HELP FOSTER THE ARTS! Make a donation to fosteringArts.org. Your donation helps us continue to offer a variety of great programs for
people of all ages in our local communities. Donations are tax deductible.
CHILDREN'S THEATRE "Scheherazade and the Arabian Nights" Click Here
SWAMP MEADOW Open Auditions for "A Christmas Carol" Click Here
Art Classes/Workshops Classes exploring a variety of media are offered regularly. Check back often for the latest series.
To be posted.
Art Exhibit Series A portion of the proceeds from any art sales will be donated to
fosteringArts.org. Artists are encouraged to submit slides of their work for future exhibits. For more info, please contact Bev Thomas at bthomas@fosteringArts.org.
To be posted.
Artist Open Studios This annual event, held in November, features a number of local artists who open their studios to the
public to show work in progress and engage the visitor.
Christmas In The Valley This annual event takes place in early winter and features a variety of artisans selling their creations. The
$1 donation at the door benefits fosteringArts.org and a raffle helps sponsor the fosteringArts.org annual scholarship. For more information on this event, contact Elwood Donnelly at 401-392-1322 or elwood@notaol.com or Pauline Hall at 401-647-0515 or paulinefh@cox.net.
2008 info to be posted.
Educational Programs New program ideas are always welcome! Contact us at info@fosteringarts.org if you think of an activity
that would be fun, interesting, innovative, educational ... or all of the above!
Rhode Island Folk Festival An entire weekend of music! Saturday features workshops and a concert celebrating traditional music and
dance. Sunday offers a jam session and dance featuring Bluegrass & Old Timey!
Scholarship Program fosteringArts.org is pleased to make available a scholarship for Ponaganset High School or Scituate High
School seniors pursuing an education in Fine Arts. Scholarship applications are available in the PHS and SHS Guidance Offices. The application deadline is usually late April. Amount varies -- please consult your
Guidance Counselor.
Summer Concert Series fosteringArts.org continues The Foster Summer Concerts program this summer with three outdoor
performances. All concerts take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45pm, at the Foster Fairgrounds, behind 181 Howard Hill Road, Foster, RI unless otherwise noted (Rain location: Foster Town
House (June 19 & July 3) or Foster Center Baptist Church (August 14). Bring a picnic supper, blankets, lawn chairs, and the whole family. All concerts are free, but we will pass the hat. Refreshments will be
available. For more information, contact elwood@notaol.com or call 401-392-1322.
Thursday, June 19, 2008 @ 6:30pm Parallel String Band is one of Rhode Island's premier
acoustic bands. With their smooth vocals and accomplished instrumental work, they combine the best elements of contemporary and traditional folk, bluegrass, swing and old
time string band music into an impressive display of musical energy. Equally at home on the concert stage or in an intimate coffee house setting, the band has performed
throughout Southern New England for over fifteen years. Parallel String Band veterans Lisa Schmitz on banjo, guitar and vocals, Matt Bolles on bass, guitar, uke and vocals, and
Chris Heinzmann on fiddle extraordinaire, are thrilled to welcome the band's newest member, Bill Henry, a flat-picking guitar wizard and dynamic lead and harmony vocalist. Audiences both familiar and new have
welcomed Bill also, as the rave reviews will attest. With their broad variety of styles, and infectious spirit, The Parallel String Band appeals to listeners of all ages.
Thursday, July 3, 2008 @ 6:30pm Star Creek Ceili Band, based in Foster, RI, was founded by Matt
Cook and Don Lurgio in 2006, and plays traditional Irish music with Matt on Uilleann Pipes, flute and whistles, Don on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and bodhran, and Kevin Fallon on guitar, fiddle and tenor
banjo. Matt began performing at age 12 with the Old Sturbridge Village Fife & Drum Corps in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and later performed for local barn and contra dances. In the '90's he formed a group, along
with Will Hare & Gary Palmer, called Fullgael which played all things Celtic. While living in Winchester, Virginia, Matt recorded with Kindred Spirits and Morning Star Consort. Don has played in a number of area
bands including Hot Water and Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass. He became interested in traditional Irish music after making two trips to Ireland with his family. Don has also performed as a solo violinist
playing in area restaurants, including The Post Office in East Greenwich, Gianfranco's Ristorante and Bar in Johnston and Bela
Resturant in Smithfield. Kevin Fallon has been playing music throughout the Rhode Island/Southern New England area for over 30 years. Kevin is also a member of the Trinity Repertory Theatre, having
performed in numerous productions, including A Christmas Carol (7 seasons), Peter Pan, The Music Man, Peer Gynt and All The King's Men. Kevin is regularly at the Monday night Open Mic at Bentley's
Tavern in Scituate, RI.
SPECIAL fAo EVENT!!! Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 7:30pm Peeptoad Coffeehouse
81 East Killingly Road (home of the No. Foster Baptist Church) Suggested Donation: $8 adults/$5 kids under 12/$25 family maximum Village Harmony is a collaboration of young musicians dedicated to exploring unusual harmony singing traditions from across the world. The ensemble has been featured on
Prairie Home Companion, at Festival 500 in Newfoundland, the Musica Sacra Festival in Germany, the Sidmouth International Festival in England, and twice at the Eastern Division ACDA convention. The concerts
specialize in authentic harmony singing from community musical traditions throughout the world, as well as a wide spectrum of vocal techniques and timbres.
Thursday, August 14, 2008 @ 6:30pm Big Shoe String Band acoustic trio consisting of guitar, fiddle,
mountain dulcimer and Celtic harp play a variety of musical styles including old-time, French Canadian, Irish, country blues and a few sea shanties, just to round out the mix. Their upbeat
performances delight audiences of all ages. They will surely have you tapping your feet, singing along and maybe even dancing a bit!
Summer Theatre
2008 info be posted.
Swamp Meadow Community Theatre Now in its sixth season! Productions are sponsored by fosteringArts.org and supported by CAST (Citizens and Students Together).
"Scheherazade and the Arabian Nights" A wonderful tale of adventurous emperors, fire-breathing demons, and trickery beyond all reason.
Perfect for the whole family to enjoy! August 13-17, 2008 More Info & Tickets
Open Auditions for "A Christmas Carol" September 10, 11 & 12, 2008 More Info
Parallel String Band is one of Rhode Island's premier
acoustic bands. With their smooth vocals and accomplished instrumental work, they combine the best elements of contemporary and traditional folk, bluegrass, swing and old
time string band music into an impressive display of musical energy. Equally at home on the concert stage or in an intimate coffee house setting, the band has performed
throughout Southern New England for over fifteen years. Parallel String Band veterans Lisa Schmitz on banjo, guitar and vocals, Matt Bolles on bass, guitar, uke and vocals, and
Chris Heinzmann on fiddle extraordinaire, are thrilled to welcome the band's newest member, Bill Henry, a flat-picking guitar wizard and dynamic lead and harmony vocalist. Audiences both familiar and new have
welcomed Bill also, as the rave reviews will attest. With their broad variety of styles, and infectious spirit, The Parallel String Band appeals to listeners of all ages.
Star Creek Ceili Band, based in Foster, RI, was founded by Matt
Cook and Don Lurgio in 2006, and plays traditional Irish music with Matt on Uilleann Pipes, flute and whistles, Don on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and bodhran, and Kevin Fallon on guitar, fiddle and tenor
banjo. Matt began performing at age 12 with the Old Sturbridge Village Fife & Drum Corps in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and later performed for local barn and contra dances. In the '90's he formed a group, along
with Will Hare & Gary Palmer, called Fullgael which played all things Celtic. While living in Winchester, Virginia, Matt recorded with Kindred Spirits and Morning Star Consort. Don has played in a number of area
bands including Hot Water and Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass. He became interested in traditional Irish music after making two trips to Ireland with his family. Don has also performed as a solo violinist
playing in area restaurants, including The Post Office in East Greenwich, Gianfranco's Ristorante and Bar in Johnston and Bela
Resturant in Smithfield. Kevin Fallon has been playing music throughout the Rhode Island/Southern New England area for over 30 years. Kevin is also a member of the Trinity Repertory Theatre, having
performed in numerous productions, including A Christmas Carol (7 seasons), Peter Pan, The Music Man, Peer Gynt and All The King's Men. Kevin is regularly at the Monday night Open Mic at Bentley's
Tavern in Scituate, RI.
Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 7:30pm
Big Shoe String Band acoustic trio consisting of guitar, fiddle,
mountain dulcimer and Celtic harp play a variety of musical styles including old-time, French Canadian, Irish, country blues and a few sea shanties, just to round out the mix. Their upbeat
performances delight audiences of all ages. They will surely have you tapping your feet, singing along and maybe even dancing a bit!
