JOHNSTOWN — As part of its 50th anniversary festival celebration, Holy Name Roman Catholic Church in Ebensburg will feature the first “Lift Your Voice Singing Contest” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the festival grounds adjacent to the church.

A field of 50 contestants has been narrowed to 12 competitors by area theater and music educators and festival committee members.

The final showcase will be hosted by FOX 8/23 television personality Christine Strugala.

Finalists include Emily Weaver, Johnstown; Darrell Dumm, Summerhill; Eddie Brandt, Altoona; Rachel Wagner, Cresson; Scot Getz, Cornelius, N.C.; Angie Keith, Dysart; Lauren Collins, Ebensburg; Hannah Bearer, Carrolltown; Stephanie Marhefka, Mineral Point; Casey Bumgardner, Johnstown, Brittany Tusing, Baltimore, Md.; and a trio comprised of Nate Pearson, Steph Beyer and Troy Bugosh, all of Ebensburg.

The finalists will compete for $5,000, a block of studio recording time and a portfolio photography package.

Admission is $3. 

Conference will focus on ‘Surviving the Arts’

“Gain With Less Pain: Surviving the Arts,” a conference for arts managers, teachers, school administrators, artists and arts advocates, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday at the performing arts center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The conference is presented by the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance and IUP’s ArtsPath and Lively Arts.

The conference will include workshops and discussions that will focus on some of the issues, challenges and opportunities in the arts today.

The goal of the conference is to help those working in the arts to be more productive with greater efficiency, especially when faced with shrinking resources.

Jenny Hershour, executive director of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, will speak about the need for extending arts advocacy to our elected officials.

E. Jeanne Gleason, newly appointed vice chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, will lead a workshop, “Nonprofit Board Leadership: What’s My Job?”

Other presenters will include Arin Sullivan of the Philadelphia-based Pew Charitable Trust’s Cultural Data Project; Michael Powers, IUP’s director of web services speaking on the topic of social media; and Eric Ebeling, managing editor of the Indiana Gazette, leading a session on best ways to get news to the media.

Professional artists Paula Purnell, Sandy Trimble and Martha Murphy will present two different workshops geared toward artist residencies and arts for the challenged student.

There also will be networking opportunities along with a final wrap-up and call to action.

For elementary and secondary teachers and administrators, five hours of Act 48 credit, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, have been approved and will be available.

Cost for the conference is $30 per person and includes all workshops, refreshments and lunch.

Preregistration is required and is available online at www.iup.edu/artspath.

Information: 472-3927, (724) 357-4565 or e-mail praa@francis.edu.

SAMA hosting children’s art camps

“The Art of Puppet Theatre” children’s art camp will be held from noon to 3 p.m. July 11-15 and 18-22 at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, One Boucher Lane and Route 711 South, Ligonier.

The two-week camp is designed for ages 5 through 13 and is taught in small, informal groups.

This year’s camp will focus on the original production, “Shippi Taro & the Monster Cat,” using Sicilian rod marionettes.

The camp offers children an opportunity to create puppets, paint scenery and design costumes and sets while learning theatrical techniques such as character development, vocal dynamics and body movement.

The camp is being taught by Laura Opshinsky of the We’re Holden Puppets.

On the final day of class, parents and friends are invited to watch the children’s puppet theater production.

Cost for the camp is $175 per child, which includes art materials and snacks.

Registration requires a $25 nonrefundable deposit and must be made by July 1.

Information: (724) 238-6015 or www.sama-art.org.



Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, 1210 11th Ave. in Altoona, will offer a children’s summer art camp.

“If Walls Could Talk” camp is designed for ages 8 through 14 and is taught in small, informal groups to provide campers with exposure to a museum setting, as well as ample opportunities to work with a variety of artistic media.

The camp will be led by Stan Snyder, SAMA-Altoona administrative assistant and a professor at Penn State-Altoona.

Through the camp, children will explore drawing and painting to create a mural that will be showcased in a public space.

The two-week camp will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. weekdays July 25 through Aug. 5.

Cost is $125 per child, which includes art materials and snacks.

Registration requires a $25 nonrefundable deposit and must be received no later than July 17.

Registration and information: 946-4464.

 

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.