As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts staff is already planning months ahead for what is to come in the summer, fall and next spring.
This year, the center has mainly been used for academics, including on-campus music classes and socially-distanced performances. There has been no “grand” opening to the public, but Jennifer Clements, executive director of university events and the Martin Center, believes this has given the center time to make necessary improvements.
“It has been disappointing to have to postpone our grand-opening of the Martin Center for a year,” said Clements. “However, it has allowed us time to ‘test’ the center venues and make important adjustments which will enable us to be fully ready for the public this coming fall and spring.”
Both the ETSU Music and Theatre & Dance departments will continue to utilize the stage spaces, with the theatre program having new costume and scene shop spaces. Students can look forward to everything from a Broadway show, community performances and live music. The Center has already been used by Amythyst Kiah, the Bristol Ballet and the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra.
“We are hoping that we can get artists contracted for a few shows this fall and we certainly hope to welcome some Broadway to the Grand Hall stage in spring 2022,” Clements said. “Now that performers are starting slowly to book live performances again, we are focused on getting events scheduled. Local arts lovers and our devoted ETSU arts patrons can count on the fact that we will announce the news as soon as we have news to share.”
Lise Cutshaw, the marketing and communications manager at the Center, explained that the Martin Center should resume its ten-event season by fall 2022. Meanwhile, they will continue to fine tune the building over the summer and start more programming for fall 2021.
“Things we will still be busy in between that soft opening and December show,” said Cutshaw. “Especially as you near the end of the semester, there are a lot of students and faculty related performances that the spaces will be needed for.”
The Martin Center will also need volunteers to serve at the venue as restrictions ease up. Cutshaw invites anyone of any age or demographic to volunteer.
“We are going to need student and community volunteers to assure and help work the hall lobby for our shows,” Cutshaw said. “We would love to have students be ushers and be part of the team, the event team. If they are at all interested in the arts and kind of being behind the scenes or out with the public at events, we are very interested in having young people volunteer.”
To learn more about volunteering at the Martin Center, email artsinfo@etsu.edu. For more information or updates on Martin Center happenings, visit etsumartincenter.org/.
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