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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: October 2, 2012 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Ian Finley, 2012 Piedmont Laureate — National Arts & Humanities Month <br /> DEPARTMENT: Orange County Arts PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> Commission <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Press Release Martha Shannon, 968-2011 <br /> PURPOSE: To introduce and hear a brief selection from dramatist Ian Finley, the 2012 <br /> Piedmont Laureate, during National Arts & Humanities Month (October). <br /> BACKGROUND: The 2012 Piedmont Laureate Program is co-sponsored by the Orange County <br /> Arts Commission, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, the Durham Arts Council, United Arts of <br /> Raleigh and Wake County and the Alamance County Arts Council. In its fourth year, the primary <br /> goal of this program is to promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence in the <br /> literary arts throughout the Piedmont region. The Arts Commission participates so that Orange <br /> County writers can apply and Orange County sites can host the Piedmont Laureate free of <br /> charge. The Piedmont Laureate is contracted for 25 events (readings or workshops at public <br /> sites) and at least 5 media appearances throughout the four-county area in calendar year 2012. <br /> The application process was open to all writers residing in Orange, Durham, Wake or Alamance <br /> counties who met the guideline criteria. For 2012, applications were accepted from <br /> dramatists/screenwriters only. In addition to the program sponsors, the selection panel included <br /> Allison Bergman (Assistant Director, University Theatre, NCSU), Howard Craft (Durham <br /> playwright and poet), Mark Perry (Dramatic Art Department lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill), and <br /> Catherine Rodgers (Theatre Director, Meredith College). Several finalists were chosen and <br /> interviewed. Raleigh resident Ian Finley was selected as the 2012 Piedmont Laureate. <br /> Mr. Finley is including interviews from the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center in <br /> the research for a play entitled UP FROM THE GROUND, showcasing area food resources. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County's portion ($1,350) of the 2012 Piedmont Laureate's <br /> stipend and website (www.piedmontlaureate.com) expenses came from 2011-12 state <br /> Grassroots funds. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board hear a brief selection from <br /> Ian Finley, the 2012 Piedmont Laureate. <br />