Folk honored for work at helm of Arts Commission

12/18/2008

Marc Folk has been named a 2009 winner of the Governor's Awards for the Arts by the Ohio Arts Council. Folk, 35, is the executive director of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, where he has worked in several capacities for 10 years.

"I see this award more as a testament to the good people who surround the arts here," Folk said of the award for the state's best arts administrator.

Folk has overseen the arts commission for the last 2 1/2 years. With a staff of five full-time and two part-time employees and a budget of $657,000, the ACGT operates programs and provides services for artists, youth, and the general public.

Folk said he's most proud of reconnecting the organization with its artist constituency through direct dialog, and that has resulted in successful events such as the Meet and Greets for the creative community and Artomatic 419.

Folk earned a bachelor's of fine arts degree, studying sculpture and print making from the University of Toledo in 1998. He lives in the Old West End and is the father of 2-year-old Holden.

Folk and the other eight award winners in different categories, selected from a field of 103 nominations, will be honored at an April 1 lunch in Columbus.

e

The Toledo Museum of Art has been named a 2008 Silver Slate winner by Toledo Public Schools for its multi-visit docent program at the Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls.

This year's program is themed to neighborhoods and people who have lived near the school.

At each grade level, academic content was entwined with hands-on learning in the classroom and on museum field trips.

e

The Kellfire Glass Studio Gallery, featuring the work of artist Kelly Sheehan, has opened at 2620 Centennial Rd., Suite W.

Information: 419-517-6061 and www.kellfireglass.com.

e

Master Pieces: Chess Sets from the Dr. George and Vivian Dean Collection will open Dec. 26 and continue through March 22 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The display includes more than two dozen chess sets from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, and crafted between the 16th and the 20th centuries. Included is the only Faberge chess set ever made and a set owned by Catherine the Great.

The Deans' collection began in 1962 when they traveled to the Middle East.In addition, the museum will position three chess stations near the exhibition for attendees to play at their leisure.

Museum admission is $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, $4 for youth.

Information: 313-833-7900 and www.dia.org.