News

Missoula Cultural Council – Some news and upcoming events for the week of May 16, 2005

In Missoula…

There will be a meeting of the Palmerston North Sister City Committee tonight, May 16 at 5:00 p.m. in the Missoula Children’s Theatre Conference Room. To help promote awareness of Missoula’s sister city Palmerston North, New Zealand, the first ever New Zealand Day will take place at various venues throughout Missoula on Saturday, June 25. The celebration is in conjunction with a visit to Missoula by Palmerston North’s John Wall. Below are some events planned over the weekend:

· City Club Missoula. John Wall, chair of the Palmerston North sister-city committee, will be the guest speaker at this monthly forum. Governor’s Room, Florence building, Friday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. Call 721-9620 or e-mail [email protected] for reservations.

· Photographs of New Zealand by Neil Chaput, Keith Graham and Monte Dolack – his first-ever photography exhibit – will be on display from June 25-June 28 at Gallery Saintonge, 216 North Higgins. There will be an opening reception Friday, June 24 at 5:00 p.m. Call 543-0171 or visit http://www.rmsp.com

· Missoula Parks and Recreation is hosting a one-day Croquet Clinic. John Wall of the New Zealand Croquet Council will conduct 3 workshops of this faster, simpler version of the game we’ve all played at cook-outs and on vacation. No fee, but please call 721-PARK to pre-register. Saturday, June 25 at Playfair Park 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Just for seniors – ages 50 and up; 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. – Family Fun – ages 8 and up; 2:00.-3:00 p.m. – Masters’ Class, all ages – 6-wicket croquet, the variety played in most international tournaments. For more information, call 721-7275 (PARK) or e-mail [email protected]. Also visit http://www.croquetamerica.com

· Missoula’s Ambassador Choir will be performing in Palmerston North on Saturday evening, June 25. For more information, contact peter Park at [email protected] or visit http://www.dolcecanto.org/

New Zealand Day is produced by the Missoula Cultural Council with the help of many dedicated volunteers. For more information, call 721-9620 or visit http://www.missoulacultural.org For more information or to rsvp to the May 2 meeting, call the MCC office at 721-9620 or e-mail [email protected]

The Green Portfolio Ceramic Art Center has recently published Summer Clay Classes for Kids with a complete lineup for the months of June through August. To receive a brochure call 728-6363.

The University of Montana Department of Music hosts a Piano Camp from June 12-18 for musicians completing grades 8-12. Applications are due May 27. The Music Department also hosts a Band Camp from June 19-25 for musicians entering grades 7-12. Applications are due June 6. For more information, please call 243-6880.

Missoula Public Library and the Institute of Medicine and the Humanities are hosting a special traveling exhibition by the National Library of Medicine & the American Library Association. Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature offers a fresh look at Mary Shelley’s book and its importance in discussions about social responsibility and ethical scientific research. It will be on display through June 10 at Missoula Public Library. This week’s programs include:

* Book Discussion: Monday, May 16, 7 p.m. at Missoula Public Library.

The “I Y Books” Genre Discussion will focus on Gothic Fiction. Come discover new authors and meet fellow book lovers. Fun & interesting with free hand-outs for everyone.

* Lecture Series: Wednesday, May 18, 7 p.m. @ Missoula Public Library.

Come discover the history of medicine on the American Frontier with author/historian

Dr. Volney Steele, as he presents Bleed, Blister, and Purge.

* Film Series: Saturday, May 21, 6:30 p.m. @ Missoula Public Library.

This week’s film will focus on artificial intelligence. Guest speaker Sean O’Brien, Ph.D. will lead a discussion following the movie. Bring a friend.

* Lecture Series: Wednesday, May 25, 7 p.m. @ Missoula Public Library.

Why Do We Like This Stuff?: Contemporary Horror Fans. Debra Bernardi, Ph.D., Carroll College, will examine what is the pleasure of being scared, what fans enjoy about horror films and what impact a fan’s gender might have on the experience of horror.

For more information about these and future Frankenstein program please call 721-BOOK (2665).

The Singing Sons of Beaches will be performing at the Missoula Children’s Theatre, Wednesday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m., courtesy of the Missoula Community Foundation. For reservations and information call 829-2449.

LOLA, the League of Liberal Advocates, a small group of Missoulians, will sponsor a forum entitled Morality Beyond Party Politics: Practicing Moral Values in the Missoula Community on Thursday, May 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. All in the community are welcome. The non-partisan forum will include speakers discussing moral values from their different perspectives: Albert Borgmann, University of Montana, will speak as an educator; Bryony Schwan, Women’s Voices For the Earth, will speak as a social services practitioner; and Peter Shober, University Congregational Church, will speak as a religious leader. Craig Menteer, a local performance artist, will provide a humorous interlude based on the organization’s acronym. Attendees will participate in table discussions, exploring the thoughts raised by the speakers and formulating actions to promote the liberal view of moral values in Missoula. For more information contact Bill Bevis at 728-2774 / [email protected] or Jocelyn Siler at 543-4433 / [email protected]

Fact and Fiction presents Darlene Matule, who will be signing her new book, Under the Gallus Frame, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.

Celebrating one year of purple horses, pink skies, blue cowboys and red pickup trucks, LA Design hosts an artist’s reception with all new works in the Pirnie Art Showroom on Friday, May 20 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. The showroom is located in downtown Missoula at 337 East Broadway. For more information call 543-5077.

Celebrate the establishment of the Greg Olsen Memorial Scholarship by playing in the first annual Escape >From Reality Golf Tournament, Saturday, May 21, at the UM Golf course. Proceeds will go toward a new scholarship to be given to a Montana college-bound student in the name of Greg Olsen, friend and loved one of many Missoula residents. The tournament will be followed by a dinner, silent auction and dancing to the Sam Riddle Trio. For more information contact Andrea Olsen andreajolsen@hotmail or Darwin Ernst [email protected].

A Carousel for Missoula invites the community to help celebrate its 10th birthday, by contributing written or graphic memories of the Carousel for our Memory Wall, creating a personalized stick pony to ‘ride’ in our parade, or attending any of our special events.

A dinner/auction to celebrate its 10th birthday is being planned for Thursday, May 26, in the Caras Park pavilion. For more information about the Memory Wall or the dinner, please call 549-8382.

Sentinel High School Bands will be performing for the public on Tuesday, May 24 at the Sentinel High School main gymnasium beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Concert, Spartan and Symphony bands will perform. A potluck will precede the event at 6:00 p.m. with desserts and beverages provided by the Band Parents Organization. For more information call Gary Gillett at 728-2403 ext 7041.

The Montana Natural History Center presents Le Junque Sale – The High End Rummage and Bake Sale on June 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Drop off items during the week. Please call Betsy at 327-0405. For more information visit http://www.MontanaNaturalist.org

Elsewhere in Montana and the Region…

Congratulations to Greg Johnson and Stacy Gordon as the new directors of the Virginia City Players at the Opera House in Virginia City. This season – the 56th – features Sweeney Todd, The Moonstone, and The Canterville Ghost. The opening night gala is Saturday, May 28. For more information visit http://www.virginiacityplayers.com

More congratulations to Corvallis Middle School students Travis Miller, Erin McConnaha, Andrew Wiencek and Kaitlan Fowler, who recently won the 2005 Media Arts in the Public Schools Screenwriting competition. For the full story visit http://www.corvallis.k12.mt.us

Ceramic artist Rudy Autio was honored last week with a reception at US Bank in Butte, and his work is on display at the Arts Chateau Museum through May 28. Call 723-7600 or visit http://www.rudyautio.com

Chicago blues guitarist Roy Hytower plays at 3D International in Black Eagle, just outside of Great Falls, on May 20. Call 453-6561 for more information.

Hot Buttered Rum String Band performs its bluegrass show at the Filling Station in Bozeman on May 22. For more information call 568-3426.

The film The Greatest Good, an extraordinary review of the History of the Forest Service, is the Sunday Series Program at the Ravalli County Museum May 22 at 2:12 p.m. Forest Supervisor Dave Bull will be attending the presentation and be available to discuss this Forest Service Centennial Movie. Premiered in January 2005, this film uses rarely seen historical footage and photos, and dozens of interviews to tell the story of the history of the Forest Service. The Museum, located on South 3rd & Bedford in Hamilton, is open on Sundays from 1 to 4 with the program beginning at 2:00. This movie is 2 hours, so the Museum will be open until 5 to allow for questions, comments and discussion. Admission is free- Donations gladly accepted. For more information, e-mail [email protected], or call 363-3338.

Lyle Lovell performs at the Alberta Bair Theater in Billings at 8:00 p.m. on May 28. For more information visit http://www.albertabairtheater.org

Alpine Artisans’ 13th annual Loon and Fish Festival offers an arts and crafts show and sale, art demonstrations, nature walks, wildlife talks, and children’s art activities during this upcoming Memorial Day weekend in Seeley Lake. Activities include a Song Bird Walk, a Wildflower Walkabout, a Loon Viewing Walk, plus talks on Loons, Fish, Bears, and Lewis & Clark. There also will be ongoing artist demonstrations in addition to the opportunity to meet 20 individual artists at their booths. Visitors will enjoy a joint arrangement of artwork presented in a combined display. The Festival will be held at the Seeley Lake Elementary School from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29. For more information, visit http://www.alpineartisans.org

From the Montana Associated Technology Roundtable…

Seventeen Montana Organizations Receive $100,000 from PPL Montana’s Community Fund
“These are some of the 17 ideas that will help add to the quality of life because of the imagination and dedication of Montanans and the commitment and support of PPL Montana,” said Brad Spencer, vice president and chief operating officer of PPL Montana, at a news conference today announcing $100,000 in grants from the company’s Community Fund.

Denver offers to help nonprofits find funding
"It’s critical we work to collaborate in terms of providing services," said Mike Roque, director of the mayor’s office of strategic partnerships.

Bill Gates Sr. urges Idahoans to donate to local charities – Microsoft founder’s father says small gifts add up
"No one can do it all," he said. "It doesn’t take tremendous resources to make a difference."

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

Nationally…

From the National Business Committee for the Arts…

Research shows that when businesses support the arts they attract and retain more satisfied employees and customers. Now businesses have an opportunity for a new reward for their good deeds: national recognition from the pre-eminent business-arts organization in the United States. At the same time arts organizations throughout the country have a new opportunity to bring national recognition to their exceptional business partners. The first recognition program of its type, The BCA Big Ten: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America was created to recognize small, midsize and large businesses for their exceptional involvement in the arts. Nominations for this event, sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) and FORBES Magazine, will be accepted through May 26, 2005, 5:00 p.m. EDT. For nomination guidelines, visit http://www.bcainc.org/thebcaten.

To learn more about the National Business Committee for the Arts, visit http://www.bcainc.org

From the Center for Arts and Culture….

Arts-education supporters ever on alert at State House
Portland Press Herald (ME), 5/8/2005
Maine state legislator Hannah Pingree has "introduced a bill that, if passed, would help longtime theater teachers in Maine schools retain their jobs without having to get specially certified in theater. . . . The Maine Department of Education wants all theater teachers to have a theater endorsement by August. To get the endorsement, they would have to take 24 college credits in theater. For many teachers, that’s a heavy load – and in their minds, completely unnecessary, especially if they’ve already logged two decades on high school stages across the state." http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/audience/stories/050508keyes.shtml

Deep in the Arts of Texas
Ford Foundation, Winter 2005
"Dallas public schools are boosting student achievement by integrating arts into the curriculum," according to a Ford Foundation report on the Dallas ArtsPartners project it has supported. "Since 1998 all but a few of the city’s 157 public elementary schools have been working with museums, theaters and other arts groups for the express purpose of boosting students’ academic achievement. In that time the nation’s 12th-largest school district has built a stronger teaching force, engaged students through new ways of learning and brought marked improvement in literacy, particularly writing. As a result, Dallas now serves as a model of curriculum reform for communities from Baltimore and Charlotte, N.C., to St. Louis and Jackson, Miss. These gains are credited to a hard-won alliance between city government, the school district and the city’s arts and cultural institutions. Called ArtsPartners, it has trained 4,500 elementary school teachers and revamped educational programs run by 62 arts groups, from mariachi players to the Dallas Museum of Art." http://www.fordfound.org/publications/ff_report/view_ff_report_detail.cfm?report_index=549

Public TV and Radio to Receive Big Grants
New York Times, 5/10/2005
"The Ford Foundation, the main financial backer of public broadcasting in its formative days, is undertaking its largest initiative to support nonprofit media in more than 25 years, officials said yesterday [May 9]. The initiative will funnel $50 million over five years to a baker’s dozen of public television, radio and other media organizations. A major focus of the effort will be to spur the creation and distribution of public affairs programming, particularly programs dealing with international affairs." http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/10/arts/television/10publ.html&OP=e8b57ca/Q26@!Q24Q26BNpHsNNm2Q262KKQ51Q26KQ51Q26Q2BKQ26Q22smHQ26m!Q20!P~H~NqQ26Q2BKj8Q24Q209DmJQ20

Senate Forming Cultural Caucus
Back Stage, 5/5/2005
"Four U.S. senators are spearheading the formation of a new bipartisan Senate caucus to promote the vital role the arts and humanities play in American life — a coalition that will likely serve as a strong base of support for pro-arts legislation in Congress’ upper house. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) will be co-chairs of the caucus, ‘which will work to highlight the programs and impact of the National Endowment for the Arts [NEA], National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services,’ the federal government’s three major cultural funding institutions."
Contributed by ArtsJournal.com http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000911144

The leaning tower of PBS
Los Angeles Times, 5/9/2005
"Public television officials are increasingly fearful that PBS is reemerging as a political football after a series of efforts by Republicans to promote more conservative perspectives on the taxpayer- supported network. . . . Some believe the Bush Administration is using its allies at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to undermine PBS, much as President Richard Nixon and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sought to withdraw support for the system in past years." http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-et-pbs9may09,1,566877.story?ctrack=2&cset=true

In criticizing Japan’s history textbooks, Americans should think twice
Christian Science Monitor, 5/4/2005
"Americans like to think they’ve reckoned with their history, while other nations remain mired in propaganda and distortion. Americans should think again. http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0504/p09s01-coop.html?s=hns

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

From Wolf, Keens and Co…

Foundation Center
Study of Affluent Givers Has Some Surprises
You would expect wealthy households to donate more to charity, right? Guess again. According to this study of an affluent suburban Maryland county, per capita giving is lower than many other less-well-off counties. There may be more – or less – to this story than meets the eye when specific conditions are factored in. Also see this Washington Post article (free registration required).

Goethe Institute
World War II – Looking Back and Forward
As "the War" recedes and eye-witnesses become less common, this is a poignant and honest look at many aspects of that cataclysmic period. Dense reading for the web, but worth the effort.

To learn more about Wolf, Keens and Co. visit http://www.wolfkeens.com.

Internationally…

The Ideological War Over Intellectual Property
Tech Central Station, 5/2/2005
According to law professor Mark Schultz, "the most consequential front in [the] burgeoning ideological war over intellectual property rights is the developing world. Intellectual property critics say the World Intellectual Property Organization (‘WIPO’) needs to abandon its pro-IP orientation to help the developing world." A group of developing countries and NGOs led by Brazil and Argentina "want WIPO to adopt a presumption against increased IP rights, allowing ‘higher standards of protection . . . only when it is clearly necessary . . . and where the benefits outweigh the costs of protection.’" WIPO is "seriously considering this proposal" — but Schultz argues that "for the sake of the developing world, let’s hope that this proposal does not succeed." http://remotefarm.techcentralstation.com/050205A.html

Finally…

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

If you want to reduce e-mails in your inbox but still want to read this newsletter, it is posted each week at http://www.missoulacultural.org/newsstand.html

Thanks for your comments & corrections

Tom at MCC

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.