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SCOPE for Wednesday, March 3- The Voice of the Missoula Creative Community

Today is Wednesday, March 3, the day in 1791 when the first Internal Revenue Act when into effect. It imposed a tax on distilled spirits and carriages. Big troubles followed. Thomas Jefferson resigned as Secretary Of State in protest against the “whiskey tax,” which led, in 1794 to the “Whiskey Rebellion” by farmers who turned their grain crops into whiskey to lower transportation costs. President George Washington recruited a militia force and quelled the uprising. The tax is still there and now includes beer and other alcoholic spirits, not to mention cigarettes and a menu of other sinful products. For another bit of historical trivia, see END NOTE.

General Interest items

#1a – The Media Arts Creative Cluster roundtable hosted by the Missoula Cultural Council on Friday was the first of its kind in the state and produced concrete results. It was the third such gathering here as the Missoula region continues to develop a Creative Enterprise Cluster program. It’s a strategy for economic development adopted recently by the state after having been proposed at an Economic Development Summit last May.

Photos of the Friday workshop and an interactive schematic of the Media Arts Cluster can be found at http://www.missoulacultural.org/mbca/clusters/schematic3.html where there’s a “note pad” for submitting suggestions on how to expand and energize the Media Arts Cluster. The Friday roundtable included presentations by Sten Iverson, director of the Montana Film Office, and the UM Information Technology group that is developing High Definition TV applications. Participants included people in print and broadcast media, graphic design, web publishing and hosting, videography and feature film production, and artists in several genres. For more information about the Media Arts Creative Cluster contact MCC at 721-9620 or [email protected]

#1b – MCC’s Friday roundtable again made clear that a key to success of the cluster strategy is knowing what other organizations and individuals are doing, locally, statewide, and nationally. Leadership experts agree that sharing knowledge and performance comparisons are key to success in the non-profit world too. That’s what SCOPE has tried to do each week since 1999. The MCC website is archiving every SCOPE issue since then and will soon have a search engine in operation to track down every reference.

#1c – To blog or not to blog? Nearly half of U.S. Internet users have built personal Web pages, posted photos, written comments or otherwise added to the enormous variety of material available online, according to a report released last week by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. While only two percent of U.S. Internet users said they had created "blogs," or online journals and information centers, that’s clearly an emerging field for sharing uncensored information. There’s not much “blogging” in Montana yet, but in Missoula there are at least four — including a Missoulian reporter — who are expected to participate in the next International Blog Meetup Day at a still undisclosed site here. Details in the next SCOPE.

#1d – The Missoula Cultural Council is now a member of BoardSource, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. This is the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide. Staffed by people who know how to get things done, Board Source publishes many materials to help non-profits improve their performance. One example is Fearless Fundraising for Nonprofit Boards. It’s now in the MCC library.

#1e – Funding remains the hot topic for most arts and cultural organizations in Missoula and elsewhere. The Louisville KY Courier-Journal on Sunday carried features on the big Craft Show going on there — see #3c below — and the worries of Kentucky arts organization in the face of expected cuts in state funding. Commerce Secretary Jim Host said arts and cultural groups need to understand that Kentucky’s budget problems affect all state-funded groups and services. The state money is distributed by the Kentucky Arts Council, which with other cultural agencies was placed under Host’s cabinet in Governor Fletcher’s reorganization of state agencies. "Every agency I have has exactly the same thing," Host said. "Does that mean we should fund arts more than we funded the historical society or we funded parks? Does that mean the arts is more important, or less important? I think it’s as important, and that’s how we funded it."

#1f – xxxx

#1g- The Oregon Cultural Trust collected $1.63 million in private contributions in 2003, matching the amount of donations made in 2002. In addition, proceeds from Cultural Trust license plates earned more than $66,000.

#1h – MCC’s offices have become the collection point for stuff to be included in the cultural exchange later this month. Art Missoula is putting together a collection of craft items to be presented to the Sister City Committee in Palmerston North. Missoula cultural events and organizations are bringing in promotional materials to be displayed in New Zealand. The Media Arts Cluster Roundtable last Friday prompted more local businesses to provide MCC with materials that may open the door to commercial connections.

#1i – The current phase of the in-kind donation program administered by the Missoula Business Committee for the Arts is seeing local non-profit organizations select items from a large variety of office furniture and equipment. To arrange an inspection and pick-up time call Louise Wagner at 721-9620 or email [email protected]

#1j – Mark Sherouse, Executive Director of the Montana Committee for the Humanities, is a member of the Organizing Committee for Leadership Montana, a cooperative venture of Montana’s business, government and higher education communities. Applications for the $2,500 seven-session course are now being accepted. Get info at http://www.leadershipmontana.org/index.htm

On the Literary Landscape

#2a – Story tellers are being invited to participate in Missoula’s second annual StoryKeepers Festival, June 18-19. Application materials include a tape, bio, photo, and references. For info call 327-7400 or 549-4803 or send application to StoryKeepers, P.O. Box 282, Missoula.

#2b – Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, once an unemployed single mother, saw her wealth rise to $1 billion after the publication of the latest novel and the success of the wizardly character as a movie franchise, according to a report in Forbes magazine last week.

#2c – A Missoula Reads program at the Missoula Public Library this Saturday at 2:00 PM has auathor Sneed B. Collard working with children 6-15 on his B is for Big Sky Country book and their own poetry.

The Art and Crafts Scene

#3a – Buoyed by the success of its Party Animals project two years ago, the (Washington) D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities is staging a sequel. In 2002 is was elephants and donkeys. This time it’s the giant panda, an endangered species that has fascinated Washingtonians since a pair of them were given to President Nixon by the Chinese government in the early 1970s. PandaMania will bring 150 panda statues — some standing, some seated and all painted in a variety of designs — to public and private spaces. As with the Party Animals — which netted over $1 million.– the pandas will eventually be auctioned off to raise money for arts programs.

#3b – In the Michigan town and county of Monroe, it will be fiberglass muskrats rambling the streets. To encourage cultural tourism, the Monroe County Convention and Tourism Bureau is asking businesses and organizations to pony up $1,000 for artistic renditions of the little beasts that have always been on the minds and menus of Monroe residents. The Monroe City-County Fine Arts Council is involved in the project..

#3c – One of the nation’s great craft shows is Kentucky Crafted, which took place in Louisville last weekend. Montana Arts Council Executive Director Arlynn Fishbaugh and MAC Chairman Bill Frazier joined a Montana delegation that trekked there to gather ideas on how use Montana crafts as an economic stimulus. The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program began back in 1981. In 1999 the Kentucky Arts Council got involved to coordinate the visual arts segment of the annual show, which features 300 booths. For nine years this has been rated among the top 20 events by the Southeast Tourism Society. It’s strictly a wholesale show for two days, then opens for retail buyers on Sunday.

#3d – farm ART SPACE will be closing its doors at 119 S. Higgins this spring, alas, as owner/artist Wes Mills follows another path. There will be a new exhibit thru March 26 and it opens with a 5-7 PM reception this Friday.

#3e – Missoula has its First Friday Art Walk and Dixon, just down the road a piece, has it’s First Saturday event at Wild Plum Station. Featured this Saturday is “Fence Post Art” by Havre sculptor Cory Holmes, and Missoula’s Swizzlegrit Honky Tonk purveyors. Info at 246-ARTS or [email protected]

Musical Notes and Stage Cues

#4a – The Missoula Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present Dr. Quentin Faulkner in an organ recital on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 201 S. 5th Street West. He has an international reputation as teacher and virtuoso on both organ and harpsichord. On Saturday at First Presbyterian Church at 10:30 AM he will present a workshop for church musicians entitled "Hymn-playing revisited"; and at 3:00 PM another workshop for organists and organ music-lovers. The Sunday concert, like the workshops, is free and open to the public; a free-will offering will be taken. For further information, call 243-2080.

#4b – The Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale will present a concert of British orchestral and choral music on Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 PM and the next day at 3:00 pm in the University Theater. Jennifer Cooper, contralto, and George Evelyn, bass, as well as the combined University of Montana Chamber Chorale and University Choir will join the Symphony in Selshauar’s Feast by William Walton. This cantata will be performed by the 70 orchestra musicians, 200 vocalists and bass soloist Evelyn, with two complete brass bands stationed in the balcony of the theater. The program will open with Walton’s Crown imperial Coronation March, followed by the Sea Pictures by Edward Elgar. Tickets are available at the Missoula Symphony Office at 225 West Front Street or by calling 721-3194. Tickets will also be available at the door. Prices range from $8 – $30.

Cultural Tourism Directions

#5a – “Virtual Hikes” created by a Missoula firm allow you to travel in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Trail Between The Rivers, through pictures, maps, and narratives of 30 separate hikes between Camp Fortunate near to Dillon and Canoe Camp near Orofino, Idaho. There are 92 TBR Areas that detail the location of this overland travel. The TBR Areas include specific journal entries that were made about events that happened within each of the areas. Start your own Voyage of Discovery at http://www.lewisandclarktrailmaps.com/index.htm

#5b – The Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter will meet March 4 from 4 to 6 PM at the Montana Natural History Center at Fort Missoula.

The Creative Community

#6a – Most everyone knows that the current issue of Inc. Magazine rates Missoula as #2 for doing business among cities under 150,000 in population Inc. also ranked Missoula eighth out of 250 cities of all sizes for “fastest, most sustained growth,” and 103rd out of 250 for most balanced economy and growth. “Missoula’s population has almost doubled in the past 30 years, and many newcomers have started businesses. Financial and professional business services, as well as information, have all made solid gains.” That’s how Inc. Magazine assessed Missoula’s economic health. “In a way it’s a mixed blessing,” Mayor Mike Kadas was quoted as saying about the #2 ranking. “It’s nice to get a pat on the back and someone to say you’re doing the right thing, On the other hand, it’s like advertising your favorite fishing hole. We have enough growth right now. It’s all we can handle.” Among small metro areas — communities with fewer than 150,000 people — Montpelier, VT was #1. Rounding out the top five were Casper, Wyo., Rockland County, N.Y., and Sioux Falls, S.D.

#6b – As to #1 Montpelier (pop. about 8,000) that’s the home of the Vermont Arts Council, the Onion River Arts Council, and the state capitol. It’s also where four candidates are vying for the post of Mayor and all of them have interesting things to say about how arts and culture can stimulate the economy. Next week’s SCOPE will follow up on this story.

#6c – Thanks to Russ Fletcher at the Montana Associated Technology Roundtable for passing along an article that describes how Oregon is branding itself under the slogan "Oregon. We love dreamers." Cool!

The Cultural Environment

#7a – “The Culture War Is Really a Culture Circus.“ That’s the header for Time magazine cultural commentator Joe Klein’s essay in the current online issue, “Is there any way to limit our commercial culture’s ability to narcotize children with an endless stream of sex and violence?” he ponders. “We are addicted to the explicit and then quickly inured to it. We are in need of ever more shocking images to stimulate our attention, impervious to nuance or subtlety.”

#7b – Also in the current Time, a senior writer surveys the passionate cultural war raging over a certain movie: “Liberals—and being a member of the media, I of course count myself among them — can be a pretty funny bunch. When we are sympathetic to a controversial work of pop culture, we invoke the artist’s right to create in an climate of total freedom, whatever feelings of outrage the work may stoke among the ignorati. (That is: other people.) When we disapprove, we talk about his responsibility to the sensitivities and sensibilities of good people. (That is: us.)”

Miscellaneous

#8a – The fund-raising workshop staged in Missoula by the Montana Arts Council featured a Psycho-Geometrics system of analyzing people by shapes. Previous SCOPEs summarized the “Box and Circle persons.” The Rectangle wasn’t included in the MAC workshop exercise but is one of the five personality shapes posited by Dr. Susan Dellinger who devised the system. “The Rectangle person,” she says, tends to be disorganized, incredibly messy, indecisive, unpredictable, forgetful, and inconsistent. It may often seem that they flit from Shape to Shape almost daily as they try them on for size and see which they like the best. Rectangles are essentially in a "state of transition" and are very unreliable as a result of this changeable nature. They can also be very much on-edge and are not always sure in what way to behave. Rectangles are highly inquisitive and courageous during their periods of change and will often try new things. However, they have an inherent fear of being put on the spot. Next week’s SCOPE will profile the “Triangle person.” Then comes “The Squiggle.”

#8b – The Missoula Independent has counted the ballots — about 400 of them — in is annual “Best of Missoula” in a zillion categories from “best milkshake” to “best place to walk your dog.“ In the “Best Art Gallery” voting it was the Monte Dolack Gallery again with the new Sutton West in second and the Art Missoula and the Dana Gallery tied for third. Indy staffer Andy Smetanka outpolled David James Duncan and James Crumley in the “Best Writer” contest.

Academic notes

#9a – Arts and cultural organizations aren’t the only one with budget problems. The UM Athletic Department is facing a $1 million budget deficit and getting a lot of heat for its accounting snafus, according to a Missoula article on Sunday. “There are only a handful of athletic programs nationally that actually break even or make money,” according to the UM Athletic Director.

Media and Web Watch

#10a – Missoula’s new monthly tabloid, Inside the Garden City, offers local artists and photographers an opportunity to display their work on its front page. Call publisher Mike Bostwick at 531-4392 or [email protected] The publications is available at most grocery and convenience stores, plus street boxes and professional office. Mike was one of the participants in Friday’s Media Arts Cluster roundtable.

#10b – Clear Channel Communications Inc.,headquartered in San Antonio TX, is a global leader in the media and entertainment industry with radio and television stations, outdoor advertising displays and live entertainment venues in 65 countries around the world, including Missoula. Last week the company announced a "Responsible Broadcasting Initiative" to make sure the material aired by its radio stations conforms to the standards and sensibilities of the local communities they serve. To prove it, shock jock Howard Stern’s program was dropped, to the consternation of Russ Limbaugh, arguably the #1 radio talk show host, who said “Smut on TV gets praised, smut on TV wins Emmys (but) on radio there seems to be different standards,” Stay tuned.

#10c – “Montana Creationism Bid Evolves Into Unusual Fight” is the headline on a recent New York Times online front page article about how the Darby dispute over evolution theories spawned a host of internet sites.

#10d – Coming up: Public Radio Week March 13-21. Your support helps keep in-depth news, blues, jazz, classics and children’s shows on the air. Volunteers are needed to answer phones during the annual fundraiser. Call 243-4214 or 243-4215. To donate a premium, call 243-4988.

END NOTE: This is the day in 1815 when the United States declared war on Algiers for taking US seaman prisoners and demanding tribute. It was a short war.

MARK @ MCC

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