JOHNSON CITY, TN – While the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts at East Tennessee State University develops its annual fall and spring seasons of fine and performing arts based on a generous endowment by James C. "Jim" Martin, volunteers are essential to putting on the events and public art projects. As the fall 2015 season is set to begin Aug. 28, the program is seeking community volunteers for upcoming events.
"Volunteers are vital to the success of our programs," says assistant director and volunteer coordinator Heidi Ehle. "Part of the Mary B. Martin School's focus has been not only to encourage the attendance of students and community members but also to involve them directly in our events as volunteers and part of the School of the Arts team and family."
Volunteers help by serving as ushers, taking tickets, distributing marketing materials and working in the box office. Training sessions for new volunteers will be conducted as needed, Ehle says, and varying degrees of involvement and time commitment are welcome and can be used.
In its seventh year, the Martin School of the Arts fall 2015 season features five shows by Squonk Opera, concerts by classic country duo The Malpass Brothers, the a cappella men's chorus Chanticleer, a multi-media retrospective "Raisin' Cane: A Harlem Renaissance," two lectures and three independent films.
"We are looking forward to an exciting 2015-2016 season that we hope will inspire artists and audiences and further fuel the arts activity at ETSU and in the region," says program director Anita DeAngelis.
The school encourages the development of the arts by facilitating collaborations between university departments and bringing artists of the highest caliber to the campus and the region. Part of its mission is to make the arts community at ETSU more visible to the public and to develop the groundwork needed for further growth in the arts on campus and in the surrounding area.
Anyone over 16 who is interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact Ehle at 423-439-8333 or ehleah@etsu.edu for more information.
