Cultivating culture
Organization fosters performing arts in the community
By JASON PEREZ-DORMITZER, Standard-Times correspondent
Culture*Park came to the city to "highlight the richness of Greater New Bedford through the performing arts." Two years later, the non-profit organization is well on its way, although it still doesn't have a stage to call its own. "From docks to demolitions, we perform wherever we are needed to be," said Culture*Park Executive Director Rebecca Schade. "But, we are continuing to look for a theater space, a permanent space." The organization is run by Ms. Schade and Art Director Patricia Thomas out of an office at 88 Hatch St. in New Bedford. Located in a large mill building, there is 2,500 square feet of rehearsal space in addition to the office. The women say Culture*Park's presence in the community would be enhanced if they had a permanent location for performances. They are looking into spots, including the old Orpheum theater adjacent to Route 18, to possibly open up a "black box" theater. "This would be a traditionally small theater space that is completely transformable to meet the needs of whatever is being performed," Ms. Thomas said. So far, Culture*Park has connected local talent with outside expertise to produce several pieces in the area. These include "Amarelo," a play written by New Bedford native Paulo A. Perreira that chronicles the travels of a young woman from the Azores to the city. It was performed in April at UMass Dartmouth. Culture*Park also sponsored a marathon of 18 short plays written by local authors, and oversees the ongoing Cabo Dance Project, a group that splices Cape Verdean dance with contemporary styles. Gallery X and the New Bedford Whaling Museum have been the settings for other performances. Culture*Park's most recent endeavor is the Fathoms Project. A series of interviews with fishermen and family members, collected through the summer, will cull information about the history and culture of the industry and will be made into a play to be performed later in the year. Activity within the organization has been accelerating as more groups call upon Culture*Park to collaborate on projects. The group's chiefs say there is also a major need for more volunteers to help with tasks such as grant writing. But although they say the growth is good, the focus is to keep expansion "organic." "Our aim is to grow out of something that is real," Ms. Schade said. "We want to touch a chord with people from the community. We want to be a part of the community." With that in mind, Culture*Park wants to make its name synonymous with performing arts in Greater New Bedford. Ms. Thomas said not enough people know what the organization offers, such as theater training for children and adults. They hope in 10 years that 80 percent of the population is "confident" that Culture*Park brings out the area's culture through performance. "I think people need to express themselves through movement. This is why the performing arts are so important," she said. Culture*Park, the two women explained, was inspired by a community of artists in Russia of the same name, pronounced Park Kultury. Ms. Schade worked in this section of Moscow, which is home to a collection of performance spaces, art galleries and other artistic outlets at the park. "I was inspired by the passion the Russian people have for all art forms. Art means everything to them," she said. Ms. Thomas, who joined Ms. Schade on the two-year trip, said the community had access to the performance opportunities through several small theaters located throughout the park. "Culture Park was for the people. It's what we are doing here," she said. For more information about Culture*Park, call (508) 990-7779. This story appeared on Page C8 of The Standard-Times on June 12, 2003.