News stories tagged with "hitchens"

(01/02/09) In our series "A Fresh Start," we're asking leading thinkers to share their thoughts on what Barack Obama's administration should be paying attention to as the president-elect takes office this month. In his public appearances, Obama has been known to quote poetry and harken back to his school music teacher. He likes the works of Stevie Wonder, Toni Morrison and Ernest Hemingway. Obama formed a national arts committee as part of his presidential campaign, to the delight of Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts. Not usually a hot-button topic in presidential politics, Obama has issued a comprehensive statement in support of arts and arts education in the U.S. Hitchens says she's hopeful that Obama will be true to his pledge of support for arts education.

(10/28/08) The Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts returned to the North Country earlier this month as part of a "Cultural Blueprints" tour across the state. The public forum in Potsdam brought together arts professionals, economic development and tourism experts, and community leaders to identify strategies and opportunities for the arts to serve as a catalyst for cultural, economic, and community development. Heather Hitchens visited the region a year ago, shortly after taking the leadership post at NYSCA. Todd Moe sat down with her this month to talk about the importance of the arts and economic development during an economic downturn.

(11/21/07) The newly appointed Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts is touring the state. This year, NYSCA awarded roughly $49 million to all fields of the arts, including a $5-million increase that Governor Spitzer had included in his last executive budget. It's part of what Heather Hitchens calls the Governor's commitment to include the arts in his strategic planning process. Hitchens was in Potsdam and Canton last Friday. Todd Moe sat down with her and Hilary Oak, the director of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council, to talk about the importance of the arts and economic development.