Lawrence Arts Center

Light OK’d for LAC Crosswalk

City commissioners at their weekly meeting approved a request for a new $35,000 pedestrian-activated crosswalk for the portion of New Hampshire Street between the Lawrence Arts Center and the city-owned parking garage.

“I think we’ve all had the experience of essentially playing dodge the car as you go across that section of the street,” said City Commissioner Sue Hack.

Commissioners unanimously approved the request — after hearing several stories of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts — despite not having a clear funding source for the project.

Required qualifications include

Strong organizational skills
Ability to manage a fast paced environment
Solid writing skills
Knowledge of Excel
Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends

Responsibilities include

Set up and run monthly meetings, create agenda
Maintain and organize gift inventory and storage area and wrapping supplies, including some shopping for gifts
Be the liaison between the volunteer committee and Arts Center staff
Work with Roger Hill Volunteer Center and past volunteers to recruit volunteers for all positions
Coordinate volunteer ‘elf’ training and work with Roger Hill Volunteer Center to recruit volunteers
Coordinate set-up of event with Arts Center staff and volunteers
Serve as point person to whom all other volunteers report
Coordinate marketing and mailing of informational postcard
Coordinate press releases
Work with Arts Center staff on all solicitation mailings for Holiday Shop Dollar donations and in-kind donations from businesses
Maintain records of all purchases and ensure they are within parameters of set budget
Be present for duration of Children’s Holiday Shop, December 11-13 to coordinate volunteers and assist participants as needed
Work with Arts Center staff to coordinate and reconcile cash boxes

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter to Laura Rose Clawson at lacinfo@sunflower.com by July 12th.

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Summer Drama Classes

Young performers have a chance to expand their skills through two fun all-day Summer Drama Camps at LAC.

Kids who have completed Kindergarten through 6th grade can take part in the Awesome August Actor's Camp from 9:00am-3:30pm July 28th through August 1st. Activities will have a Shakespearean theme, with performances for family and friends on Friday, August 1st at 2pm.

Those who have completed 3rd through 8th grade have a chance to dance with Moving, Moving, Moving Pictures from 9:00am-3:30pm August 4th-8th. Students will recreate stories through a combination of dance and acting, then film the result and show it on Friday, August 8th at 2pm.

Click here for more information or to enroll online.

Click Here to view Drama Class Listing

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Summer Youth Theatre July Performances: Summer Youth Theatre Performance
“Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts”
July 12 at 11am
Tickets $4 at the door

Summer Youth Theatre Performance
“The Sword and the Stone”
July 17 and 18 at 7pm
July 19 at 2pm
Tickets $8.50 Adults $6.50 Students/Seniors/Children

Summer Youth Theatre Performance
“Camelot”
July 24, 25, and 26 at 7:30pm
Tickets $8.50 Adults $6.50 Students/Seniors/Children

Summer Youth Theatre Performance
“Ogres and Other Mythical Monsters”
July 26 at 11am
Tickets $4 at the door; Download SYT Application Form; Click here to read all the details including rehearsal and performance times and dates.; Return to Menu

Summer Dance Camps New Sessions Enrolling in July!

Dancers of all experience levels are welcome to attend any or all of these great camps. Camps meet Monday through Friday, with informal showcases on the last day for family and friends.

Ages 3-5
Favorite Stories in Motion
July 28-August 1, 3-4pm

Kindergarten-2nd Grade (completed)
Favorite Stories in Motion
Monday-Friday, July 28-August 1, 1-2:30pm

Dr. Seuss Fun
July 7-11, 1-4pm

Under the Sea
July 21-25, 1-4pm

3rd-5th Grade (completed)
World Dance Camp
July 21-25, 1-4pm

Mystery Dance
July 21-25, 9a-noon

Click Here to view Dance Class Listing

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Folk Arts Camp Hits the Road Students Visit Museum

On June 11, students in the Folk Arts Camp for 3rd - 5th graders visited the Grassroots Arts Center in Lucas KS as part of the Arts Center's Folk Arts Camp. The Folk Arts camp is one of our new All Arts Camps offered this summer combining visual with performing arts. During the weeklong camp, students learned about folk dances, transforming everyday objects in new works of art, and a bit about Kansas history.

At the Grassroots Arts Center, students had an opportunity to not only learn about Lucas and Kansas visionary artists on exhibit but also visit Florence Deeble's house and garden and briefly view the Garden of Eden created by S.P. Dinsmoor. It was a full day of fun and inspiration. For more information on these attractions and the history of this area visit: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Lucas

Miss out on the Folk Arts Camp? Upcoming All Arts Camps include

EcoArts, June 30-July 3 (K-2nd and 3rd-5th grades completed)
Animal Planet, July 14-18 (K-2nd grades completed)
Land of Narnia, July 7-11 (3rd-5th grades completed)
Nature and Places, July 14-18 (3rd-5th grades completed)
Superheroes, August 4-8 (3rd-5th grades completed)
Renaissance, July 7-11 (6th-9th grades completed)

Click Here to view Arts Class Listing

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In The Galleries...: Vernacular

New Work by Jennifer Holt and Brian Stuparyk,
2007/2008 LAC Artists-in-Residence
June 27th - July 25th, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday June 27th, 7-9pm

Jennifer and Brian are actively developing their professional careers. Come hear about their experience at a gallery talk on Tuesday July 1st at 7pm. After the talk, stay for an informal sharing of new work among the artists who attend, and feel free to bring artwork for the discussion.

Lawrence Arts Center Faculty Show

June 27 - July 25, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday June 27, 7-9pm

The show, which runs concurrently with the Artists in Residence exhibit, features work by Jeff Ridgway, Louis Copt, Paul Hotvedt, Lora Jost, Rachael Sudlow, Andrew Hadle, Ann Dean, Rick Mitchell, Jimmy Eddings, Ben Ahlvers, Amy Lenharth, Herb Friedson, Kit Leffler, Joan Parker and others.; Return to Menu

Wak Fest rocks for kids

Once again, the Lawrence Arts Center helped make the Wakarusa Music Festival a little bit more kid friendly. The Wakarusa Children's Tent was hosted by the Arts Center in the Revival Village. Activities were provided on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and included Children's Drum Circles, Instrument Making and much more.......

Click Here to read all about it in the Lawrence Journal World.

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Thoughts on Unsung

Chris Takett has a great story on his blog over at Lawrence.com about the recent gallery extravaganza at the Arts Center. Chris also shot a lot of great videos that are posted at his blog as well! ~Thanks Chris

Unsung: TJ Tungpaz demonstrates his crab sculpture from tackett on Vimeo.

"The coolest art opening I've ever seen"

Since the event was sort of a "you had to be there" type of night, I wanted to hear what others thought of it. A contributing artist and curator of the show, Molly Murphy, was generous enough to share with me (and you) her thoughts after allowing the dust to settle for a few days.

Here's what she had to say about the evening:

"I feel the night could not have been more fun from my standpoint. The response to the opening party was almost overwhelming. I had so many people throughout the night express their excitement for not just the art, but the energy of the opening. Snuff Jazz, who voluntarily made themselves captive performers inside their tent of zoo-rave-jazz-performance were the talk of the town as I made my way downtown later in the night. Even more people, who could not attend due to the many many events of graduation weekend have since gone to the show due to the buzz of the impromptu afterparties.

I could truly not have been more proud than when I heard a group at the Replay discussing the work of Betsy Timmer, and one of the bartenders mentioned they had people walking in all night talking about the show.

I hope the energy of the exhibit and opening can pull through to other shows at the Arts Center. This night brought many many people who had never even stepped through the door who will be returning now. Lawrence has such a wealth of talent, I feel there should be more nights like this one that bring together younger parts of the community with the more initiated artists and arts supporters in Lawrence. It can't be anything but good for everyone to keep this kind of support running through the entire arts community rather than separated generations and venues."

Art is obviously different to different folks. But I was left thinking "well, this was officially the coolest art opening I've ever seen."

Link to Full Story

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Seeking Director of Business Operations

The Director of Business Operations for the Lawrence Arts Center is responsible for the financial, accounting and administrative needs related to business operations of the Center. Provide direction to staff with regard to best practices in financial accountability and accuracy. The Director of Business Operations is responsible to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities Include

(partial list)

1. Direct, plan, monitor and evaluate all financial and business operations of the Lawrence Arts Center, and effectively serve as the Chief Operating Officer.

2. Provide financial analysis to ensure profitability and proactively analyze data and trends of the organization and make recommendations for change to the Board of Directors, Executive Director and Program Staff.

3. Work with the Finance Committee, Executive Director and staff to prepare the annual budget.

Qualifications: Accounting or business degree, three to five years experience in accounting, business or finance. Emphasis and/or experience in information systems strongly preferred. Leadership skills preferred.

Salary and Benefits: Competitive salary, benefits include health and dental insurance, vacation, holiday and sick leave. EOE

Email resume with cover letter, references and salary requirements to Executive Director, Lawrence Arts Center at lacexec@sunflower.com.

Click here to read the complete job description.

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Carmine Ballare 2008-09 Dance Scholarship Recipients Determined

Lawrence, Kansas- The Lawrence Arts Center is pleased to announce the recipients of the Carmine Ballare Dance Scholarship for the 2008-2009 year. Helen Hawkins, daughter of Dawn Hawkins, and Juliet Remmers, daughter of Bill and Ruth Remmers, were selected. Julia Davidson, daughter of Jane Faubian and Steve Davidson, and Lucy Shopen, daughter of Peggy and Frank Shopen were selected as alternates. These recipients were selected through an audition process on May 19th.

The Carmine Ballare scholarship fund was established by Dan Sabatini in honor of his grandfather, Carmine Sabatini. Its purpose is to reward excellence and commitment to dance, and to encourage rigorous training in ballet. The scholarship will fully fund four ballet technique classes per week at the Lawrence Arts Center and participation in this year’s holiday production, The Kansas Nutcracker in the winter and the Youth Ballet Company in the spring.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to encourage, as well as a reward our dance students who have made dance a real priority in their lives.” Candi Baker, Dance Program Director.

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Imagination & Place Environmental Award Presentation Ceremony

April 22, 2008

The Committee on Imagination & Place presents 2008 Environmental Awards

Imagination & Place Environmental Awards for volunteers were presented during a ceremony at the Lawrence Arts Center on Tuesday, April 22. Recipients for 2008 were Lawrence-based Friends of Hidden Valley, Cans for the Community, Friends of the Kaw, Schwegler Elementary School PTA, and Marie Stockett of Lawrence . Each of the five winners received framed watercolor awards by Lawrence artist Lisa Grossman.

The five recipients were recognized for the following. Friends of Hidden Valley support for the Lawrence Hidden Valley Camp for the Girl Scout movement in Lawrence .

Cans for the Community financial support to other non-profit organizations in Douglas County and surrounding communities by recycling aluminum beverage containers.

Friends of the Kaw efforts to preserve and protect the Kansas River for present and future generations, advocating for the rehabilitation of the Kansas River's environs, and promoting compatible recreational uses of the Kansas River.

Schwegler Elementary School PTA, to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary in 2007, brought Oregon conceptual artist Daniel Dancer in-residence to create an Art for the Sky image of a native Kansas Osage Orange tree, as well as initiated other environmental practices.

Marie Stockett led a citizens' appeal for "Pesticide-Free Parks" in Lawrence and tended garden beds.

The I&P Environmental Award is designed to recognize Douglas County community members who have made a demonstrable and positive impact on the local, regional, and/or global environment. The awards honor one of the following categories (in a four-year cycle): businesses, educators, artists and volunteers.

The award was established by the Committee on Imagination & Place of the Lawrence Arts Center in partnership with the Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling Division.

Representatives from the four groups were on hand to receive awards: Friends of Hidden Valley, Durand Reiber, Jill Giele, Robin Robertson, Margaret Townsend, and Jill Baringer; Cans for Community, Delmer Kruse, Wendell McGaugh, Will Lunn, Linda Lang, Linda Klinker, Delisa Drewes, and Kathy Richardson; Friends of the Kaw, Joanne Bergman and Laura Calwell; Schwegler Elementary School PTA; Kristy Teska, Margaret Springe, Lars Leon, and Anna Busby. Marie Stockett recieved an award as an individual volunteer.

A local foods reception was provided by the Community Mercantile.

Past Imagination & Place Environmental Award winners are: 2007, Artist Laura Ramberg and writer Ken Lassman; 2006, educator Kelly Kindscher, with runners-up Nancy O'Connor, David Owen, Rex Powell, and Marty Birrell; 2005 business Community Mercantile, with runners-up Free State Brewing Company and Z's Divine Espresso.

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Summer Class Listings: Summer class listings are now posted online. There's a full spectrum of possibilities, so choose your class and have some fun!; Click here for preschool classes.; Click here for kids art classes.; Click here for adult arts ed classes.; Click here for drama classes.; Click here for dance classes.; Return to Menu

Lawrence Arts Center Executive Director Update: The search committee is in the process of selecting the final candidates for the executive director position. As a result, the committee is no longer accepting new applications. Please check back for further updates.; Return to Menu

Arts-Based Preschool Lawrence Arts Center Arts Based Preschool now enrolling for 2008-2009: Lawrence Arts Center Arts Based Preschool now enrolling for 2008-2009. Call now to add your child's name to the mailing list for enrollment information.; The Arts-Based preschool is for children ages 3-5 years and provides social, motor and creative experiences that excite a love for learning. Music, sculpture, painting, drawing and creative movement are an integral part of the program. The self-esteem of your child will grow through rich and varied experiences with the arts in combination with sound preschool education. The LAC Preschool's curriculum allows students the opportunity to work with professional artists, actors, dancers, and musicians in addition to the full-time staff; attend performances; and create in the ceramics studio. Lots of fun, lots of love, and lots of good arts experiences nurture creative thinking, decision-making, imagination and art appreciation.; Starting in the fall, our preschool will have one room which will accept children who are 2 years and 9 months old. In other words, if they turn 3 years old in September, October, or November they are eligible. Currently they must be 3 years old by September 1st, but we are changing that.; The class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to noon.; For more information please contact Bonnie Cherry or Linda Reimond, Preschool Director, at 785-843-2787 or lacpreschool@sunflower.com.; Click Here to download Enrollment Form (PDF); Return to Menu

Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton: In association with LookClickPrint, the Lawrence Art Center is offering reproductions of works by Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton, produced with superb detail and vivid color using archival inks and high-quality paper or canvas, in a variety of sizes. These prints are made to order according to your size specifications.; Download Catalogue(PDF); Download Order Form(PDF); Buy on-line from LookClickPrint.com; Return to Menu

“To enrich individuals and the community by nurturing love of the arts through education, exploration and expression. Serving the comminity of Lawrence, Kansas since 1975 with arts programs and services for individuals of all ages, interests and backgrounds.”

Join the Arts Center Online

The best way to enjoy the Arts Center to the fullest is to become a member. While you enjoy these great benefits, you also will be supporting arts programs in your community - through scholarship, artist residencies, workshops and exhibitions. An online membership form is now available.