and community leaders, MPs, Peers and MEPs.

THEY MUST NOT BE RETURNED TO IRAN TO BE TORTURED! THEY MUST BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE UK!

If you would like to get involved in the campaign please let me know.

On behalf of the family, thanks for your support.

Pauline Levis
Coordinator, Behnam & Family Must Stay Campaign
pauline.levis@btopenworld.com

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