Be a part of our Renaisance |
|
Help Us Help You!
We receive a great many emails with events for our newsletter. We wish we could include them all. Here's how to increase the likelihood of being included:
-
-
We like to copy and paste directly from your email to our newsletter, so please use plain text (or unadorned HTML) in your emails to us.
-
Include everything essential, but try to limit your notice to a paragraph or two. Be sure to include your location, date(s) and time, contact information and whether the event is free (provide prices if not).
-
It's ok to attach an image, but we may not have room for it. It helps if the image is small (maximum 200 x 200), but we can resize it if necessary.
-
Feel free to include a link for more information!
-
Try to send well in advance - preferably two weeks - but send anyway - we may have room at the last minute. As of yet, we don't have a regular schedule, but we're aiming for every two weeks.
-
Over 4,000 people receive our news-letter, and the list is growing. You can help us by forwarding it to folks - an easy way to inform them about YOUR event! (See the"Forward" link at the bottom of the newsletter.) |
|
|
|
|
From the Executive Director
In the last newsletter, there were so many events to include - so much to do around here - that I complained, "I wish I had more space!"
In the last month, we spent some time trying to figure out how we could include more events, while not unduly increasing the time it takes to prepare our newsletter. I think we came up with a solution...
There are so many events listings around - in print an online - that it's impossible to include everything. The most important feature that an events calendar can have is "critical mass." There are a few that come close, but in the online environment, the one that seems to be closest for cultural events (broadly defined) is WVIA's ArtScene calendar.
It has several advantages:
- It is weighted towards "cultural" events, and therefore weeds out some of the, well, you know...
- Its search capabilities are great! You can search by date, venue, type of event, location, among others.
- Anyone (even you) can submit events, which means you can do your own promotion, and we can help make it more effective.
- It's quite easy to include all the necessary details (dates, times, location, duration, contact info, price of tickets, etc.).
- It has the closest thing to "critical mass" that we have found online for our region.
It has one or two disadvantages:
- Your event won't appear immediately after you submit it. It must be approved by the WVIA staff. But they usually do it within 24 hours, and this is actually a good thing, because it screens out events that, well, you know...
- Its capabilities for including pictures are quite limited; as is the amount of text you can use for your event's description. You can link to a web site, but not within the event description text, so you can't "click here" a view a PDF.
- It's coverage area includes over 20 counties, which is not a bad thing, but can get overwhelming.
So, beginning with this issue of our newsletter, we're going to try an experiment. We've submitted quite a few events to the calendar that we have received in the last few weeks. We've also figured out how to make it VERY easy for you to view events coming up in the next two weeks in the region from Scranton to Berwick, Harvey's Lake to Hazleton.
Of course, to make this work for us (and you), the events have to get in there. We'll continue to submit events that you send us, but you can make it easier on us and guarantee they'll appear on the calendar if you submit them yourself. It's quite easy once you do it once or twice.
In our newsletter, we'll include the link to the calendar for events in the greater Luzerne County area for the next two weeks or so, and we'll also include some highlighted events that are of special note.
We'll see how this works out for everyone over the next few months. PLEASE give us your feedback! (Just reply to this email.)
Mike Burnside |
|
THIRD FRIDAY is upon us!
And of course it's a very SPECIAL Third Friday, because of the Fine Arts Fiesta on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre! There's WAY too much to include here, but everything is on the Fine Arts Fiesta web site. You can be there and be on the square! (Sorry!)
The theme of this year's Fiesta is "Drawing Us Together," and it truly does, becaue there's something for everyone - great music, dance, food, visiting artisans & craft folk, and of course - the ART! So check the schedule and we'll see you there.
And don't forget...
You should check out the artwork of Karen Poels at Modern Vintage, 96 South Franklin Street (on your way to or from the square). There's a reception from 5 to 8pm tonight (Friday), with music and refreshments, plus new wire sculptures by the uniquely talented Sean Brady, other area artists and the eclectic collection of the folks at Modern Vintage.
Also, remember that Third Friday thrives in Kingston! Here's a link to their updated map that includes information about what's happeneing at each venue. We also have late word that Charlie Singer will be performing solo on guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and who knows what else at Something Special, (see the map), tonight (Friday) from 6 to 8. You can also see the unique art of Leigh Pawling. This is SURE to be a treat for the ears, eyes, and, as always, the taste buds! |
|
A New Venue in Hazleton!
There's a hot new restaurant and they're looking for YOU!
MEA'S Restaurant has opened in the Markle Building, in the space that formerly housed the Markle and Northeastern banks.
MEA'S occupies the first floor and part of the mezzanine of the historic bank building, which is Hazleton's tallest building.
If you are or know of a jazz musician, the folks at MEA'S restaurant are looking for Jazz musicians to perform in their fine dining establishment. Contact owner Jim Kulish.
MEA'S also exhibits fine art - currently the work of Hazleton artist Kathy Dobash. I'll be down to check it out!
|
|
Cultural Council Events
Aren't we nice to save our own events for last? That's because we want you to have them fresh in your mind!
 Special Kayak Trips - Inspired by the Susquhanna
There are still openings available in our Susquehanna River kayak tours espcially designed for timid artists. On Sunday, May 18th and again on Sunday the 25th, Frank Kratz of Susquehanna River Adventures will be guiding groups of artists (photographers, poets,writers, etc.) to Scoval Island, a BEAUTIFUL spot just upstream from Pittston.
Meet at the launch area in Wyoming (across from the Swetland Homestead by the Midway Shopping Center) at 9am. Ride a van to the launch area in Harding, ride to the island, enjoy yourself for a few hours (The enjoyment part is guaranteed!), and return to your car in Wyoming around 5pm. Room for art supplies, camp chairs, a guitar, etc., etc.
Cost is only $35 - a fraction of the regular price for these river trips! Thanks, Frank!
And if you're truly inspired, you can enter your work in our juried exhibit, coming up this fall.
ps: Click on that link for some great pictures!
|
|
The time is NOW to reserve your spot for our bus trip to the Roberson Museum in Binghamton for "Visions of the Susquehanna"
DON'T WAIT!!! Reservations are coming in for our bus trip to the Roberson Museum in Binghamton for Visions of the Susquehanna - 250 Years of Paintings by American Masters.
Here's what you need to know:
- Friday, May 30, 2008 Depart at 10:00am from the Sears parking lot at the Wyoming Valley Mall.
- Talk en route by Jan Lokuta, expert in art on the Susquehanna.
- Leisurely dine at J. Michaels Restaurant in the heart of Binghamton
- Docent tour of the Roberson Museum
- Free time to draw, paint or take photographs
- Depart Binghamton at 6:30pm
- ALL THIS for only $50, and if you are (or become) one of the artists on our web site's Directory of Artists, it's only $25!!!
- MAKE RESERVATIONS HERE. It's EASY!
- Click here for the flyer
- And here for a preview of Roberson Museum - Visions of the Susquehanna.
| |
|
|
|
The Cultural Council
