Young Artists at Centrum

'Thank You' to Our Supporters

Dear Centrum Supporter and Arts Education Advocate:

From all of us at Centrum, we want to express our utmost gratitude to all of our supporters, who, through their work in writing and contacting their legislators, ensured that Centrum’s funding was a part of the state’s biennium budget for 2010 and 2011 at the same level of funding in the previous budget.  This was a very challenging task and we are extremely grateful that we will be able to offer Washington students the opportunity to positively impact their lives through the arts.

We are very mindful of the fact that we have three outstanding legislators in our district – Representatives, Majority Leader Lynn Kessler and Deputy Majority Whip Kevin Van De Wege along with Senator James Hargrove.  These individuals spent countless hours behind the scenes working with their fellow legislators to restore and preserve this funding.

Having been involved in arts education advocacy in other states and communities around the nation, I am greatly moved by the activist spirit of Washingtonians and the fact that so many Centrum supporters from all over the state took time to call and write their legislators. It clearly made the difference.

Again, thank you for your continued support of Centrum, its programs, and arts education in the State of Washington.

Gratefully,

John A. MacElwee
Executive Director

Centrum needs your help

Dear Centrum supporter and arts education advocate:

We urgently need your help.

For 37 years, Centrum has provided tens of thousands of Washington students life changing experiences through arts programs at Fort Worden State Park.  During this time, Centrum has received partial state funding ($170,000 per year) for these programs through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).   Even with the need to reduce Washington's state budget, both Governor Gregoire and the Senate understand the value of Centrum youth programs and have kept Centrum in their respective 2010 and 2011 OSPI budgets.

Unfortunately, Washington's House of Representatives has removed Centrum funding from its version of the budget. The loss of this funding would result not only in the termination of these valuable education programs, but would also seriously threaten Centrum's future as one of Washington's leading cultural institutions.

As well, these programs provide substantial income for the State through additional park fees.  During the last biennium (two year) budget cycle, Centrum paid the State $1.2 million in park fees through its programs.

If you or your children, or someone you know have benefited from Centrum's programs, we ask that you take a couple of minutes to send an email or make a phone call (ideally both) to your Washington House representatives.  It's easy; just follow the links and the steps outlined below.

Thank you for your consideration and for your support.

Sincerely,

John A. MacElwee

Executive Director
Centrum

   1. Link on to  Find Your Legislator (link provided below)
   2. Enter your address or  zip code
   3. Select your representative
   4. Click on email  (you may also want to take down their phone number)
   5. You will need to reconfirm your address or zip code
   6. Enter your contact information
   7. Check if you would like a response (recommended)
   8. Check if you would like to cc other legislators in your district (recommended)
   9. In the subject line please write:
      Please Reinstate Centrum Funding in House Budgets for 2010 and 2011
  10. Type your note in the comment section (sample provided below)

    BIG BONUS: Follow up your email with a phone call

FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR

SUGGESTED NOTE:

Dear Representative (Last Name):

I am writing to ask you to reinstate funding for Centrum's youth programs at Fort Worden State Park in section 511 of the House budgets for 2010 and 2011 as its appears in both the Senate's and Governor's budgets.

For 37 years, Centrum has provided tens of thousands of Washington students "life changing" experiences through the arts during residencies at the Park.

(Personally, Centrum has offered (me, my child, our community) the chance....)

(I feel strongly about Centrum because....)

Thank you for your consideration.

(Your name)

Let's Start Sharing

Hi everyone! We've just launched a new community site for young artists at Centrum.

Check out http://centrumyouth.ning.com.

If you've come to one of Centrum's Young Artist Project weeks at Fort Worden, please share your photos, videos, artwork, writing--you name it!

If you haven't been to Centrum yet, feel free to join in and ask questions!

News Report on Orcas Passing by Fort Worden

Anchor Dennis Bounds of Seattle's KING 5 television said, "This most recent visit was first reported by a volunteer at the Port Townsend Marine [Science] Center who was letting a visiting class of third graders listen to some hydrophones when they suddenly heard dozens of approaching
orcas." Click image to go to KING 5 video.

Centrum and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center are presenting Water World  - a workshop in art and marine science for 5th and 6th graders from throughout Washington state in April.

...and if you are fascinated by orcas and are a student age 10-12, there is no better place to learn about them than here at Fort Worden. We'll be presenting WHALE CAMP in August, with special emphasis on orcas and gray whales.

Space is still available in both workshops. For more information, contact Martha Worthley at 360-385-3102 or email her at martha@centrum.org.

Water World Scholarship Deadline Approaching

A quick note to those of you planning on attending our elementary school Water World program, April 13-18, 2009.

We have scholarship funds available to assist students who need help attending. The application deadline for accessing those scholarships is February 27, 2009. Visit our scholarship page for complete information.

Announcing Whale Camp at Fort Worden

This summer, spend an exciting week on Puget Sound with marine scientists and artists, who will take you into the world of these grand creatures. And not a moment too soon.

Located at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, WA, Centrum and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center merge the worlds of art and science in the body of the whale.

WHALE CAMP will run August 16-21, 2009 and is for youth age 12-14.

With education and conservation as the guiding forces, at WHALE CAMP you will:

• Examine our new orca skeleton.
• Take to the water on an orca whale-watching cruise and research mission in the San Juan Islands.
• Conduct hydrophone research to learn about Orca communication in Puget Sound.
• Assemble a gray whale skeleton and compare its bones to your own bones.
• Create your own sounds and movement based on your observations.
• Compare the sounds of the sea: whales, dolphins, shrimp, grunt sculpins and creatures not yet identified.
• Visit The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor.
• Create enormous marine sculptures.

Visit our WHALE CAMP page for complete information, and to register. Space is limited!

This summer, spend an exciting week on Puget Sound with marine scientists and artists, who will take you into the world of these grand creatures. And not a moment too soon.

Located at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, WA, Centrum and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center merge the worlds of art and science in the body of the whale.

WHALE CAMP will run August 16-21, 2009 and is for youth age 12-14.

With education and conservation as the guiding forces, at WHALE CAMP you will:

• Examine our new orca skeleton.
• Take to the water on an orca whale-watching cruise and research mission in the San Juan Islands.
• Conduct hydrophone research to learn about Orca communication in Puget Sound.
• Assemble a gray whale skeleton and compare its bones to your own bones.
• Create your own sounds and movement based on your observations.
• Compare the sounds of the sea: whales, dolphins, shrimp, grunt sculpins and creatures not yet identified.
• Visit The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor.
• Create enormous marine sculptures.

Visit our WHALE CAMP page for complete information, and to register. Space is limited!

Tapping in to theater

Samantha Rund, actress and theater faculty for Explorations, will be playing the role of Sadie in Taproot Theatre's regional premiere of "Gee's Bend."

 Gee's Bend is presented by Taproot Theatre from January 30-February 28, 2009, with previews on January 28 & 29.

   

"Them quilts could tell stories them people'll never know." - Sadie

This critically acclaimed play captures the rich story of the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, where discarded rags, scraps and bits of thread are pieced into works of beauty. Their compelling stories, like the spirituals they sing and the quilts they create, form a striking patchwork of the African-American journey of the past century.

 

Actress Samantha Rund is pictured during last year's Explorations program for middle school students. Middle school students will have the opportunity to work with Samantha at Centrum during the week of March 8-13, 2009.

Taproot Theatre Company was founded in 1976 by six college graduates from Seattle Pacific University.  From its humble beginnings as a touring group, the company has now become one of Seattle's largest mid-size theatre companies. Today, Taproot Theatre serves over 150,000 people annually throughout the Pacific Northwest with a full Mainstage season, touring programs and Acting Studio.

Attention Students!

Taproot theatre offers Teen Tix - $5 tickets for teenagers ages 13-18 who show their Teen Tix card day of show at the box office. Sign up is free on the Teen Tix website. Taproot Theatre's box office is at 204 N. 85th Street, Seattle. Contact the box office by phone at 206.781.9707 (Tues. - Sat., 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Patrons may e-mail the box office with ticket inquiries, but payment must take place over the phone or in person.

De la Torre Brothers: Sharing Vision with Young Artists

I first saw the glass sculpture of the De la Torre Brothers at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. In the contemporary sculpture of these two brothers, I saw cultural icons I had come to love during a year I spent living in Mexico. La Virgen de Guadalupe, Lucha Libre, Dia de los Muertos, Aztec Pyramids and more were explored in a personal, insightful and political way. And I loved that their work looks nothing like the typical Northwest glass movement.

I wondered how to pronounce their names- Einar and Jamex- I had never heard those names in Mexico. I wondered if they were from the U.S. or Mexico. I googled their name and found a fantastic website.
Last summer I saw that the de la Torres were teaching at Pilchuck- the Northwest’s premier “glass school.” It made me wonder if they would ever consider coming to Centrum to teach teens. It was a longshot-Centrum doesn’t have a hot glass facility, and they are really busy. I was shocked but pleased that when I called their studio, their manager said yes- they would be interested, “Tell me more and we’ll get back to you.” They were busy, preparing a bunch of work to ship to Arizona for a museum show. “But we WILL respond when we get back.”

In the month that passed following that conversation, I learned that Einar and Jamex are in demand both as teachers for prestigious craft schools such as Penland in North Carolina and as artists. They did get back to me and they said yes to teaching kids sculpture. And it’s not because of me that they will come to Centrum in June, it’s because of the kids- and the opportunity to share their knowledge and skill with young people.

Go to their website and see their amazing work http://www.delatorrebros.com/.
Then sign up to come to Centrum and learn about the process of combining images and a variety of materials into a sculpture that reflects YOU. www.centrum.org/youth.

Registration Open for Youth Workshops

At Centrum, we believe in the power of art to ignite, connect, and transform communities.

For more than 35 years, Centrum--in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction--has worked with accomplished, professional artists to inspire and challenge young artists at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.

We're pleased to announce that our 2009 workshops for young artists are now open for registration. Look on the top right of this page for the workshop of your choice, and then register online, or call us at 360-385-3102 for assistance.

Centrum's youth workshops provide a completely hands-on experience outside the traditional classroom for students throughout Washington in grades 5-12. The unique setting and scope of each week:

• Challenges students to strengthen both artistic techniques and critical thinking skills
• Exposes students to the work of accomplished, professional artists
• Enables students to accelerate their artistic development
• Provides hands-on teacher training alongside student learning
• Helps school districts around the state achieve their learning objectives

Centrum's youth workshops are led by Northwest artists whose work is at the center of the most vital cultural conversations happening in this region.

Old Girl

2007 Centrum Youth Faculty member Zoe Scofield's new work "old girl" will be performed at Spectrum Dance Theater's Studio Series 1. The Oct 3-5 and 11-12 shows are at Spectrum's Madronna Studio at 7:30 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

There will be question and answer after most of the shows.

"old girl", was commissioned by Spectrum and is a collaboration with musician Holcombe Waller. "I am thrilled to be working with Holcombe and the Spectrum dancers," Scofield says.