Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) announces a Spring series of community virtual art classes and webinars. *General classes for students of every age *will be offered after-school and on weekends during the 2021 Spring session March 21– May 30. *General Session Classes * National and International Dialects for the Stage Program Description:Ever wonder how to Sound like Harry Potter or Tony Soprano? Join Cody Swanson as he teaches you the ins and outs of dialects from all over the United States or from different parts of the world. These dialects can be used on-stage or for film work. Instructor: Cody Swanson *This year make your own Mother's Day gift! Register for Shoes As Art Sunday, April 25 1-2:30pm. Adults, teens and youth are welcome. * Shoes as Art Program Description: Create a shoe that expresses who you are. In this workshop, you will create a work of 3-dimensional work of art in the form of a shoe. Gather materials you can collage that show your interests. These items can be photos of friends or family, magazine images or drawings; they can include ribbon or fabric or hardware or glitter; things that you can find around your house and that work together to tell a story. Have a pair of scissors and some newsprint or paper you can stuff in a shoe. The only purchase you may need to make is for 2 rolls of 2” clear wrapping tape. Finally, you will need to select your favorite shoe – which I promise will not be harmed in the making of the project! Instructor: Sally Levine *Free Webinars* NEW Creating a Paper Collage Mandala Program Description: The Mandala (Sanskrit for "circle") is an ancient art form that is closely tied to spiritual practices. However, it was psychologist Carl Jung who felt that the mandala as an art form could be useful as a therapy, and it is, in fact, a very relaxing and therapeutic process. Torn paper collage mandalas are easy to create, require little preparation or previous art experience . Instructor: Sharon Dundee Introduction to Voiceover in this webinar, you’ll learn how to get started in voiceover. We’ll cover essential topics like creating a demo, setting up an inexpensive home recording studio, finding and submitting auditions, connecting with talent agents, negotiating rates, and marketing your services. Instructor: Amanda Terman NEW Grant & Proposal Writing Fundamentals for Arts Professionals Program Description:The process of grant and proposal writing can be simple and pragmatic. Precise language can make the difference between an award and a decline. The eCourse provides tools on how to answer frequently asked questions on grant applications, and how to fine-tune your writing skills for winning proposals. Instructor: Brandi Rae Hicks *Click here <https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/art-class-33808.html> for more information and to register*. SHAC on TRAC: Art Competition for Utility Box Designs Building on the success of the *Painting the Town *and *Building Blocks* utility box projects, the Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) is pleased to announce this year’s project: *SHAC on TRAC*. In collaboration with the Reginal Transit Authority (RTA), SHAC is sponsoring a juried *art competition* for the design of *utility boxes* located along Shaker Heights rapid tracks. We are inviting our local artists to participate. Please download the *template* *and application here <https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/utility-box-design-competition-application.html>*. All designs must be submitted electronically on the template provided. Designs and applications must be submitted to SHAC via email ( *info@shakerartscouncil.org* <%28info@shakerartscouncil.org>) no later than *Friday 30 April 2021*. Eligibility: Applicants must be 21 years or older and live or work in Shaker Heights or reside in the Shaker Heights School District. Applicants may submit more than one (1) design, but each must be submitted in a separate email. There are no entry fees. Artists will retain all copyrights to their artwork. Artists whose designs are selected will receive a $500.00 stipend after the work is installed. All entries must be anonymous. *Do not sign your submittal nor indicate your name on the submitted design document. *SHAC’s jury Chair for this year’s program is André Taylor, Art Educator. Since all of the boxes have slightly different dimensions, artists whose work is selected may have to reformat their designs to fit the matched boxes. Design Criteria: • Black or very dark backgrounds are not permitted. • Words are not permitted in the designs, per the City of Shaker Heights code. • Art created in non-digital media must be digitized for submittal. • Final designs must be submitted as camera-ready, 600 dpi files By submitting a design proposal, all artists agree to: • allow SHAC to use images of the designs on printed materials and websites for promotional purposes only; • allow SHAC to photograph the work; • allow SHAC to submit the proposal to the city’s Shaker Heights Arts Task Force for their final approval and to modify the design, if necessary, to meet its requirements. Artists whose works are not selected are welcome to ask the SHAC for jury feedback. *Art of Reading Book Club* Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) announces The Art of Reading Book Club. The saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Come spend a cozy and casual evening discussing an eclectic mix of books with art related storylines, explore the images they showcase and the times they reflect. Pre read the book or just join for the experience of connecting with fellow art lovers. Margaret Reardon will lead the discussions. Meetings will be held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm as a part of Stay-in-Place Productions, the arts council’s response to COVID -19. This program is free and open to everyone. Advance registration is required. *For more information and to register click here <https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/the-art-of-reading-book-club.html>.* *---Amara Romano* *Administrative Assistant **Shaker Arts Council **shakerartscouncil.org <http://shakerartscouncil.org/>*