Getting So COTA Close

The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) held their Volunteer Meeting in order to plan for their 34th Annual Jazz and Arts Festival on Tuesday August 16th at The Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA. New and established friends met to receive updates on how things are progressing and to share new ideas on how to make this year’s festival even better than the ones that came before. In fact, the meeting began with the introduction of new volunteers who have experienced COTA as audience members and found within them a desire to be a part of the process that brings it all together. They were welcomed into the gathering as their presence reasserted the fact it is never too late to become involved with the festival.

The meeting continued with the announcement of names of the jurors who have been selected to judge the work presented in the Annual Music Motif Exhibition at the Antoine Dutot Gallery and Museum. A portion of the September 9th Opening Night Activities of the festival will be an Artists’ Reception at the Dutot in which local artists will present work with the theme of music embodied in their creations. Those who wish to submit their work for the exhibit may do so by contacting Christine Trembly at 570-424-4900 or visit the page containing information and a submission application at www.cotajazz.org/musical-motif-show.html.

The meeting continued with an update of the plans to hold a Thursday September 8th screening of the documentary about Bob Dorough titled, “Devil May Care” at the Pocono Community Theater in East Stroudsburg, PA which will include a Question and Answer session after the film has been shown. It was reported a number of conversations with its management are yet to take place before details of the event are finalized. However, once they are, they will be made public so all lovers of Jazz and film can experience it. You’ll find more photographs taken during the gathering in The COTA Meetings 2011 Gallery at www.facebook.com/forwardian.dude.

The 34th Annual Celebration of the Arts Jazz and Arts Festival is scheduled to begin Friday September 9th and will continue until Sunday September 11th. The three day festival begins on Friday evening with an Artists’ Reception at The Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery who will present their Annual Music Motif Exhibition and continues with the night of Music, Theater, and Dance presented at The Presbyterian Church of the Mountain. The festival continues the following Saturday and Sunday with outdoor performances of Jazz on the Main Stage along with numerous strolling musicians, story tellers, and vendors offering a variety of high quality crafts, art, and food. You’ll be able to read my article about The 33rd Annual Celebration of the Arts Jazz and Arts Festival which took place in 2010 at www.cotajazz.org/cota-2010.html.

The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) presents and supports the arts and the music of jazz in all its forms and historical breadth through youth education, performing arts presentations, scholarship opportunities, and community outreach throughout the Pocono area. The festival and all its functions is organized and run by volunteers. Their next volunteer meeting will be held Tuesday August 30th at The Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA beginning at 7:30pm. Those who would like to lend their time, talents, and insights are welcomed to attend. Numerous volunteer positions are available and they include Program Ad Sales Manager, a Program Ad Salesperson, Back and Front gate workers, Security, and Marketing/PR personnel. More information abut these positions, the festival, and how to purchase tickets in advance at a 20% discount can be obtained by Exploring The COTA Website at www.cotajazz.org or by calling 570-424-2210. I hope to see you there.