TRURO CONNECTIONS LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAMMING CONCEPT THIS SUMMER
Summer on the Outer Cape is about to get a lively boost from four Truro non-profit organizations in a new joint programming endeavor called “Truro Connections.” The initiative is meant to stimulate an exchange of ideas that is both educational and enriching. The kickoff event for “Truro Connections” will take place at the Payomet Performing Arts Center on June 27 on the theme of “Keeping Truro Sustainable: Planning for the Future.”
The sponsoring organizations– Friends of the Truro Meeting House, the Truro Historical Society & Highland House Museum, The Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, and the Payomet Performing Arts Center–will each host one or more programs throughout the summer and into the fall and winter, which will be tied to the Truro Sustainable theme. The schedule currently includes ten programs with more to be announced later.
Elsa Tarantal, co-president of Castle Hill, stated “The collaboration grew out of a desire to spotlight a single important topic and develop it through multiple programs that reflect the niche each partner organization occupies in the town’s cultural community.” In future years milestone historical events on the Outer Cape such as the 400thanniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, the worldwide impact of our illustrious writers and painters, and past local disasters and social challenges will be explored as thematic topics.
“Truro Connections’” debut on June 27 will feature a panel of distinguished speakers who will each briefly address a key aspect of “Keeping Truro Sustainable,” followed by a moderated discussion and audience participation. Former Truro Select Board Chair Paul Wisotzky will comment on the current rewrite of Truro’s Comprehensive Plan. The panel will also include Barry Bluestone, the Stearns Trustee Professor of Political Economy at Northeastern University, who has analyzed a survey on elder issues for the Town of Truro. The Chair of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Anita Walker, will define the place of the arts in community growth and vitality. Patricia Nadle, CEO of the Outer Cape Health Center, will represent healthcare issues. Lauren Barker, Executive Director of Cape Cod Young Professionals, will address the housing and workforce crisis on Cape Cod. The environment, and in particular water resources, will be represented by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. Newly elected Truro selectperson, Kristen Reed, will speak on civic engagement and what inspired her successful run for office.
Following the kick off, subsequent programs on the Sustainable theme will include one of today’s most talked about conceptual artists, Mark Dion; Brian Carlstrom, the incoming superintendent of the Cape Cod National Seashore; topographer Mark Adams assessing the damage to Truro’s ocean beaches; Truro Water Resources Board Chair Kevin Kuechler reporting on recent studies outlining wastewater threats to Truro’s water resources; a workshop on End of Life decisions, held by Reverends Anastasia and Chad Kidd, pastors at the First Congregational Church; and the Emmy Award-winning nature documentary, “Sonic Sea.”
“Truro Connections” partners hope this unique approach to cultural programming will find their audiences co-mingling as they attend different programs at different venues. By coordinating summer events, the sponsors hope to reduce scheduling conflicts and broaden their outreach. Most events will be free.
Schedule of Talks & Events
June 27, Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Payomet Performing Arts Center. “Keeping Truro Sustainable: Planning for the Future,” A Panel Discussion.
.July 10, Tuesday, 6:00 PM, UU Church, Provincetown.
“How Storytelling Taught Me at that Talking About Death is Part of Living a Great Life,” Raymond Barfield, Professor of Pediatrics and Christian Philosophy, Duke University. (Sponsored by Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill).
July 12, Thursday, 5 PM, Truro Meeting House (Congregational Church).
“It Ain’t Easy Being Green: A discussion on clean water challenges in Truro.” (Sponsored by Friends of the Truro Meeting House).
July 18, Wednesday, 7 PM, Highland House Museum. “The Erosion of Truro’s Ocean Beaches,” Mark Adams, cartographer and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) specialist, National Park Service. (Sponsored by Truro Historical Society).
July 26, Thursday, 7 PM, Truro Meeting House (Congregational Church).
“Choices and Challenges for Truro Elders,” Barry Bluestone, Stearns Trustee Professor of Political Economy, Northeastern University. Sponsored by Friends of the Truro Meeting House).
August 8, Wednesday, 6PM, Preservation Hall, Wellfleet.Woody English Lecture: A Talk by Mark Dion, conceptual artist and the Woody English Distinguished Artist & Writer’s Chair, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. (Sponsored by Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill).
August 21, Tuesday, 6 PM, Back Deck, Castle Hill. Lecture on the arts by author, journalist and academic Stephen Kinzer. (Sponsored by Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill).
August 29, Wednesday, 7 PM, Highland House Museum. “Impressions and Vision for the Future of the National Seashore and the Outer Cape,” Brian Carlstrom, Superintendent, CCNS. (Sponsored by Truro Historical Society).
September 15, Saturday, 10:30 AM, Truro Public Library. A workshop on end-of-life decisions, Anastasia and Chad Kidd, pastors, First Parish Congregational Church, Truro.
September 12, Wednesday, 7-9 PM, Payomet Performing Arts Center. “Sonic Sea,” Emmy Award-winning nature documentary on ocean noise pollution. Q&A with Christopher Clark, Truro resident and bioacoustics expert. (Sponsored by Payomet Performing Arts Center).