EOU Community School of the Arts opens

Community School of the Arts

Published: May 10, 2004

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

La Grande, Oregon - Searching for piano lessons? Want a chance to improve your singing ability? Eastern Oregon University now has a place for people of all ages on and off campus to go and learn about the arts.

The Community School of the Arts opened April 26, located in the Arts and Science's office in Loso Hall, and will provide music lessons and the Summer Youth Theatre with the intention of adding other arts programs in the future.

"We're going to provide non-credit arts education programs to the community including EOU students," said John Winn, the Community School of the Arts director. "We'll start with music lessons as our primary focus and then coordinate the Summer Youth Theatre. In the future we'll look at adding arts such as theatre, visual arts and more."

The teachers will range from EOU undergraduate students to some community members and occasionally EOU faculty, said Winn. Anyone teaching will receive either pay or faculty-approved practicum credits. The Grande Ronde Community Choir under Peter Wordelman, professor of music and faculty liaison for the Community School, will also be involved with the Community School.

EOU Dean of Arts and Sciences Anne Patterson and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Miller were key in getting the Community School going.

"The original idea came from Dr. Patterson, who came from the University of Central Arkansas and helped develop a community music school at that campus, and Dr. Miller, who was involved with the supervision of a community arts school at Southeast Louisiana State University," said Winn. "Dr. Patterson has been instrumental in the whole process. Since she is leaving (EOU), this will be part of her legacy for this campus."

Patterson is pleased with the development of the Community School of the Arts and feels it will benefit not only EOU and La Grande, but also the entire Grande Ronde Valley.

"La Grande, and indeed all of the region, stand to benefit from an inclusive Community School of the Arts," said Patterson. "There are wonderful things going on at EOU in the arts, and I have believed ever since I have been here that we can be a focal point for arts education in the area. I am delighted to see this project get off the ground before I leave EOU. It would not have happened without the energy and dedication of John Winn."

Miller added that the people who take programs through the Community School might someday return to EOU as a student, too.

"In the future, some of the students who begin their studies at the Community School of the Arts will return to Eastern to study some aspect of the visual and/or performing arts," said Miller. "John Winn has developed a plan that will ultimately involve EOU's faculty, students and community partners in offering instruction in music, visual arts and dramatic arts."

For the past eight months, the preparation work needed to get the Community School going has been in the works.

"Since last August we've been developing plans for business operations, staffing and programming with an eye as to how this school will operate on the university campus," said Winn. "The business plan was fairly straight forward - we're self supporting with most of our revenue coming through the fees we charge and the events we sponsor. We will eventually pursue some grants and will have an EOU Foundation account in case someone wants to donate to the Community School. We'll also put on special concerts to generate money."

To assist the Community School in its business operations, Dala Took-Ramsey, the EOU business manger, has volunteered to be a mentor to Winn for the next year.

"Dala's help and advice will be vital in growing our program over the next year and making sure that we operate within the university structure," said Winn.

Winn adds the Community School isn't trying to take away from the already-existing private and public music and arts lessons available in the area. "We're not trying to replace any of the existing systems out there, such as the arts in the public schools. We want to be an addition to that. We want to work with these systems and not replace them. We believe that this is a great opportunity for the future of arts education in our area."

This summer, private and studio music lessons and studio acting lessons will be available. The Summer Youth Theatre, running from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, June 14-25, for youth ages 8-16 in McKenzie Theatre and Loso Hall, will be changing its format.

"We'll do a drama this year and teach the kids more about actual production, such training them on set designs, lighting, the light boards, makeup, the sound board," said Winn. "In the past this program has been mainly a musical format with adult assistance in handling these other production aspects."

This fall, the Community School plans on adding early-childhood music education for 2- to 6-year-olds. They will also have a Suzuki strings type program for training young musicians in violin.

On May 23, the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at 2 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre. "They are paying their own way over and letting us keep the proceeds to help us get off the ground. It's a nice kickoff for us to start off," said Winn. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and tickets are available in the EOU Bookstore, Sunflower Books or the Community School of Arts office. Host homes are needed for the Orchestra performers on May 22.

For more information about the Community School or hosting one or more Philharmonic Orchestra performers, contact Winn at 962-3629 or csa@eou.edu. The Community School of the Arts website can be found at www.eou.edu/csa.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement