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Greetings! ,
When I first came on board as Executive Director of the Cultural Council, it didn't take long to realize that we were guilty of the not uncommon Luzerne County myopia - we could not see beyond the mountain. We (the Council) had NO presence or recognition in the southern part of the county, i.e. the Greater Hazleton Area. I put it to our board that if we wanted to be the COUNTY local arts agency, we had to solve this problem, and I got their full support.
To make a long story short, we recruited Dr. Gary Lawler, Chancellor of Penn State Hazleton to our board, where he has been one of our most active and enthusiastic directors. We put together a little group that meets monthly and, for the most part, our conversations are wide-ranging and productive. At the first meeting, I broached the problem - which the Hazleton area folks describe as "We think most people in the Wilkes-Barre Area believe that Route I-81 only goes north," and I promised to drive south at least monthly. This weekend, our efforts bear fruit.
But sometimes I slip, and forget that this is not really a one-way problem. Hazleton folks rightly feel that they're often ignored, but I think that the wall of those beautiful mountains between us also sometimes blocks their vision as well.
The two articles below invite your participation in two events that, on the surface, seem to appeal to either region, but not both. That's just not so, and I hope you'll agree!
Mike Burnside Executive Director Cultural Council of ALL of Luzerne County
YOU can help raise $50,000 for Programming on the River Common
The Cultural Council of Luzerne County has successfully entered into PepsiCo's "Pepsi Refresh Project" for a chance to win a $50,000 grant. The grand prize will be used to fund FREE, community events at the newly established River Common Park. YOU can lend your support by voting for the Pepsi grant idea, accessible through the river common website: www.rivercommon.org and by clicking the Pepsi Refresh Image located on the homepage.
Each month this year, PepsiCo will be giving away millions of dollars to fund community projects that make a difference. This month the River Common has a chance to secure $50,000 for events in the 2010 season.
We are competing against hundreds of other non-profits and businesses throughout the United States to win the grant. It's basically a popularity contest; Pepsi is looking for projects that have a devoted fan base and viable idea. That's where YOU come in!
The money sought in the Pepsi Refresh grant project will go towards programming the 2010 season, which will include a variety of events like the annual RiverFest Festival and the Luzerne Foundation Community Celebration. From small productions like Shakespeare in the Park to larger regional festivals like RiverFest, this summer brings a diverse schedule of events.
Kicking off this year's schedule, the Luzerne Foundation's Community Celebration will be held on May 19th and feature musical performances from local favorites George Wesley and Cabinet. The event is set to run from 5-9PM.
River Fest 2010 is planned for the weekend of June 18-20th and will include activities geared for all ages, including horse riding, arts and crafts, fishing seminars, musical performances, and more. Details of these events are posted on the River Common Website, www.rivercommon.org. ALL events are open to the general public and free for those who attend.
You must register to vote, but this is only to prevent multiple votes by the same person on the same day. PLEASE NOTE that you CAN vote once a day - so book mark the link and do it first thing every morning in May. It takes longer for your coffee to brew.
I'm more than happy to report that I pitched this project to our Hazleton friends at our meeting today, and they all wrote down www.rivercommon.org, and I expect we'll benefit from their efforts. And when we WIN, I think we'll see a lot of people driving north on I-81.
ps: Tune in to WVIA-FM's Arts Scene with Erika Funke, Monday at 11am, for an interview with yours truly and the man who made it all possible - Jim Brozena!
A GREAT Reason to Drive SOUTH!
This Sunday, there will be an opening of an art exhibition which represents a true breakthrough in intra-county cooperation. For many years, the Cultural Council has held a juried art exhibition. So has the Hazleton Art League. Times are tough, and it's not cheap to mount a quality exhibition, so we decided to join forces.
We have over 50 works by 28 artists, and the quality is tremendous! If you've never been to the Penn State Hazleton campus, this is your opportunity. It's beautiful and you'll be MOST welcome!
Here's what you need to know:
2010 Juried Exhibition
A Competition for Artists sponsored by the Hazleton Art League and the Cultural Council of Luzerne County
Evelyn Graham Academic Building Penn State Hazleton Campus 76 University Drive, Hazleton, PA 18202
OPENING RECEPTION Sunday, May 9, 2010 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Penn State's Gallery Hours: Mon.-Thurs. ~ 9am - 5pm (May 10 - May 13) Fri., May 14 ~ 9am - 9:30pm Sat., May 15 ~ 2pm - 4pm (Exhibit ends on May 15)
The Cultural Council
