FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 26, 2011
MEDIA CONTACTS
Naomi Strom-Avila, Community and Economic Development, nstromavila@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5191
Karrie Spitzer, Community Relations, karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5790
November 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month – a community celebration of the arts that includes more than 250 community-hosted arts and culture events, exhibits and workshops for all ages taking place every day throughout the month. Programming includes music, theater and dance performances; visual art exhibits; film screenings; literary readings; lectures; and workshops. All events are open to the public and many activities are free.
Highlights include:
• Opening Celebration: The public is invited to attend a free celebration Nov. 3 from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Museum of Glass (1801 Dock St.). The event will include a presentation of the Tacoma Arts Commission’s annual AMOCAT Art Awards, contemporary dance by BQdanza, fire dancing by Flair Entertainment, molten iron and ice pour by Tacoma Community College, TWO OLD, TWO NEW barbershop quartet, juggling by Jeremy Gregory, appetizers, dessert and a no-host bar. The museum galleries will be open for viewing.
• Studio Tours: These tours offer a look inside the working studios of 57 local artists and collaborative studios. This free, self-guided tour runs Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and covers 37 locations around Tacoma. Attendees can meet the artists at work in their studios, see how art is created and purchase one-of-a-kind items. All studios will feature demonstrations of the artistic process or have hands-on activities for visitors. Visit www.ArtAtWorkTacoma.com for a complete list of studio locations and a map.
• Prairie Line Trail Public Art Tour: Learn about the significance and future of the Prairie Line Trail while enjoying a free guided tour of a series of temporary public art installations on Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. Artwork includes design team Thoughtbarn’s artificial landforms created from everyday materials like cardboard and zip ties and five other site-responsive, ephemeral works created by teams of Tacoma artists. This project is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The tour leaves from Tollefson Plaza (17th Street and Pacific Avenue).
• Arts Symposium: A two-day arts symposium for artists and arts organizations is scheduled Nov. 19 and 20 from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on the University of Puget Sound campus (1500 N. Warner St.). The event will include a keynote address by Gigi Rosenberg, author of The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing. Sessions include information on marketing, social media, grant writing, youth engagement, funding, talking about your art, non-traditional publishing, public art, starting a new arts group and poetry in response to art. There will also be an arts business clinic on Nov. 19 offered by Shunpike, and a legal clinic on Nov. 20 offered by Washington Lawyers for the Arts, featuring low-cost, private consultations with professionals. Registration is $20 for two days, $12 for one day, or $7 for a single session. Financial assistance is available. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Register online at http://11artssymposium.eventbrite.com/ or, if you do not have Internet access, please contact Naomi Strom-Avila at (253) 591-5191.
Information about programming for the entire month is available at www.ArtAtWorkTacoma.com. A comprehensive brochure of all Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month events is available at many locations around Tacoma including the Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Ave.), Museum of Glass and the Washington State History Museum (1911 Pacific Ave.).
Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month is sponsored by Click! Cable TV, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington State Arts Commission, Weekly Volcano, Premier Media Group and Seattle Weekly.
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