Opera company sponsors art competition
Berks Opera Company is welcoming residents of Berks County to participate in its 1st Annual Community Art Contest. The theme of the contest is “What is Your Happily Ever After” and culminates with an exhibition and selected visuals and prose represented in the scenic design of the August Production of La Cenerentola (Cinderella) at the Miller Center for the Arts, Reading. The contest has three age categories, 6-8th Grade, 9-12th grade, and adult in three artistic categories, fine art, photography, and prose.
Information and digital entry links can be found at www.berksopera.org/. The entry deadline is May 31, 2017. Prizes totaling $450 will be awarded to the top winner in each artistic and age category thanks to a generous gift from the Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust.
Jurors were selected from regional and nationally known artists working in Berks County. The jurors for each category are: Art, Barbara Thun, Wil Dexter, and Kristen Woodward; Photography, John Pankratz, Amy Stevens, and Heidi Reuter and Prose, Gale Martin, Marilyn Klimcho, and Jennifer Hetrick.
The public is invited to attend a “Meet the Juror” reception Sunday, Aug. 6 from 2-4 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts, Reading. A People’s Choice winner will be announced and a special viewing of the Berks Opera Company BOOT Camp will commence at 3 p.m. Selected works will be exhibited at the Miller Center through Aug. 13.
Each year for the past four seasons, Berks Opera Company has introduced community events to expose new audiences to the operatic art form. In 2015, the Reading Eagle named Berks Opera Company “2015 Arts and Entertainment Newsmaker of the Year” for its production of “Faust” in collaboration with local organizations including Caron Treatment Center in Wernersville.
About Berks Opera Company
Celebrating its 10th year, Berks Opera Company has grown into a regional company committed to finding current cultural relevance in standard opera repertoire. We presently offer young artist programs for local singers and feature internationally acclaimed artists in main stage productions, presenting opera on a sustainable basis. Additionally, we have an innovative “BOOT Camp” orchestra-training program, the Unleashing Your Inner Opera Fan multimedia educational series, and regular appearances at smaller venues in Berks County.