Arts grant awarded to Whitworth College

Whitworth College has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant under the “Challenge America: Access to the Arts” program.

The $15,000 grant supports the development of the Visiting Artists in Printmaking program, which focuses on multicultural artists who will conduct printing workshops on campus and work with faculty and students on creating original prints.

The next two artists in the series are Native American painter Ric Gendron of Spokane, who will visit Whitworth’s campus from March 21 through April 22, and Nihonga artist Makato Fujimura of New York, who will be on campus Oct. 17 through Nov. 18, 2005.

The NEA awarded 366 grants under this competitive program. Only 18 of those grants went to colleges and universities. Whitworth was the only grant recipient in Spokane, with the 11 other grants in Washington going to Seattle-area arts organizations.

Auditions

“ North Idaho College Concert Choir will begin fall rehearsals on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. in Boswell Hall, Room 102 on the campus in Coeur d’Alene. The choir meets weekly on Tuesdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Membership is free and open to the public. Attend the first rehearsal to join. Call (208) 661-1743 for more information.

“ Pullman Civic Theatre will hold auditions for “Pride’s Crossing,” based on Gertrude Ederele’s feat of swimming the English Channel in 1926, on Sept. 7 and 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Gladish Little Theatre. Roles are available for four women, three men and one girl. For a copy of the script or more information, call (509) 334-7033.

“ Pend Oreille Players is seeking a cast for its upcoming production of the comedy “Play On!” Auditions will be held Sept. 7 and 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Sadie Halstead Middle School in Newport, Wash. Needed are two men and one woman age 50 to 60, three men or women age 20 to 30, and one man and two women age 17 to 22. Call (509) 447-2180 for more information. “ Spokane Symphony’s Junior Chamber Artists and Young Chamber Players will hold auditions the afternoons of Sept. 9 and 10. The program is open to teenage musicians interested in a chamber music experience. Students may be asked to play scales and a prepared solo, and to sight read. For more information, call 326-3136 or e-mail to jcaycp@spokanesymphony.org.

Kudos

“ Frank Werner of St. Maries has been selected to receive one of Idaho’s 2004 Governor’s Awards in the Arts in the category of Excellence in the Arts. His award is for his traditional waterfowl carvings. Werner will be recognized at the Governor’s Awards in the Arts Gala on Oct. 2 at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa.

“ Holy Names Music Center has announced the addition of five new faculty members, bringing the total teaching staff to 38 members. They are: David Asplin, composition and theory; William Berry, trumpet and music history; Christopher Cook, trumpet; Thomas Kelly, improvisation and jazz piano; and Keith Thomas, oboe and organ. Call 326-9516 or see www.hnmc.org for more information.