The Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) announces the latest round of artists accepted into the NAC Artist Directory. The Directory consists of two rosters: the Artists in Schools/Communities (AiS/C) Program roster and the Nebraska Touring Program (NTP) roster.

When accepted into this directory, artists and ensembles are listed in the NAC's on-line Artist Directory, accessible to organizations and communities around the state for potential artist workshops, residencies, and performances. The online Artist Directory is available for viewing on the Nebraska Arts Council’s website.

Acceptance to the rosters is based on a competitive review managed by the NAC. Artist proposals are reviewed annually by a panel of experts who make their recommendations to the Arts Council for inclusion on the rosters, based upon criteria developed specifically for each program. The NAC Board of Directors ratifies the review panel’s recommendations each spring at their quarterly meeting, which recently took place on April 2 in Lincoln.

The following is a list of the accepted artists, their place of residence, and artistic media:

Nebraska Touring Program (NTP) Roster -- This roster includes touring artists and exhibits from a variety of disciplines. The new NTP roster artists include:

Jill Anderson, Omaha -- Theater: "Bronte" is a one-woman play by William Luce, performed by Jill Anderson. This one-hour long performance plus question and answer session offers a dramatic window into the lives of the famous literary Bronte family. View Roster Page

Ballet Nebraska, Omaha – Dance: Omaha’s professional dance company, Ballet Nebraska showcases the artistry, energy and athleticism of professional dance in Momentum, an exciting mixed-repertory performance and workshop that highlights the versatility and expressive range of modern classical ballet. View Roster Page

Artists in Schools/Communities (AiSC) Roster -- This roster includes teaching artists who lead educational residencies in a variety of disciplines. The new AiSC roster artists include:

Katie F-S., Omaha – Literature: Katie F-S just completed her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and she is excited to dedicate 2012 (and beyond) to teaching and other collaborations. She is best known as a performance poet and founder of the Epicene Furies, a troupe dedicated to startling choral performance. View Roster Page

Jordan Buschur, Lincoln -- Visual Arts: Jordan Buschur is a visual artist with her MFA in Painting from Brooklyn College, the City University of New York. During a residency with Jordan, students will learn to create handmade books incorporating storytelling, painting and drawing. View Roster Page

Jason Jilg, Harvard – Photography:Jason Jilg is an accomplished photographer who offers several programs in his residencies that expose participants to some of the earliest methods of photography. Residency activities with Jason allow each student to produce one-of-a-kind final pieces using 50-150 year old methods. View Roster Page

Michael Klee, Columbus -- Music: Michael Klee’s residencies enrich music programs through detailed percussion instruction. He is an adjunct instructor in percussion at both the University of Nebraska in Omaha and the Northeast Community College in Norfolk. View Roster Page

Kristin Pluhacek, Omaha -- Visual Arts: Soft pastels are her primary focus, but Kristin Pluhacek is also interested in coaching students of all skill levels in the use of charcoal and pencil, acrylic, watercolor and/or oil paint, and fabric collage and quilting as well as combinations of media. View Roster Page

Organizations may include these new artists in their FY11 grant applications to the NAC for either NTP sponsor grants or AiS/C Residency sponsor grants. For additional information about the NTP program or grants, contact Mike Markey at mike.markey@nebraska.gov; for the AiS/C program or grants, contact Anne
Alston at anne.alston@nebraska.gov.