This year marks the eighth anniversary of Art at Work Month, Tacoma’s month dedicated to local art held each November. The opening party takes place at Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) on Oct. 29, providing the perfect way to kick off this purely Tacoma ode to creative endeavors.

Cultural Arts Specialist for the city of Tacoma Naomi Strom-Avila affirms that the event is held at TAM for a few specific reasons. “It’s a great venue that allows attendees to see shows that are there, it’s a fantastic space, the Day of the Dead exhibit will still be up, which is a nice addition, and it’s also one of the organizations that the Arts Commission funds.”

The highlight of the opening party is the presentation of AMOCAT Awards to the recently chosen winners for the 2009-10 funding year, which include former Tacoma poet laureate William Kupinse for Community Outreach by an Artist, Hilltop Artists in Residence for Community Outreach by an Organization and City Arts Magazine for the Arts Patron award, among many other individual artists and organizations given funding for projects. The awards ceremony has become tied into the Art at Work Month opening party because it gives visibility to these artists and organizations, Strom-Avila affirmed.

This year poets Kupinse and Tammy Robacker will be reading poems from their books before and after the awards ceremony, “Fallow” by Kupinse, and “Vicissitudes” by Robacker. In addition the Tacoma Youth Symphony will be providing the backdrop of classical music for the event.

TAM will be serving up hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Jonz Catering, there will be a no-host bar and Bates Community College’s Culinary Arts Program will be providing the desserts for the event, which is something the opening party has never done before and that the planners are looking forward to, Strom-Avila said.

While Art at Work Month doesn’t officially kick-off until Nov. 1, here’s a preview of the major events that compose the month-long celebration of all things art in Tacoma:

STUDIO TOURS

The self-guided, free studio tours have been a staple of Art at Work Month since its inception. This year there will be 39 separate tours that cover 75 artists and collective studios. The tours take place Nov. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but not every studio is open for visiting on both days, so check the calendar before visiting.

The art made and shown at the studios runs the gamut of styles, and includes everything from glass, painting, printmaking, political cartoons, fiber work, quilting, dance and more, and will be on view in the spaces that inspire most of these artists’ work.

“It’s a chance for the public to see the studios and how artists work in their space - it’s about seeing the working space,” Strom-Avila stated. Visitors can see the artwork, ask questions of artists, purchase pieces and in certain spaces even take part in their own art projects. Studio tours are open to kids and adults.

ARTS SYMPOSIUM

This is the fourth year that the Arts Symposium is being offering in conjunction with Art at Work Month, and like in years past it will be featuring classes and informative sessions that highlight subjects important to artists. These events are completely free and take place Nov. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on the University of Puget Sound campus. The lineup includes 14 sessions on a variety of topics including copyright, arts marketing, fundraising, financial management, using the Internet for promotion and portfolio building. Some past presenters are returning this year, some are new, but all of them are professionals and are very excited for this year’s event.

A few new elements to the Arts Symposium this year will be specific classes offered for arts organizations and an arts legal clinic offered by Washington Lawyers for the Arts. The group will be offering low-cost ($20) legal consultations for 30 minutes to give artists the opportunity to speak one-on-one about an issue or specific item in a contract with lawyers who work with these issues every day.

Those interested in a consultation must make an appointment ahead of time with Washington Lawyers for the Arts, and information about that can be found on the Art at Work Month website at www.artatworktacoma.com. Pre-registration is also required for the rest of the free sessions for the symposium, as they have filled up quickly in years past.

ART SLAM

The Art Slam returns this year for the fourth time to celebrate Art at Work Month with a fast-paced show of visual and performing arts. The event will take place on Nov. 18 from 7-9 p.m. at the historic Rialto Theater downtown. Throughout the event, live spoken word poets will perform, and D.A.S.H. Center for the Performing Arts’ own Reality Check will kick off the night. The event is relaxed, entertaining and gives attendants the chance to see what people in Tacoma are making, allows them to meet other artists and figure out what’s going on in the community. Like most other Art at Work Month activities, Art Slam is free.

Tacoma has a unique venture going with Art at Work Month, and Strom-Avila believes it’s no accident that the event has had such a great reception.

“Tacoma has built its identity on the arts…and it’s very hard to separate Tacoma from them. It’s a great way to remind people beyond the arts community that the arts are alive and kicking, and that there’s lots for people to do here, and resources and opportunities, so they can take advantage of them.”

Art at Work Month takes place throughout the month of November all over Tacoma. For more information about the events, pick up a brochure at a nearby retailer, restaurant, art gallery or coffee shop, or visit the event’s website at www.artatworktacoma.com.