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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).
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Over 5,000 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.)
Greetings! ,
Yay! It's March!
We're refocusing our newsletter to be less of a pitch for upcoming events (although we'll still highlight some that we think are especially worthwhile) and more of a means to communicate about the arts and cultural activities in the region that don't always fit into the "events" category.
But we haven't abandoned our interest in promoting events by any means. While we continue to believe that the WVIA Events Calendar (See info at left) represents the best regional online calendar for listing events of cultural interest, we have created a Facebook page. Believe it or not, more people subscribe to Facebook than this newsletter, and so it just makes sense for maximizing exposure for our regional happenings of note. You can get to the page by clicking HERE, and you DON'T need to be a Facebook subscriber to try it. Let us know what you think!
In this issue, we want to spread the word about two "Calls for Artists" so that you, or someone you know, can participate. And we'll indulge a particular passion to promote an event that you should indeed attend.
Mike Burnside Executive Director
Curtain Call
The F.M
Kirby Center
for the Performing Arts is continuing their admirable tradition of staging an annual LIVE opera on Thursday evening, at 7:30pm.
It's important that you attend. "Why?," I'm sure you're asking.
Well, first of all, if you've never attended a live opera performance, you should. Doing so should be on your list of things to do before you die. My guess is that if you do it once, you'll do it again, and this is the perfect opera to begin. It's a veritable comic soap opera, as the following plot summary should make clear:
The action of The Marriage of Figaro is a continuation of the
plot of The Barber of Seville
several years later, and recounts a single "day of madness" (la folle
giornata) in the palace of the Count Almaviva. Rosina is now the Countess; Dr. Bartolo is seeking revenge
against Figaro for thwarting his plans to marry Rosina himself; and
Count Almaviva has degenerated from the romantic youth of Barber
into a scheming, bullying, skirt-chasing baritone. Having gratefully
given Figaro a job as head of his servant-staff, he is now persistently
trying to obtain the favors of Figaro's bride-to-be, Susanna. He keeps
finding excuses to delay the civil part of the wedding of his two
servants, which is arranged for this very day. Figaro, Susanna, and the
Countess conspire to embarrass the Count and expose his scheming. He
responds by trying to legally compel Figaro to marry a woman old enough
to be his mother, but it turns out at the last minute that she really is
his mother. Through Figaro's and Susanna's clever manipulations, the
Count's love for his Countess is finally restored.
Yes, it ends happily.
The music is instantly recognizable. Even if you've never intentionally played any operatic music in your life, you're sure to recognize it from the overture. And it is, after all, Mozart.
If you ARE an opera lover, or even mildly so, it's still important that you attend - even if you've seen this particular gem. Again, you're asking, "Why?" Because live opera is hanging on by the skin of its teeth in Luzerne County, and if you'd hate to see it go away, you have to help fill the house. It's as simple as that. If you want an operatic tragedy, then imagine that the place is half empty and the Kirby folks decide they can't continue to bring the only live operatic performances in town.
Click HERE for all you need to know. Read the reviews of this group if you need convincing. See you there. Bravissimo!
Two Calls for Artists!
Here are two opportunities for artists to be seen (and maybe make some money) in the region this spring.
Hazleton Art League/CCLC Juried Exhibition
In May, the Hazleton Art League and the Cultural Council will be collaborating in a juried show at Penn State Hazleton's beautiful campus. The joint effort represents the first public evidence of the Council's efforts to serve the southern part of the county, and we're so pleased about the enthusiasm and interest of the folks we meet with on a monthly basis. The Hazleton Art League (HAL) holds an annual exhibition, and the Council has also sponsored exhibits in the last few years. This year we're doing it together.
All of the information you need is contained in the Call for Artists on our web site. Just go to www.cclcarts.org and click on Call for Artists on the upper right (just above the, ahem, "Donate" button). Here are the highlights:
Art is accepted in three categories - painting, photography & works on paper. Three entries maximum. Entries must be postmarked by March 22 (Time's a wastin'.). Entries consist of digital images or prints of works entered, from which selections for the show will be made, with accepted works delivered by the artist to the HAL by April 24th. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, May 9th.
The entry fee is $20 per work submitted, but Hazleton Art League and Wyoming Valley Art League members receive a $5.00 discount on each entry.
A total of $2,500 in awards will be made ($1,000 for Best in Show and $500 in each of the three categories) and Penn State Hazleton has agreed to purchase one work of its choosing at the artist's stated price!
Confluences Art & Craft Show
Want an opportunity to join other artists and crafts persons offering their work on the new River Common? On RiverFest weekend?
We thought that might get your attention. The plan is to have a big tent - much like the Fine Arts Fiesta - where work can be enjoyed by the thousands of people who attend RiverFest - June 19th & 20th.
The cost to participate is $55.00 ($35.00 for required Vendor's License included), but you can bring just about anything, as long as you can carry it.
Unless you've been asleep or out of town for the last two RiverFests, you know that this event grows every year and this year it's going to be bigger than ever! So get the RiverFest Confluences Art Show Application (PDF) right now!
If you know anyone who would be interested in participating in either of these two shows, please forward this newsletter to them!
The Cultural Council
