TAKE FIVE!

June 22, 2021

Samantha Mango:
Hi, I’m Samantha Mango. Welcome to Sullivan 180 Presents. …Take Five! Our guest today is Suzanne Morris, the Senior Director of Museum Education and Creative Programs at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Welcome Suzanne. Thanks for being here.

Suzanne Morris:
Hi, thanks for having me. I’m very excited to join you!

Samantha Mango:
Can you please introduce yourself and give us a brief description of your role at Bethel Woods?

Suzanne Morris:
Sure. My name is Suzanne Morris and I am the Senior Director of Museum Education and Creative Programming at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. I have the privilege of overseeing our programming for folks ages 3 months – 90 years of age: for the families, adults, and children who are coming to visit.

Samantha Mango:
Can you tell us about upcoming education and creative programs at Bethel Woods?

Suzanne Morris:
Sure. We are really excited to be opening up our spaces again, to welcome students back for our summer programming, our “Peace Love Arts and You” program, otherwise known as “PLAY”. We’ll be starting on July 5th and we will be welcoming ages 5 – 15 for two different sets of programming. Our youngest, the 5 – 9 year olds, have an opportunity to participate in six weeks of “PLAY All Day”, which is really based as an immersion, or an introduction to arts programs. So each day has a different theme, whether it’s music or movement or theater or art-making. And then each week, we’ll have a different concentration, whether it’s color or music or the environment. Students will really get a full introduction and hands-on experience: indoors, outdoors with lots of play and ‘creative-making’ and ‘being together’. And then our older students, the 9-15 year olds, have three opportunities to participate in 2- week programs. Those have a little bit more of a focused concentration. We start July 5th with a “Rock Camp” that will be taking place for two weeks. It’s open to all levels: beginners, and those who’ve had a lot of experience. The idea is really bringing the kids together to experience music: experience playing instruments and singing and performing together, to come together to have a great time and ‘celebrate the joy of making music’. After that, we go into our 2- week ‘Songwriters Workshop’, and again, all levels are welcome. Those who want to compose instrumental music, those who are interested in writing music and lyrics, and those who are interested in understanding composition and theory. We have a variety of Bethel Woods teaching artists who are professional musicians and educators, and some special guests who are coming in to help instruct the students: to help them learn more about the art of songwriting. And then our last 2-week immersion for the 9-15 year olds is our ‘Music Theater Program’. We have some fantastic teaching artists that will be bringing music and theater to life, in the theme of ‘decades of fashion and musical influences’. This will be really fun to watch! From the early 1920s up to today, with inspiration from our special exhibition “Lights, Color, Fashion”. So, it’s going be a fun-filled summer with lots for the kids to do!

Samantha Mango:
That does sound very fun! How can people sign up and get involved in these programs?

Suzanne Morris:
We still have some spots open. Some of the programs are already filled, so they’re wait-listed right now, but there are quite a few spots still open and you can register on our website, www.bethelwoodscenter.org. You’ll find us under PLAY PROGRAMS. There will be a registration form there and a little bit more information. If you have any questions or you want to learn a little bit more detail about the programs, you are welcome to e-mail us at “educationatbethelwoodscenter.org .

Samantha Mango:
Wow, Great. How can people stay up to date on new programs as they come out?

Suzanne Morris:
The best way to really know all that’s going on at Bethel Woods is to sign up for our emails, and to keep an eye out on social media. We had a BIG announcement yesterday that our concert venue is open again!. So there will be a lot of things happening this summer: programs and things for people of all ages to come and enjoy here at Bethel Woods. And of course our museum is always open for visits as well.

Samantha Mango:
Wonderful. It’s so great to hear that we’re all ‘coming back to life’! Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

Suzanne Morris:
We wanted to also mention that we have a new program we’re piloting at Bethel Woods. On the second Saturday of each month, we have our ‘Sensory Friendly Saturdays’ where the museum exhibition has been augumented with sound and lighting to accommodate those who are on a spectrum of needs or have sensory sensitivities. For people who might prefer a more comfortable environment, we are welcoming them to come in and experience the museum on the second Saturday of each month. We also have ‘Sensory Tote Bags’ available for visitors on a daily basis, for those who would appreciate some sensory support in visiting the museum. You can learn about those on the museum website.

Samantha Mango:
Great. Well, thanks for joining us today, Suzanne, and thanks for all you do for spreading creativity and education throughout our community. Thank you.

Suzanne Morris:
Thank you for having me.