Missoula Cultural Council Newsletter – January 17, 2005

Some news and upcoming events for the week of January 17, 2004

Sadly, one week after receiving the 2005 Governor’s Art Award (see below), Ernie Pepion died on January 13 in Great Falls. Articles about his passing appeared in both the Great Falls Tribune and the Missoulian

In Missoula…

City Club Missoula meets Friday, January 21 in the Governor’s Room at the Florence (111 North Higgins), from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This month’s topic is Missoula’s Central Park: A Community Planning Process, with Peter Lambros and Geoff Badenoch as the guest speakers. The presentation will be followed by discussions at individual tables and then a general question and discussion session with the speakers. The intent of City Club Missoula is to present speakers who fill a particular community niche by focusing on how participants can be better, more effective citizens of Missoula and presenting information relevant to how we can best function as a community. City Club Missoula also intends to involve a broad array of citizens interested in learning about issues and participating in active, lively discussions. Please RSVP to Tom Bensen at [email protected] or 721-9620 on or before Tuesday, January 18. Please say if you will, or will not, be having lunch. Lunch is $10 and for those choosing not to have lunch, there will be a $5 fee to help to defray expenses. Payment will be received at the door. Please make checks out to City Club Missoula. Since the City Club cannot absorb the cost of no-shows, if you RSVP and are not able to attend at the last minute, reimbursement would be appreciated. Call 721-9620 for more information.

The Five Valley Arts and Culture Center, Inc. intends to develop an arts and culture education center in Missoula that will serve as a primary resource for arts, arts education and culture related activities in western Montana. FVACC would like to purchase the Roosevelt School. The Missoula County Public School Board has given them until January 31, 2005 to make an offer on the school. FVACC is hosting a forum to discuss their vision with the public on January 18 at the Missoula Public Library conference room, at 7:00 p.m. FVACC is interested in the community’s input into the project, and welcomes artists, patrons of the arts, and all interested persons to attend the meeting. For further information, contact FVACC by email at [email protected].

The Missoula Children’s Theatre presents Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple January 20-23 & 26-30 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. Call 728-PLAY (728-7529) for tickets & information, or visit http://www.mctinc.org

Lord of the Dance returns to the Adams Center on Tuesday, January 18 at 7:30. The Los Angeles Times has called this performance a “showpiece extravaganza” and the New York Post calls it “fascinating, rewarding, and above all, entertaining.” Call 1-888-MONTANA.

Montana’s Counter Inaugural Gala is on Thursday, January 20 at the Elks Club from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m., featuring dinner, dancing, entertainment and door prizes. Tickets available at Rockin Rudy’s, Butterfly Herbs, & Elks Club or RSVP at [email protected]

Winterfeast, a performance presented by Living Art, will occur on Saturday, January 22 at the University Theatre, from 7:00- 9:00 p.m. This celebration of the human spirit will raise money for the valuable work of Living Art, a nonprofit, Missoula-based organization. Living Art supports whole person healing through the expressive arts and nature-based experiences for people facing illness and loss. Performances include Ellie Nuno and Charles Seitz as The Cat & The Fiddle, Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, the Community Hospital Junkyard Jug Band, plus a tap dance group taught and choreographed by Lindy Coon, a Salsa Dance group taught by Martha Jane Newby, and an adult chorus and a drumming group under the direction of Matthew Marsolek. Call Living Art at 549-5329 for more information.

The Friendship Force of Western Montana-Missoula general meeting and pot luck is on Sunday, January 23 at 4:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 3718 Rattlesnake Drive. The general public is welcome to this orientation and information meeting about the international program. Call 728-2995 for more information.

The Montana Natural History Center will once again be sponsoring the popular Community Watershed Education class, open to the community and offered through Continuing Education at the University of Montana. This class explores our beautiful Clark Fork Watershed with local experts and gives participants the opportunity to share their new knowledge with local sixth grade students during the 11th Annual Clark Fork Watershed Festival, April 28 – 29. Participants will gain experience in classroom and field teaching as well as learn stream monitoring techniques. Community Watershed Education will be held on Wednesdays from 4:10 – 7:00 p.m., at the University of Montana, LA 205, beginning January 26. Space is limited. Please register in advance. For more information contact the Montana Natural History Center at 327-0405, or visit http://www.MontanaNaturalist.org.

This week’s Matinees at the International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival (Roxy Theater): Saturday, January 22 (Kid’s Films) – Kid’s on Safari; Wild About Paws & Wild About Bears. Sunday, January 23 (Top Picks) – Whose Home on the Range; The Secrets of Turtle Mountain. For more information call 728-9380 or visit http://www.wildlifefilms.org

This year marks the 28th anniversary of Missoula’s International Wildlife Film Festival. The Filmmaker’s Festival, as it’s often known, has evolved into one of the most significant film events; where wildlife on screen means film and filmmaking take center stage, providing unsurpassed opportunities to share ideas, see colleagues’ work and showcase yours. Film entry deadline is January 31. Entry forms and further information is at http://www.wildlifefilms.org

Elsewhere in Montana and the Region…

Before departing office, Governor Judy Martz announced the 2005 Governor’s Arts Awards to three individual Montanans and a school. In her announcement Governor Martz stated, “Montana is home to a remarkable number of creative artists and arts organizations whose works enrich our lives every day. The folks who will be recognized are honored, not only for their talents, but also for their community spirit, leadership, and pride in being Montanans.” Governor Brian Schweitzer presented the awards at a legislative ceremony and reception on January 5. This year’s honorees are Ernie Polite (Eewokso) Pepion – Visual Arts; Becky Eiker – Lifetime Achievement; Paul Zarzyski – Literature; and Hawthorne School in Bozeman – Service to the Arts. For the full story visit http://www.art.mt.gov/soa/pr.asp?ID=250

The Glacier String Quartet performs January 21 at Loula’s Café in Whitefish and January 22 at Harbor Village in Bigfork. For tickets and information call 257-3241 or visit http://www.glaciersymphonychorale.org for more information.

Ian Tyson performs at the Park County Fairgrounds in Bozeman on January 23 at 3:00 p.m. as part of Cowboy and Ranching Heritage Week. This is a benefit concert for the Yellowstone Gateway Museum HVAC Fund. Visit http://www.friendsofygm.org for more information.

In Helena, the Bruce Wood Dance Company performs at the Helena Civic Center on January 18 at 7:30 p.m., Ian Tyson will be at the Myrna Loy Center on January 21 at 8:00 p.m., and Philip Aaberg and Eugene Friesen will perform at the Myrna Loy Center on January 27 at 7:30 p.m. Call 443-0287 or visit http://www.myrnaloycenter.com

The Frostbite Winter Music Festival in Billings on January 28-29 features the Spin Doctors, Elvin Bishop, six other bands and local high school jazz ensembles. Call 670-2329 or visit http://www.magiccityblues.com for tickets and information.

Upcoming at the Wild Plum in Dixon: Fri, 21 Jan, Melissa Blue on January 21; Lars Pointer Band on January 22; Doug Shinaver on January 23. Visit http://www.wildplumstation.com or e-mail [email protected]

From the Montana Associated Technology Roundtable…

Mandolins built on values – Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments of Logan, MT
While he’s enjoyed some success, Bruce Weber just did what so many other Gallatin Valley residents have done: created a job for himself so he could stay in the area. "I’m just happy to be in Montana," Weber said. "I want to stay here and have our mandolins to stay American made."

Montana Nonprofit Association News
The MNA eNews is a source of timely information on all things nonprofit in Montana, including training events, funding opportunities, new services available through MNA and our partners, and more.

For more about the Montana Associated Technology Roundtable, visit http://www.matr.net

Nationally…

New on National Endowment for the Arts web site: The FY 2006 Grants for Arts Projects –http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/index.html , representing the primary funding opportunity for organizations; and the FY 2006/2007 Creative Writing Fellowships – http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/Lit06/index.html, enabling recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Non-matching grants are for $20,000. The 2003 Annual Report is now available in hard copy and online at http://www.arts.gov/about/03Annual/index.html. The report presents profiles of some of the outstanding grants awarded in Fiscal Year 2003. The Arts Endowment has announced the launch of NEA Jazz in the Schools, an educational resource for high school teachers of social studies, U.S. history, and music. The curriculum will be produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center jazz, and supported by a grant from the Verizon Foundation. For more information, go to http://www.arts.gov/news/news04/JazzinSchools.html

Two Completely different Cultural Tourism tales…

After more than three years of review, a game plan has been installed to promote and market cultural tourism in both Erie and Niagara (New York) counties. http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2005/01/10/daily37.html

"San Diego’s cultural tourism program – an aggressive effort to promote the arts community and its creativity as a tourist destination – isn’t quite what it used to be."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20050109-9999-mz1a9market.html

From the Center for Arts and Culture….

Album Sales Up for First Time in 4 Years
Washington Post – AP, 1/6/2005
"The music industry reversed a four-year decline as album sales rose slightly in 2004 while overall music sales spiked thanks to a huge increase in digital track sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51297-2005Jan5.html

Art appreciation 2005: Log on and print out affordable art that’s good
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/11/1005
Few who frequent art museums, galleries and seek out art on the streets can afford to buy the kind of ambitious work they’ve learned to appreciate. . . . Spokane painter Megan Murphy hopes to change that. This month, she launched Artocracy.org, a new link between artists and a previously untapped audience. The audience gets good art in the $20 to $50 range." http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/visualart/207274_artnet11.html

Town Sees Its Revival in Art
Washington Post, 1/9/2005
"Like many New England towns, White River Junction [VT], with a population of about 2,500, over the past century, found itself the victim of changing economic forces. . . . While some communities facing a similar problem have turned to new industries, White River Junction is emerging as a vibrant artists’ enclave. Local leaders created studios and galleries in dormant buildings and tapped a small but active arts community as a catalyst." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59382-2005Jan8.html

Council, mayor say hotel-tax extension should preserve funding for arts
Seattle Times, 1/11/2005
"If King County’s hotel tax is extended beyond 2020 for KeyArena expansion, arts and heritage groups should get a cut of the money, according to the Seattle City Council and Mayor Greg Nickels. The council unanimously passed a resolution yesterday encouraging state lawmakers to include arts and heritage groups in any funding package that revises King County’s 2 percent hotel-motel tax, which is set to expire at the end of 2020." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002147543_hoteltax11m.html

Don’t close the book on libraries
Boston Globe, 1/5/2005
"Despite the fact that more people are using libraries than ever before, their funding continues to decrease. More than $80 million has been cut from public library budgets in the past year alone, which has weakened or closed libraries in more than 40 states."
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/01/05/dont_close_the_book_on_libraries

To learn more about the Center of Arts and Culture, visit http://www.culturalpolicy.org

Internationally…

Israeli opera signs up Buchenwald production
Expatica, 1/11/2005
"The New Israeli Opera Tel Aviv will participate in the controversial staging of Beethoven’s prison-based opera "Fidelio" at the site of Buchenwald concentration camp, German organisers of the production announced on Tuesday [January 11]."
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=52&story_id=15646&name=Israeli+opera+signs+up+Buchenwald+production

UNESCO to help restore libraries in tsunami affected regions
Daily News (Sri Lanka), 1/11/2005
"UNESCO will provide US $100,000 for the restoration of all destroyed libraries in the tsunami affected countries in the South Asian region. This is part of the funds allocated to the affected countries by UNESCO at the beginning of this year and more funds will be allocated soon, Adviser for Communication and Information in Asia, UNESCO Dr. Susanne Ornager said."
http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/01/11/new15.html

Finally…from Wolf, Keens & Company.

Reuters
Artists to Portray the Iraq War
Embedded reporters – why not embedded artists? While the military has its own artists, Steve Mumford has paid his own way and is bringing his artistic perspective to this conflict. His writing and images are presented on a web site for your review.

For more information about Wolf, Keens & Company, visit http://www.wolfkeens.com

Visit http://www.missoulacultural.org and e-mail [email protected] with submissions for this newsletter.

Thanks for your comments & corrections

Tom at MCC