Centrum has received the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust grant for technology, announced executive director Robert Birman.
The $ 182,000 grant allows the nonprofit to include online participation as an integral part of workshops at Fort Worden.
“We are very grateful to the trust that it supports our COVID response plan,” said Birman.
“We learned very early in the pandemic that artists around the world wanted to stay in touch virtually with Centrum and our programs, even when they couldn’t travel to Port Townsend. We realized that providing online services – even after we can safely gather together again in large groups – can help expand our reach and broaden the breadth of the artists we work with. “
According to the latest announcement, the grant equals 50 percent of Centrum’s $ 364,000 goal to allow simultaneous broadcast in up to 10 multi-angle classrooms in each educational facility.
Acquiring new technology can also make it possible to broadcast workshops from remote locations.
“This prospect is very compelling,” remarked Birman.
“The past 48 years at Centrum have been highlighted by bringing standard-bearers from different cultures ‘into community’ with emerging and masterful artists of all ages. In numerous cases, older artists have already flew to Centrum for the first time today.
“With new broadcast devices, we may be able to connect remote performers and teachers to our programs from home or from home,” he said. “The broad educational benefits for this could be almost unlimited.”
The organization expects the equipment to be available by the end of this summer and hopes to implement the extensive experience for online participation by 2022.
The MJ Murdock Charitable Trust has supported the growth of nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest since 1975. Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock, co-founder of Tektronix and namesake of the trust, took his investment responsibilities seriously – both financially and through his time and resources – back to his neighboring communities.
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