I hope it’s been a great week, especially enjoying some cooler weather in the Southwest! I sure have been.
Back to you with another edition of Southwest Field Notes, a weekly column where I take a look at news out of the region and ways to spend your weekend.
It was so great to meet some of you in Big Stone Gap last week, where we talked about some of what’s going on over ice cream. As I keep saying, there’s so much to do, and I appreciate all the help to catch up.
I would love to plan when to meet more of you. Please reach out to me anna@cardinalnews.org and let me know where to look next!
Pro-Art celebrates 50 years with a free season, special programming
Pro-Art, a nonprofit that has brought performances into Wise, Lee and Dickenson counties and the city of Norton for 50 years, is celebrating its birthday big — by offering a free season of shows, building out art-making programs and celebrating the people who have made it all happen.
Pro-Art was dreamed up in the late 1970s to bring artists from around the world into the Appalachian Mountains. It has never had its own venue, and instead partners with community centers and theaters. It also brings programming directly to children in public schools.
This year, Pro-Art is offering its entire season for free. It has always strived to offer its programming accessibly, said Executive Director Michael McNulty, so this continues the mission to bring even more people through the doors.
“The spirit of what Pro-Art was when it began was creating those opportunities for the people of this region to be able to have an experience of the arts … without having to travel long distances and spend lots of money,” he said.
At the same time, Pro-Art has kicked off hands-on art-making programming this summer. Opportunities such as barn quilting and storytelling workshops will be offered more regularly, McNulty said, because “now we’d like to create opportunities for the public to try to do some of those creative things themselves.”
The 50th season will also celebrate everyone who has helped Pro-Art along the way: its founder and directors, donors, artists. Even though it’s a touring venue, Pro-Art didn’t have its own van until a few years ago, McNulty said; it’s been able to exist because of volunteers who loaded their cars, licked envelopes and never got paid for it.
Studio classes have online sign-ups and may involve a fee to participate, but all performances through next summer are free, with no sign-up required. “Tuck Everlasting” will premiere at the Lee Theatre Aug. 30.
Hear ye, Scott County!
The vice mayor of Gate City was in Roanoke last year when he got hungry, headed downtown and walked headfirst into a Renaissance faire.
Why couldn’t they do the same in Scott County? he thought as he looked at a line wrapping the corner.
On Saturday, Gate City is hosting its own Renaissance faire from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Grogan Park, with all proceeds going toward building renovations at the Scott County Library.
Barnett said the event will be a blast, with Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, jousting competitions and performances by the Mountain Misfit Theatre Company at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. At the top of every hour, Barnett will raffle off a sword.
Ultimately it’s a time for families to gather and enjoy food, music and company with a 16th-century twist.
“One thing that’s always bothered me is that people often say there’s nothing to do in Scott County,” Barnett said. “And I for one want to make that go away.”
Tickets are $1, and you should be sure to come in costume. Barnett said he’s dressing as Vice Mayor Grumbles, from the kingdom of Groganshire.
Back to school for all ages in Abingdon
As students enjoy a new playground in Abingdon, lifelong learners can register for courses to explore the Southwest region.
The six-week classes offered through the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon include a course to discover Appalachia’s natural heritage. Experts will lead a series of discussions, including on how to live safely alongside bears and the cultural importance of rivercane (our native bamboo).
Professor Brandon Story of King University will lead a class on Appalachia’s place in the 20th century, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” ballet.
Other classes will look beyond the region, including a course with travel agent Eileen Garner to discuss roaming around the world through stories and photos.
A semester membership costs $40 and registration day is Sept. 3, with classes starting Sept. 15. Courses run through Oct. 22.
Also in Abingdon: For young learners who just returned to the classrooms, a new accessible playground broke ground on Thursday.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., presented a $750,000 check to Washington County Public Schools, which helped build a new, accessible playground for Abingdon Elementary School. Greendale Elementary School will also see a new playground built under the funding.
