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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 6, 2010 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 3 -Q <br />SUBJECT: Introduction of 2010 Piedmont Laureate <br />DEPARTMENT: Orange County Arts PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Commission <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Martha Shannon, 968-2011 <br />PURPOSE: To introduce and hear a brief selection from Orange County novelist Zelda <br />Lockhart, the 2010 Piedmont Laureate, and to thank the Board of County Commissioners for <br />helping to make the Piedmont Laureate Program possible. <br />BACKGROUND: The 2010 Piedmont Laureate Program is co-sponsored by the arts <br />councils/commissions in the Triangle area (Orange County Arts Commission, City of Raleigh <br />Arts Commission, Durham Arts Council, United Arts of Raleigh and Wake County, Alamance <br />County Arts Council and Johnston County Arts Council). This is the second year of the <br />Program. The primary goal is to promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence <br />in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region. The Orange County Arts Commission <br />participates in the program so that Orange County writers can apply and Orange County sites <br />can host the Piedmont Laureate. The 2010 Piedmont Laureate is contracted for 30 events <br />(such as readings or workshops at public sites) and up to 5 media appearances throughout the <br />participating counties during the contract period: January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. <br />The Piedmont Laureate application process was open to all writers residing in Orange, Durham, <br />Wake, Alamance or Johnston counties who met the guideline criteria. For the 2010 cycle, <br />applications were accepted from novelists only. In addition to the program sponsors, the <br />selection committee was composed of John Kessel (Director of Creative Writing, NC State <br />University), writer Susie Ruth Powell, and Banu Valladares (Literature Director, North Carolina <br />Arts Council). After review of the applications, several finalists were interviewed. Orange <br />County resident Zelda Lockhart was selected as Laureate. <br />Ms. Lockhart will read a brief selection from her recent work at the meeting. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County provided $1,350 in FY2009-10 to cover a portion of the <br />Piedmont Laureate's stipend and website (www.piedmontlaureate.com) expenses. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board recognize Orange County <br />novelist Zelda Lockhart, the 2010 Piedmont Laureate. <br />