Monday, January 28, 2013

Update on finances for OBR - way to go!

Great news!  This was a good day for donations for One Billion Rising!  Thank you all so much for your contributions!

Here's what came in:

Indiegogo:  $400        lots of $50 donations - yay!
Individuals: $215.50   including entry fees for Women Rise!
Total:          $615.50  Terrific for one day!  Thank you to each of you.

We also got a wonderful offer from AlterNatives that they would donate a portion of their sales.  AlterNatives is a fair trade store that was founded 15 years ago to support widows who were survivors of political violence.  Their  Facebook page is: Alternatives Boutique Carytown.  We just found this out a few hours ago and are working to see if we can make it happen.  If you're interested in volunteering to help us out this Sunday, we could definitely use the manpower!  If you decide to go to Carytown to buy V-Day gifts, I hope you'll stop by AlterNatives and thank them for their support!

Please keep it comin'!  We're getting every closer!  Every penny makes a difference.  Thank you.

Still needed:  $4416.12, or $2416.12 if we have to use the Action Alliance's money - we're hoping to GIVE them money, though, NOT use theirs!  We want them to be able to use their funds to help victims of violence directly.  
 

Finances of One Billion Rising

Friends,
Some of you who are numbers people have asked what exactly we're raising money for as we keep publishing requests for donations!  Good question!  I thought it might be helpful to answer your questions as thoroughly and accurately as I can so you can know what we're using your generous donations for.

Here's the scoop:

One Billion Rising RVA is a completely grassroots effort.  That means that five of us: me, Alba Jaramillo, Janett Forte, Kelsey Bedolli, and Julie Willard, decided to take on creating an event to celebrate women and to bring awareness to the violence being perpetrated against women all over the world.  Our desires to end violence against women have turned into this event which is slated to take place Thursday, Feb 14th, from 11-2 at the Richmond Coliseum.  We have many, many volunteers in place to help us out and need about 70 more for the day of the event.  (Sign up here if you're interested in volunteering.)  None of us are being paid to do this work.


Because we're a bunch of overachievers on the committee, and because we couldn't imagine a more perfect location for the rally, we have chosen to have it at the Richmond Coliseum.  Given how rainy/snowy/freezing rain it's been recently, having it indoors is looking more and more like the PERFECT decision!  The Coliseum's management is so supportive of our event that they have made the decision to give us the use of the building for FREE.  Thank you, Coliseum!  We are unendingly grateful.

They, however, have costs they are unable to waive. I'm not sure it's quite appropriate for me to list them all here, but if you're really interested, you can email me at susansingerart@msn.com, and I will share them with you.  They are costs are ones such as personnel to man the Coliseum, police, fire, and EMS to be at the event, cleaning, the stage and sound system, etc.  We have agreed to have many volunteers to take over as many of the tasks as possible to keep costs to a bare minimum.  The Coliseum has been absolutely fantastic to work with to help us keep costs down.  Despite that, the costs come to $6314.12, subject to change if our needs change (we don't expect them to - we hope they won't - unless we suddenly realize we might have 20,000 instead of 10,000, in which case our costs would rise significantly!)

This is the main bulk of what we need to earn.  We also are printing buttons to sell at the event.  Our wonderful button maker, Jennifer Yane, is bartering with us so we can keep those costs low.  That will be $100.  We would like to make Tshirts and are working on finding a way to do that without upfront costs.  Or we need someone to donate the shirts.  If you have a lead on that, please get in touch. I know people are going to want T shirts from the event, and it would be a good way to make some money to help support us, but we don't have funds to put forward to get them!  A Catch-22!  Frustrating!

We may have expenses related to Ms. Kadeer's visit should she choose to stay overnight.  Those are unknown at this time, but would probably run close to $400 for meals, hotel, and transportation costs.  The other speakers are local so that isn't an issue.  

We have to pay for liability insurance for the Coliseum.  There is no choice there.  We are researching the policy and expect it to cost $750, hopefully no more.  

The total costs are:
$6314.12
    100.00
    400.00
    750.00
$7564.12 at the outside, assuming nothing else comes up.

Our fundraising efforts have been moving in several directions.

1.  Indiegogo is a web-based fundraising outfit sort of like Kickstarter.  We launched a campaign there to raise $1500, hoping to specifically cover some of the costs of the Coliseum.  We didn't put the entire $6314.12 on there because they take a percentage of the gifts - 3% if we reach our goal, 6% if we don't.  We didn't want to overreach our goal, and we wanted to create an option where folks could easily donate.  I realize it's a bit confusing why the amount there is different than the $7500 we mention elsewhere.  I hope this clarifies that!  To donate to indiegogo, please use the following link:  http://www.indiegogo.com/OBR-RVA?c=pledges  Our campaign there is going quite well.  We're up to $415 as of today, 1/28.  We need $1085 more to meet our goal.

2.  Individual fundraising efforts - each of us volunteers has sent out appeals to our dear, beloved, generous friends and families and they have been most kind, donating either through indiegogo or through the Action Alliance Website.  If you would like to donate through them, PLEASE be sure to write "One Billion Rising" or the donations will NOT come to this campaign.  They're a wonderful organization, so please feel free to donate to them as well if you feel so moved, but please be sure to note OBR or One Billion rising in the comments section if you want to donate to cover the aforementioned expenses.  In addition to what has come through indiegogo, we have raised $990 through these efforts.  Thank you!

3.  Organizational fundraising efforts - we have written letters to various organizations and corporations asking them to support our efforts.  Two have responded with $500 donations each, for a total of $1000.  Thank you!

As you can see, as of today, we have raised $2405 so far, $4405 if we count the Action Alliance's donation (below).  In addition to continuing those efforts, here is what we are continuing to do to raise more funds:

1.  Sponsorship efforts - individuals, non-profits, small businesses, or corporations may rent banner space or a booth the day of the event.  We are currently working on raising awareness of this possibility so we can raise these funds.  If you or anyone you know would like to rent a booth or space to hang a banner, please contact Julie Willard at VirginiasRising@gmail.com.

2. Contributions will be collected the day of the event.  We will have many volunteers at the event to ask people to contribute a buck or two (or more) to help pay for the event.

3.  Many of the proceeds from the Beyond Barbie events will go to help pay for the Coliseum.

4.  Half of the proceeds from Women Rise! (the art show at Crossroads Art Center being held in conjunction with this event) will go towards One Billion Rising.

5.  The Action Alliance has generously agreed to donate $2000 towards the event should it be needed.  We very much hope that won't be necessary so that they can retain those funds to help victims of violence in the many many ways they already do.

6.  Many of the proceeds, after expenses, from the Vagina Monologues will go to One Billion Rising to help cover costs.

Our hope is that we will exceed our fundraising efforts greatly so that we can make a large donation to the Action Alliance on behalf of the women and men of Richmond who wish to see an end to Violence against Women.  The Action Alliance is the umbrella organization which coordinates the 70+ shelters and agencies throughout Virginia.  They do wonderful, powerful work, exactly what we're trying to help with by putting on One Billion Rising!

Please feel free to share this information with whomever you would like.  We intend to be fully transparent with our finances.  We would be very grateful if you felt led to give us a donation so we can cover these expenses.  Currently we have a private person who has agreed to be the guarantor for the costs of the Coliseum and has agreed to take the loss if the costs aren't covered.  We do not want to see that happen.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity.  We hope it will directly help someone end and/or heal the horrors in their lives and they will have YOU to thank.

We need to raise $3159.12 more by Feb 14.  

to donate: link to indiegogo:  http://www.indiegogo.com/OBR-RVA?c=pledges
to donate: link to Action Alliance's donation page:  https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/VirginiaSexualDomestic/OnlineDonation.html

If you would like to volunteer to help with the event, please click here to sign up!


Program for One Billion Rising Feb 14th at the Richmond Coliseum

Friends!  

It is high time for me to bring you up to date on One Billion Rising RVA!  We've all been so busy working on planning it, I haven't had time to write about it!  Before I tell you all about what's happening, we need volunteers!  If you want to sign up to volunteer, please click here to go to the Volunteer Sign up sheet on Google Docs.
Here's what's happening:

Thursday, February 14th, 11 AM - 2 PM, at the Richmond Coliseum
One Billion people around the globe will be rising to bring awareness to the violence being perpetrated against women around the world.  Here in Richmond ten thousand or more of us will gather to learn, to celebrate, to claim our power, to dance, to rise!  The events are as follows:
  • 11 AM - 12 PM
  1.  Resource Fair full of booths from organizations working to end violence against women.  This will give folks an opportunity to learn more, to get information for themselves or loved ones, or to volunteer to help out.
  2. Hoopers, glow dancers, Capoiera dancers, slam poets, actresses performing bits of the Vagina Monologues, bands playing - some of these will be child friendly; some will be for more mature audiences.  (Children are welcome at all of them - we just want parents to be aware that some of the subject matter will be mature, and the monologues and slam poetry will contain four letter words.)
  3. Slaying the Dragon - an opportunity for each of us to write our hopes and dreams for the future, or our stories of the past, or statements to honor those we love, or anything else we feel moved to write. They will be displayed on a beautifully-crafted papier-mache dragon symbolizing the New Year, slaying the dragon, using the dragon as a weapon to protect us, or whatever else works for you!
  • 11:55  a terrific surprise you won't want to miss!
  • 12 - 1:15  the main body of the formal program
  • Speakers and performers include:
  •  MC'ing the program for us will be two Richmond news anchors: Christina Feerick: Channel 8 & Diane Walker: Channel 12 &10
  1. Claire Hylton Sheppard will address the impact violence has had on her personally.
  2. Carol Adams, Richmond Police Department, will address local issues.  Carol has been a staunch advocate and phenomenal volunteer to help victims of violence locally.
  3. The Nobel Peace Prize nominee Rebiya Kadeerprominent human rights activist from the Uyghur region of China will speak to the global nature of violence against women. 
  4. Yours truly will speak about the One Billion Rising movement worldwide and will recite a rousing poem by Eve Ensler, written specifically for One Billion Rising. 
  5. Gaye Adegbalola an American blues singer and guitarist, teacher, lecturer, activist, and photographer, and her group The Wild Roots will play songs to entertain and inspire us.
  6. There are a couple of other speakers who have been invited but who have not confirmed yet.  We hope to update and confirm the schedule by Jan 31. 
  7. At the very end of the formal program portion, drumming will commence and continue powerfully as we all dance and express the pent up energy and outrage and hope that violence against women CAN and MUST END once and for all.  NOW!  If you have a drum and feel so led, we ask that you bring it with you to join in the drumming.  We would be delighted to have 10,000 drummers taking part!
  • 1:15 - 2 The event will wind down as people talk to each other, share, meet, greet, and again visit the resource booths then gradually leave the Coliseum to go out into the world to do what they can to end violence against women. 
  •  
  • If you are interested in volunteering to help either before or during the event, we would welcome your help!  Here is information about our upcoming volunteer meetings:

  • Please Join Us - we have a planning/organizing meeting scheduled for tonight:

    Date: Monday, January 28, 2013 
    Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm 
    Location: the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, 5008 Monument Ave. Suite A Richmond, VA 23230.  

    We will be finalizing the program for our Feb 14th event at the Richmond Coliseum, discussing event promotion, fundraising and sponsorship. We need your help and your good ideas. 

    We hope you can attend - Invite others interested in joining us and please reply and let us know if you can attend so we can make sure to have plenty of materials for all! Thank you!

    Please note: The next planning/organizing meetings are on Monday's Feb 4 – &  Feb 11  from 6 to 8 pm at the Action Alliance (address above)
    If you want to sign up to volunteer, please go to this google doc to sign up. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Eve Ensler and victims of violence

Eve Ensler walked on a stage in a New Orleans sports arena and asked the audience gathered to do two things.  She introduced herself and asked: 1) “All of you who are personally victims of violence, please stand.”  An unexpected number of silhouettes rose to be counted. I felt my heart pounding in anxiety and my eyes widening in surprise.

Then she asked, 2) "Those of you who know women who are or have been victims of violence, please stand." The rest of the arena, including me, in one rustling move seemed to rise to join the first group of those willing to take their place, their number in a sisterhood too large for our minds to embrace.

This is why we are Rising in RVA.  There are too many of us already.  Let us save those to come and give them hope of a different life.


Feb 14, 2013 from 11 AM - 2 PM at the Richmond Coliseum.  Free of charge and open to all.  Please join us to end violence against women and to change the world as we know it.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Open letter about One Billion Rising RVA


Dear Friends,

I'm so grateful to you for reading my blog and for caring enough about issues I care about to follow my story as it evolves.  Today I have a request for you.  I am asking that you get involved in One Billion Rising wherever you live in the world.  Risings are happening in 182 countries, so you're very likely to find one within an hour or two of where you live.

If you live in Richmond, VA, you are in luck, because there's one happening at the Coliseum.  And I'm going to tell you all about it!

This past fall, you may remember, I went to a conference called Women and Power at Omega Institute in Rheinbeck, NY.  There I heard Eve Ensler, author of Vagina Monologues, speak about what she has seen as she's traveled the world, speaking with women from here in the US to the Congo to Bosnia and all around the world where horrors are being perpetrated on women.  I learned that one in three women will be beaten or raped or abused, or perhaps even killed, in her lifetime.  The stories Eve shared moved me to action.  She created One Billion Rising as a worldwide movement to bring attention to the fact that one in three women equals over one billion people on this planet.  Her goal, and mine, is to END violence against women.  NOW. 

I came home from the conference and immediately began to organize One Billion Rising RVA.  I am joined by a core group of four other organizers, and, with the
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance as our fiscal sponsor, we are creating the main event for Valentine's Day AND a large number of complementary events throughout the months of February and March.  These events include Women Rise! (an art show with art which responds to the theme of women rising to end violence); 2 performances of The Vagina Monologues; 4 evenings of Beyond Barbie (the performance series I created in 2011 to accent issues of importance to women); Cranksrising, a scavenger hunt/bike race; and others!  The support from the community has been tremendous and leads me to believe that the time is ripe for bringing awareness to this issue and that we can truly make a difference NOW!
So how can you help? 

We need everyone in the city to know about the event!  We are hoping to have at least 10,000 come to the event - women, children AND men - we love our V-Men!  We can't end the violence without men!    If you have contacts with the press, I would be tremendously grateful if you could get me in touch with them so we can get the word out most effectively.  If you can forward this email to everyone on your email list, that would be HUGE!

We also need financial support.  The Coliseum is being incredibly supportive and is charging us only the bare minimum to use the facility - phenomenal! - but we still have $5000 in bills to pay - not bad for an event which will reach, potentially, everyone in the city and surrounding area!  If you feel moved to make a donation, I would be very, very thankful.  You can donate through indiegogo at http://www.indiegogo.com/OBR-RVA/x/2115411?show_todos=true.  You can even get thank you gifts like tickets to the Vagina Monologues or advertising at the event for your company if you'd like.  We would love to get Richmond's companies involved in this movement and in this event so the community will KNOW that this is important, not just to the people suffering the abuse, but to everyone.  Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse hurts business.  People suffering from these horrors are more likely to miss work and to be less effective when they are there because of the tremendous energy it takes to deal with the fallout of it.  By supporting this event, you are supporting your employees - and most likely many of your loved ones - and showing them you, too, want to end the violence.

I'm asking you to attend the event!  And encourage your loved ones and employees to come as well!  It's during the lunch hour, so you won't miss much work.  Walk over to the Coliseum and bring everyone you can think of.

We need over 300 volunteers the day of One Billion Rising.  If you have an hour or two you'd like to donate, or if you can bring your employees and have them do community service that day, yay!  We'd be delighted!

Please come to the complementary events as well!  They will be wonderful!

Thank you for taking the time to read this email.  I hope to hear from you and to learn how you feel you can help.

I'm attaching our press release here so you can learn more about the event.  Please feel free to forward it to anyone you would like.  And please get in touch if I can answer any questions or if you'd like to donate or volunteer!

Thank you so much.  Your support makes a difference.
Susan 



Press release

*********************************

Did you know that over 354,000 women currently living in Virginia have experienced, or will experience at least one incident of sexual violence in her lifetime? (Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, Center for Disease Control, 2010) Further, 971,900 (1 out of 3) Virginian women have experienced, or will experience at least one incident of severe physical violence from her intimate partner, including rape, physical violence, and stalking. (Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, Center for Disease Control, 2010.) These statistics are alarming. That is why the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (Action Alliance) has partnered with over 60 community leaders, artists, performers, slam poets, musicians, and local sexual and domestic violence non-profit organizations, to launch “ONE BILLION RISING RVA,” a rally to raise social awareness about sexual and domestic violence and to call for an end to these horrors.

On February 14, between 11 AM - 2 PM, at the Richmond Coliseum, potentially 10,000 or more people will gather to call for an end to violence against women, to learn what's already being done and what needs to be done, to celebrate women's strength and empowerment, and to dance and feel the energy of 10,000 people united in a common cause.  It promises to be an extraordinary event, the first of its kind in Richmond! One Billion Rising RVA will be a joyful and empowering event that will include informative, sobering, and uplifting talks, slam poetry, music, dance, and art that is appropriate for all ages. It will also include a community resource fair at which community members will receive information about sexual and domestic victim services in Richmond.
ONE BILLION RISING began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On February 14, 2013, V-Day’s* 15th anniversary, One Billion Rising RVA, in part sponsored by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance**, will join activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and women and men across the world as we express our outrage, demand change, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

 “When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea that we could end violence against women,” said Ensler. “Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities, and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign. When we come together on February 14, 2013 to demand an end to violence against women and girls it will be a truly global voice that will rise up.” (To learn more about Eve Ensler and her intentions for One Billion Rising, please read the following article:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/sep/24/one-billion-rising-end-violence-women, or her most current article in The Guardian:  http://onebillionrising.org/blog/entry/the-delhi-rape-savile-ohio-this-violence-will-no-longer-be-tolerated.  Eve is a powerful writer who doesn't hold back!  She makes for great copy!)
The rally being held on Feb 14th is not the only event associated with One Billion Rising RVA.  There are also many complementary events being held.  Here is the information about those:

  • Two separate versions of The Vagina Monologues, both a community and a college (VCU) performance.  These will be held towards the end of March, Auditions will be held at the Action Alliance Headquarters at 5008 Monument Ave, Suite A, Jan 27, 1-4 PM and Jan 30, 6-8 PM.
  • Women Rise! is an exhibition celebrating women and our empowerment! Richmond area artists will be displaying their interpretation of the One Billion Rising theme in all media. The Opening Reception, including an Awards Ceremony and Juror's Talk by Susan Singer will take place February 9 from 1-3 PM at Crossroads Art Center at 2016 Staples Mill Rd. Artwork will be on display through March 3.  Entries are being accepted until Jan 25 and must be sent digitally.  For more information, please go to http://onebillionrisingrva.wix.com/onebillionrisingrva#!services2/c1a63
  • CRANKSRISING by Women's Multisports of Richmond, Inc, February 9, beginning at 10 AM
    The concept is simple: The riders get a manifest with lists of local store stops and needed items, then they head out to see how many items they can buy and carry back to the finish. The fastest riders to navigate the streets and checkout lines win prizes, although it is not all about speed. One of the options on the shopping list will be a perishable item which will take skill to deliver. The pile of items gathered will benefit Safe Harbor shelter for survivors of sexual and domestic violence.  For more information or to sign up, please go to http://www.womensmultisportsofrichmond.com/cranksrising.html
  • Four new installments of Beyond Barbie: Four Fridays in February, the incredibly successful performance series launched by Susan Singer in Oct - Nov 2011 and produced by Dawn Flores this time around.  The segments will take place at Unity of Richmond, 800 Blanton Ave, Richmond at 7:30 PM, each Friday in February.  The four segments are as follows:

·         The Heart’s True Scale: An evening of storytelling with Denise Bennett, Friday, February 1, 7:30 pm
Lured on by a strange crow, a hapless Harper finds himself trapped in a deep dark cave . What he finds there will test the true scale of his heart (all puns intended). It's a story about the healing power of love even in the wake of violence and pain. The Heart's True Scale is an original fairy-tale for adults. Using voice and harp, humor and drama, Denise Bennett cleverly combines elements of traditional storytelling and theater to heal, captivate, and enthrall her audience.
·         Breaking Free: Transcending Barriers of Mind, Body and Circumstance, Friday, February 8, 7:30 pm
Each of us has barriers that we sometimes allow to hold us back, be they handicaps, mental illnesses, bad marriages, race, gender, prison or other circumstances. By witnessing the courage of others, we can increase our own courage and learn to break free. Produced by Dawn Flores with Susan Singer, and featuring Lisette Johnson, Jenny Warne, Jacqueline Jones and the work of Jess Lucia, this evening celebrates, through stories, song and dance, the lives of women who tapped into their own courage and resilience when confronted with life's extraordinary challenges.
·         Women in Power: Creating Roadmaps for Others, Friday, February 15, 7:30 pm
Produced by Dawn Flores with Susan Singer, this evening showcases women who have experienced, in profoundly personal ways, a need in their communities and have taken action to create or support programs that inspire, educate and empower others. Sylvia Clute shares insights into the inequalities within the criminal justice system and lays out an inspiring new vision of restorative justice. Kathleen MacDonald, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Gail R. Schoenbach FREED Foundation, powerfully and compassionately shares her knowledge and understanding about recovering from and eliminating eating disorders.
·         Sacred Circle Dance, Friday, February 22, 7:30 pm
Sacred Circle dance is an empowering way to reclaim wholeness by sinking into the body and building a sense of community through movement. In a safe and sacred space, Peggy O’Neill guides participants in simple steps in time to beautiful music from a variety of cultures. Peggy has been teaching dance since the 80’s and has lead local, national and international gatherings with grace and gentleness. This event is for women, men, and teens and no ability or previous dance experience is required. Proceeds will benefit One Billion Rising RVA.




*About V-Day
V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler's award winning play The Vagina Monologues and other artistic works. In 2012, over 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $90 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, reopened shelters, and funded over 14,000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. Over 300 million people have seen a V-Day benefit event in their community. V-Day has received numerous acknowledgements including Worth Magazine's 100 Best Charities, Marie Claire Magazine's Top Ten Charities, one of the Top-Rated organizations on Philanthropedia/Guidestar and Great Nonprofits. V-Day's newest campaign is ONE BILLION RISING which will culminate on 021413 with a global action worldwide. www.vday.org
**About the Action Alliance
The Action Alliance’s mission is to ensure “that all Virginias live a life free of sexual and domestic violence.” The Action Alliance is Virginia’s is a 501(c3) and is the statewide coalition and leading organization for sexual and domestic violence services in Virginia. We are the umbrella organization for over 70 sexual and domestic violence nonprofit agencies in the commonwealth. The Action Alliance also operates a 24-hour hotline service for victims, provides training for professionals working in the sexual and domestic violence services, works with local government to improve response to victims, and launches public awareness campaigns about sexual and domestic violence, such as RVA’s ONE BILLION RISING to reduce sexual and domestic violence. http://www.vsdvalliance.org/secAbout/indexAbout.html


Monday, January 7, 2013

Call for Entries: Women Rise! part of One Billion Rising



Call for Entries: Women Rise!

Art exhibition held in conjunction with One Billion Rising RVA

One in Three Women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime
One Billion women violated is an atrocity!

One Billion women rising and dancing is a REVOLUTION!

One Billion Rising RVA is part of a worldwide campaign organized by Eve Ensler (the founder of V- Day and author of The Vagina Monologues) and activists across the globe. One Billion Rising RVA is your voice (and you!) rising to end violence against women and girls.  One Billion Rising RVA is an event, a rally, a revolution, a rising, a chance to dance and celebrate. February 14, 2013, from 11-2, at the Richmond Coliseum, is a time to come together to increase awareness, to demonstrate our collective strength, our numbers, and our solidarity across borders. It is a catalyst for a new time and a new way of being.


Entries should evoke a sense of women's empowerment and overcoming obstacles and/or be a celebration of the way the world CAN be when violence against women no longer exists.


(There has been some confusion - this is NOT a donation - your work may be for sale - or not - your choice. If you sell your piece, Crossroads will take a commission. The rest goes to you. I believe artists should make a living from their work and have a good place to show and sell it! That's part of the intent of this show!  If you would like to donate proceeds from sale of your work to One Billion Rising, we will be delighted, but it is NOT expected.)

Fee: $15.00 Adult, $5.00 Student (please make check out to Action Alliance) for 1 or 2 entries/person. Put "OBR Art Show" in the memo line, please.  Mail the check to Susan Singer, 3440 Northridge Rd, Richmond, VA 23235.  It must be received before your entry can be accepted.

Event Dates: 2/6/2013 – 3/4/2013 at Crossroads Art Center, 2016 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA 23230

Entry Deadline: Please send digital entries to Susan.Singer@hotmail.com  by 1/25/2013. You will be notified by 2/1 whether your entries have been accepted or not.  Please follow image requirements.  Entries cannot be considered otherwise.

Image Details
  • Please send a maximum of two entries/person to Susan.Singer@hotmail.com
  • Format:  Images must be in jpeg format, no larger than 2 megabytes, 300 dpi
  • Name each image as follows: Your name-Title of work-medium-HxWxD.jpeg, for example: John Smith-Women Rising-oil-22x33x1.jpeg
  • Works may be 2-D or 3-D, maximum size 60" on one side 
  • Please send the check for $15 (Adult), $5 (student) to 3440 Northridge Rd, Richmond, VA 23235.  Entries will not be considered until the entry fee is received.
Prizes:  First, Second and Third Prizes in both Adult and Student Categories. Half the entry fees will be shared proportionally amongst the winners in the adult and student categories, with students receiving 1/3 as much as the adults.  The other half will go to the Action Alliance to help benefit those who are suffering from Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse.

Juror: 
Susan Singer, artist, activist, and organizer of Beyond Barbie and One Billion Rising RVA.

Delivery of artwork:  Work must be hand-delivered Feb 6 between 10-2 to Crossroads Art Center, 2016 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA 23230 and picked up March 4th between 1-5.  Work must be ready to hang with wires (no saw-tooth attachments) and frame (if appropriate). 

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 9, 1-3 PM at Crossroads Art Center, Juror's Talk and Awards Disbursement will be at 1:30.
Questions:  Contact Susan Singer at Susan.Singer@hotmail.com

Calendar of Events:
Jan 25: entry deadline
Feb 1: notification of acceptance or not
Feb 6: hand deliver artwork between 10-2
Feb 9: Opening Reception at Crossroads Art Center, 1-3
Mar 4: pick up artwork from Crossroads, 1-5