Billings Events
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YMCA Writer's VoiceEducation
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Young Mens Christian Association of Billings – The Writer’s Voice – Incorp. 8/18/1905
Organization background.
Mission - The Writer's Voice seeks to foster a greater understanding and appreciation for contemporary literature of the region and to provide opportunities for open dialogue between writers and their audience. As a mission-driven organization, we continually look for new ways to provide meaningful cultural opportunities for Montanans. Our guiding principle is to provide access to the arts regardless of distance from cultural centers and to provide opportunities for people to engage in the creative process.
a. Overview - For the past 15 years, The Writer’s Voice has built a reputation for quality literary programming and successful audience development - with special emphasis on reaching rural communities. In a state long renowned for its quality writers - from A.B. Guthrie, Ivan Doig and Dorothy Johnson to Tom McGuane, Judy Blunt and Rick Bass – there is a dire and surprising lack of support for writers or literary presenting. The Writer’s Voice seeks to give voice to our state’s established and emerging authors and to find audiences for their work.
b. Activities - The following projects illustrate our ongoing efforts to serve our existing audiences as well as to reach new and non-traditional audiences seldom exposed to the literary arts. All of our programs are accomplished through extensive collaboration with schools, colleges, rural communities, radio stations, libraries and other nonprofit organizations. The Reading Series, High Plains BookFest and TumbleWords provide access to the work of writers; Poets on the Prairie, and adult workshops provide the educational component. Reading Series: Each year, The Writer’s Voice presents more than 50 readings by distinguished national and regional writers. National Writers: Many of our country’s leading literary figures have visited Montana as guests of The Writer’s Voice: George Plimpton, Pam Houston, Allen Ginsberg, Simon Ortiz, Peter Matthiessen, Ha Jin, Sherman Alexie, Ken Kesey and Joy Harjo. Montana Writers: More than 160 regional and Montana-based writers have presented work in past seasons. In 2003, we initiated the High Plains BookFest which has continued for four consecutive years, featuring as many as 95 writers. Poets on the Prairie is a rural outreach arts/education project designed to provide students in small agricultural and Native American schools in eastern Montana with the opportunity to learn from contemporary writers and artists. We have served 65,750 students in 20 counties in Montana and northern Wyoming since the program began in 1992. The program's mission is to nurture appreciation for the creative arts in under-served rural schools while at the same time featuring the diverse work of twenty-three Montana artists. TumbleWords is a statewide program which sends some of Montana’s best writers to under-served communities for readings and workshops. It is designed to bring more exposure for writers and to build a long-lasting appreciation of literary arts with new audiences.
Administrative capacity - The Writer’s Voice received national recognition for excellence in planning and programming in two recent publications: the Wallace Foundation: Increasing Cultural Participation, and the NEA’s Creativity and Youth: Enriching Young Lives Through the Arts.
c. Region/audience - Montana: Pop. 900,000 - 6 people per square mile, with one of the lowest income levels in the country. The sheer geographical breadth of Montana makes access to the arts difficult for many communities, although our experience has shown it has not diminished audience enthusiasm.
d. Special efforts - We work with several of Montana’s tribal colleges as well as dozens of rural schools and ranching communities in eastern Montana.
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Primary VenueAlberta Bair Theater 2801 3rd Avenue North 59101 (406) 256-6052 http://www.albertabairtheater.org The Alberta Bair Theater sets the standard for outstanding performing arts events and outreach that enhance the quality of life in the Rocky Mountain Northwest. | Upcoming events from this partner
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 A new biography of Meagher by Paul R. Wylie
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Billings Weather
- Fair
Temp 72.0 (F) / 22.2 (C)
Wind East @ 12.7 MPH (11 KT)
Forecast Details - Billings, MT
