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ROGERS CITY -- The Presque Isle District Library recently received several grants to support a new arts and cultural series. Funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council awarded $3,141; the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan awarded $2,000; and the Huron Shores Humanities Council awarded $2,000 for the upcoming series, "Celebrating History and Culture through the Arts."
The library will present five engaging multi-cultural events through various art forms including dance, live music, culinary, and speaker presentations starting May 6 through July 19.
The series kicks off with Spanish Flamenco dancing with the Companeros de Flamenco performing at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Rogers Theater. Students are invited to a dance workshop at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at Rogers Theater.
Then, at 7:30 p.m. on the following Thursday, May 11, Sean Gaskell, who is on his U.S. tour, will perform on the ancient 21-stringed harp known as the West African Kora. Gaskell learned the Kora under the study of Moriba Kuyateh while visiting Brikama, Gambia, and West Africa.
On Thursday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Theater, a special speaker presentation by author, educator and Holocaust survivor Irene Miller will take the audience on a survival journey. In her book, "Into No Man's Land: A Historical Memoir," she will share her story of living in a Siberian labor camp, and living in Uzbekistan surviving on boiled grass and broiled onions. Learning through hardships, she grew up to become a positive, creative, and accomplished woman. A book signing will follow her program. Students are invited to attend a presentation by Miller at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19 at the Rogers Theater.
The cultural journey continues at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 at The Purple Martin Lakeside Inn with the experiential culinary delights and traditions of India through the "Taste of India: Sights, Flavors, and Sounds" by Anshu Varma. She will introduce participants to the Indian cuisine, tour India through a dynamic slideshow presentation of the historical and cultural sites, meditate on the music and art, and even learn how to tie a Sari.
The program series concludes with percussion at 2 p.m. on Wednesday July 19 at the Grand Lake Library. The whole family can join in on a hands-on drumming circle with Drummunity. This high-energy, fun and empowering event is great for all ages and is part of this year's Summer Reading Program special event. Participants will experience many drumming traditions including Brazilian, Japanese, and Afro-Cuban. This event is free to the public.
Additional funding for this program series is supported by the Friends of the Rogers City Library and the Kenneth Hall Fund.
General admission for the public performances at the theater are $5 per person and tickets will be available at the Rogers Theater box office. Anshu Varma's "Taste of India" program will be held at The Purple Martin Lakeside Inn and is $10 per person, limited to 50 participants. For more information, visit www.pidl.org or contact Anne Belanger, program director at 989-734-2477, ext. 104.