The entire sixth-graders student body from Port Townsend’s Blue Heron Middle School are at Fort Worden June 2-7, 2019 for Centrum’s Tales, Texts, & Theater program. A weeklong creative immersion, this program brings in vital contemporary artists working in a range of disciplines to help the sixth-graders realize the breadth of their own creativity.

In its remarkable 20th year, with classes on stage combat, Korean traditional dance, steel band, storytelling and more, the program lets students choose a core subject where they engage in a deep exploration of that genre. From there, they experiment in several other art forms to see how those intersect with their main focus.

For example, after studying comics and worldbuilding with cartoonist Taylor Dow in the morning, students can learn West African Dance in an afternoon workshop with professional dancer Etienne Capko.

During lunch at Tales, Texts, & Theater, the artist faculty shares highlights of their artistic journey and practice. At the end of the week, students have the opportunity to reciprocate, sharing their creative work with the community in a student gallery walk and Showcase performance.

Since 2001, this innovative collaboration between the Centrum, the Port Townsend School District, the Washington State Arts Commission, and PT Artscape has provided both students and teachers with a model experience in arts immersion.