October 14, 2004
Westporters Involved in New Arts Initiative
Three Westporters are involved in a new not-for-profit $1 million fund to activate citizens nationwide in advocacy support of the arts.
Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Ann Sheffer have prominent roles in the effort by Americans for the Arts, a NewYork-based nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.
The new fund, called the Arts Action Fund, includes an artists committee consisting of a gallery of star actors who will aid the advocacy effort.
In addition to Newman and Woodward, it includes Robert Redford, Laurence Fishburn, Ossie Davis, Anna Deavere Smith, Meryl Streep, Michael York, pus a handful of other top names.
Sheffer is chairman of the new arts fund's board of directors. She has served on the board of Americans for the Arts, the Connecticut Arts Council, and local arts boards.
Along with her husband, William Scheffler, Sheffer is also active in Democratic Party politics. They both serve on Westport's Representative Town Meeting.
Posted October 14, 2004 04:09 PM | TrackBackCongratulations on your Wesport Arts initiative. Sounds like it was a success, as most artful things are. With respect to the elections, it remains to be seen whether the number of celebs, like artists and politicians, are lap dancers or pole dancers in their political actions. The categories are definitely intriguing and amusing to bring attention to the election and who's dancing for whom. Is this really Democracy? While we could confine the concept to females only, it would be a shame to frame it in such an unequal manner. Given the nature of the political spread these days, making ID lists tends to suit the process.
Posted by: Pat Ross at October 22, 2004 03:20 PM