Agenda - 10-07-2014 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 7, 2014 Action Agenda Item No. 4 -a SUBJECT: Arts & Humanities Month — 2014 Piedmont Laureate Carrie J. Knowles DEPARTMENT: Orange County Arts Commission ATTACHMENT(S): Press Release PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Shannon, 968 -2011 PURPOSE: To introduce and hear a brief selection from Raleigh resident and author of short fiction Carrie J. Knowles, the 2014 Piedmont Laureate, for National Arts & Humanities Month. BACKGROUND: The 2014 Piedmont Laureate Program is co- sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, the Durham Arts Council, United Arts of Raleigh and Wake County and Alamance County Arts Council. In its sixth year, the primary goal of this program is to promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region. The Arts Commission participates so that Orange County writers can apply and Orange County sites can host the Piedmont Laureate free of charge. The Piedmont Laureate is contracted for 25 events (readings or workshops at public sites) and at least 5 media appearances throughout the four - county area during calendar year 2014. The application process was open to all writers living in Orange, Durham, Wake or Alamance counties who met the guideline criteria. For 2014, applications were accepted from authors of short fiction only. The selection panel included the program sponsors and Karin Wiberg (Managing Editor, The Raleigh Review), Lindsey Alexander (Lindsey Alexander Editorial), Susie Wilde (Author and Columnist), Brenda Wilson (Burlington Writers Club) and John Valentine (Owner, Regulator Book Shop). Three finalists were selected and interviewed by the program sponsors. Ms. Knowles was chosen for the position. As her special project this year, Ms. Knowles has led a series of writing workshops on "Sense of Time and Place" at historic sites throughout the Triangle area. In Orange County, this workshop was held on September 5, 2014 from 1:30 -4:00 pm at the Burwell School Historic Site in Hillsborough. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County's portion ($1,350) of the 2014 Piedmont Laureate's stipend and website (www.piedmontlaureate.com) expenses was paid from FY2014 State and County funds. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board recognize Carrie J. Knowles, the 2014 Piedmont Laureate.