Fort Benton and Chouteau County Performing Arts will be hosting the 33rd annual Montana Performing Arts Consortium on the weekend of Jan 29th through the 31st, 2016. Those of you familiar with the wonderful concerts presented by CCPA will be interested to know that many of the concerts you have enjoyed have been chosen from this event. This will be the fourth time Fort Benton has hosted this event. The public will be able to attend the three showcase sessions held at the Fort Benton Elementary School Auditorium on Saturday, January 30th. Each showcase features five to six artists or groups. The three showcase times will include the first at 8:30 to10:15 AM, the second at 12:30 to 2:15 PM and the third at 3:45 to 5:05 PM. Doors open 15 minutes before each showcase. No one will be allowed into the auditorium once a showcase starts, so as not to disturb the performance. So please arrive on time. There will be something to please every taste. The artist’s presentations include a wide variety of styles from classical, folk, country, comedy, jazz, Americana and Japanese drumming. Each artist has 12 minutes to put on their best performance, auditioning for the various presenters throughout Montana. The Montana Performing Arts Consortium formed in 1981 and has a mission of bringing together performing artists and presenters throughout Montana and neighboring states for the purpose of putting on a wide variety of high quality shows, which are affordable to the public in large cities and small communities such as Chouteau County. During the first nine years MPAC arranged over fifty tours of performing arts events saving presenters over $90,000 on reduced fees for block bookings. Such a savings has not only increased the number of events presenters were able to offer, but also stimulated audience growth.
Chouteau County Performing Arts joined MPAC in 1992 and has presented 5-8 shows per season since that time. Not only did CCPA become a presenter, but performing arts councils were formed in many other small communities including Hobson, White Sulphur Springs, Havre, Whitefish, Glasgow, Malta, Choteau, Dillon, Sydney, Lewistown, Ronan and many more. Being a member allows the smaller communities to network together and bring in top quality artists. Block booking reduces the cost of the artists’ travel and small towns can pick up open dates when large cities, like Billings or Helena, bring in a well-known artist.
Come enjoy any or all three of the showcase sessions and tell the CCPA board members which artists you’d like to see in coming seasons.
