A Fall for the Arts Though the heat continues, summer is officially coming to a close for most. Vacations are over, kids are back in school, Tech’s orientations are over, and the North Central Louisiana Arts Council is gearing up for an exciting fall lineup.
Plans are already underway for our 14th annual NCLAC Holiday Arts Tour set for Nov. 18-20. We are so excited to hear that some of our local artists have been preparing new bodies of work for the Tour, and we are now accepting artist applications. Updated artist and business application forms are available for download on our blog:nclac.wordpress.com.
The tour features an average of 50 artists across 20-25 sites throughout downtown Ruston and Lincoln parish.
As a regional arts council, we aim to serve the artists in our parishes first. However, if host sites are still available after Sept. 2, we’ll extend the call for artists beyond our region for two more weeks. To ensure consideration, we want to encourage artists in Lincoln, Jackson, Bienville, Claiborne, and Union parish to apply before Sept. 2.
In addition to the Holiday Arts Tour, NCLAC will be hosting a variety of Academy Arts Classes this fall, including three classes for 6-10 year olds: Little Masters, a course based on the works of artist masters; Petite Players, an introduction to theatre; and Puppetry Workshop, a Columbus Day expedition in puppet building.
Classes for 13-18 year olds include Scenes for Teens, a scene work and audition workshop; and The Book Review, a reading and writing workshop in which participants have a chance to see their work published in the Ruston Leader.
NCLAC aims to make its classes affordable. Tuition ranges from $30-$80, depending on the duration of the course and supply costs. NCLAC members receive a discount. For more information or to register, please contact NCLAC’s Educational Coordinator Jessica Slaughter t 255-1450 or via email at nclac5@gmail.com.
This fall, arts enthusiasts can also enjoy two art exhibitions hosted by NCLAC and 102 a Bistro at 102. The current exhibition “Sifting the Exotic and Familiar” features Jan Thibault, Melanie Douthit, and Julie Crews. It will be on display through September. The upcoming exhibition will open Oct. 5 and will feature the photographs of Jonathan Donehoo, Director of the School of Art at Louisiana Tech University. Three new artists are also currently on display at the Piney Hills Gallery as well: Jane Campbell, Nan Cole, and Melanie Douthit. Works in both venues are for sale through NCLAC.
Also in the fall lineup, “My Vision, My Voice,” a photojournalism workshop, will introduce teens in Arcadia to the real-world applications of photography and journalism while encouraging them to take a second look at the world around them; Bearfoot, a contemporary bluegrass band from Nashville, will visit Ruston in a three-day residency, performing publically at the Dixie Center for the Arts on Oct. 11; and finally, NCLAC will host its 2nd annual ARToberfest on October 13, which will again feature local beer and music.
For more information about any of the events in our exciting fall lineup, please visit NCLAC’s website at www.nclarts.org or call 318-255-1450, Tues-Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. We invite you to fall for the arts, whether for the first time or all over again.