November 2010 marks the ninth anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month, which celebrates the collective talent here in Tacoma and engages the public in art and culture. There will be over 300 community-hosted art and culture events, exhibits and workshops. Daily programming includes music, theater and dance performances, visual art exhibits, film screenings, literary readings, and lectures and workshops for children and adults. Many of the activities are free and open to the public.
Highlights include:
— Opening Celebration: The public is invited to attend a free celebration Nov. 4, from 6 – 8:30 p.m., at the Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Ave.). The event will include presentation of the Tacoma Arts Commission’s annual AMOCAT Art Awards, live performances by the Tacoma Opera, Tacoma Symphony, Tacoma Musical Playhouse and Tacoma Youth Symphony, hors d’oeuvres, 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 71 local artists and collaborative studios. This free, self-guided tour runs Nov. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and covers 41 locations around Tacoma. Attendees can meet the artists at work in their studios, see how art is created, purchase one-of-a-kind items and even create their own masterpieces. Visit ArtAtWorkTacoma.com for a complete list of studio locations and a map.
— Art Slam: Tacoma’s fifth annual Art Slam will take place Nov. 17, from 7 – 9 p.m., at the Rialto Theater (301 S. 9th St.). In a fast-paced format, a selection of work by local artists will be projected on the big screen and interspersed with live performances including dance, music and spoken word. Artists working in all mediums and genres will be showcased. A reception will follow this free public event.
— Arts Symposium: A free, two-day arts symposium for artists and arts organizations is scheduled Nov. 13 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. and Nov.14 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. on the University of Puget Sound campus (1500 N. Warner St.). Sessions will include information on copyrights, financial planning, funding, marketing, fundraising, time management, public art and a hands-on poetry writing workshop. There will also be an arts business clinic on Nov. 13, offered by Shunpike, and a legal clinic on Nov. 14, offered by Washington Lawyers for the Arts, featuring low-cost, private consultations with professionals. Pre-registration for all sessions is required, as space is limited. Register online at http://www.artssymposium.eventbrite.com or, if you do not have Internet access, please contact Naomi Strom-Avila at (253) 591-5191.
A comprehensive brochure of all Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month events is available at many locations around Tacoma including the Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass (1801 Dock St.) and the Washington State History Museum (1911 Pacific Ave.).
Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month is sponsored by Click! Cable TV, Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, Weekly Volcano, Premier Media Group, and ShowCase media.
For more information about Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month, go to http://www.ArtAtWorkTacoma.com .
