For a weekend and a day in April, we were honored to receive a group of eight International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants from Russia. We were a relaxing stop between Dallas and New York City.
The Department of State outlined the following specific objectives for the project:
· Attend a local festival to experience how it is organized;
· Explore different areas of performing arts to highlight the commonalities and differences in managing performances and festivals;
· Examine community involvement in performing arts
They arrived in Pensacola on a Saturday and that evening they were able to attend the Kathleen T. and Philip B. Phillips, M.D. Jazz Piano Competition hosted by the UWF Music Department. On Sunday, they attended the Pensacola Jazz Society Jazz Festival in Seville Quarter. There they met with Norman Vickers of the Jazz Society and were able to discuss how the festival has grown and changed since its conception. Since some of the delegates are from cities of a comparable size to Pensacola, this was a great opportunity to exchange ideas about managing a festival with the support of the community.
On Monday, the delegation met with Courtney Dell and Richard Steinert of Ballet Pensacola. Erin Sammis of the Pensacola Opera was also in attendance. This was followed by a meeting at Pensacola Little Theatre with Auriette Lindsey. These meetings gave the delegation further insight into the performing arts community in Pensacola. In addition, the group toured the Cultural Center and Pensacola Little Theatre and discussed budgeting and financing for each of the programs.
Their last meeting in Pensacola was held in the beautiful Seville Courtyard where they met with members of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival management team. This enjoyable meeting included Glenda Triemer, the current festival chair, Sue Warner, Craig Perry, Buck Mitchell, the host for the afternoon, Donna Fasset, JO Zachow, Julie Tippins Parker, and Dale Riegle of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
Special thanks also goes to Barbara Henry, council member and fluent Russian speaker, for accompanying the group to their Monday appointments and to Julie Tippins Parker and Hilda Jones for helping shape the program.
