HANCOCK ARTS COUNCIL
Chairman: Sinclair Hamilton
Vice-Chair: Suzanne Edwards
Steering Committee: Dan and Debbie Murphy; Michael and Carolyn Kligerman; Phil Edwards: Susan Lothers; Charlie and Emily Hollins;
Dave and Vickie Hott; Ann Knox; Karen Randlev; Tracy Wolford; Ralph Salvagno; and Marian Golden
The steering committee meets monthly and our next big project is the creation of a performing arts center in the Hancock Community
Center which will be used for concerts, dances, plays and other activities.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to enrich the cultural life of Hancock and the surrounding area with art in its many forms. We
want to involve the community, old and young, as viewers and as participants. We want to exhibit and cultivate the talents of local
artists as well as bringing in artists from other areas. The arts council also believes very strongly in education and we hope to offer
workshops and classes in the performing arts, crafts and fine arts for students, teachers and the general public. Our aim is to provide
affordable opportunities for all.
History: The Hancock Arts Council has been active since November 2001. We sponsor many events such as the Winter Festival
& Snow Sculpture Contest. We have had art shows in the Washington County Public Library and sponsored concerts and dances.
We brought the Trinity Chamber Orchestra from Washington DC to perform four times at the Hancock Middle Senior High School.
We co-sponsor the Hancock "Our Town" photo contest and have awarded an art camp scholarship for the Bauen Camp in Wyoming
to a local junior high school student.
Why The Arts are Important: Culturally the arts are important because these are the ways we express our creativity, values, beliefs
and ideals. Culture is a kind of glue that can hold a community together. The arts are a way of preserving and appreciating what is
important and meaningful to us as a society. The arts are a vital part of a mix of actions that will help to bring about the rejuvenation
of downtown Hancock. The Maryland State ARts Council has stated "The arts play an important role in the quality of life Maryland
offers its citizens. This is as true for citizens living in small towns and rural areas as it is for those who live in our major metropolitan
areas. Since the arts make our cities and communities better places to live and work, they are often an important factor used by
businesses in their decision to locate in Maryland".
"SUMMER ARTS CAMP SCHOLARSHIP"
Photo courtesy Sinclair Hamilton and Hancock News
The Hancock ARTS Council announced the winner of its scholarship to a summer arts camp in Parkman, Wyoming. Winner, Christine Knable of Berkeley Springs met with the Arts Council president Sinclair Hamilton on 16 June to receive the honor.
In keeping with its goals of fostering educational opportunities in the arts, the Hancock Arts Council sought a young artist, ages 13-18, from the Hancock, Southern Fulton County and Berkeley Springs areas to apply for the scholarship through the arts council.
Located in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, the Bauen Camp has three sessions with activities focused on writing, visual arts and performance arts. Knable 15, likes music and drama and is looking forward to the camp. Her flight to Wyoming will be her first airline trip.
CONCERTS IN THE PARK SERIES
The Hancock Arts Council
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Sinclair Hamilton, 301-678-5719
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hancock, Maryland, June 13, 2009)
Celebrate Father’s Day at Hancock’s first 2009 summer concert
At the first of three summer concerts, the Bumbaugh Family will perform inspirational music at Hancock’s Widmeyer Park on Sunday, June 21. Opening the concert will be the Hancock Arts Council Band at 3:00 p.m., followed by the Bumbaugh Family at 4:00 p.m.
Arts Council President Sinclair Hamilton said that the 2009 summer concerts, sponsored by individual donors in conjunction with the Arts Council, will take place on the third Sunday of June, July, and August. In case of rain, the June concert will be held at the Hancock Town Hall auditorium located at 126 West High Street, Hancock, Maryland.
A southern gospel music group from Zullinger, Pennsylvania, the Bumbaugh family has recorded several CDs, which will be available the afternoon of the concert.
Hamilton said that the event will be a pleasant way for families to celebrate Father’s Day. "I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than sitting in the park and hearing some music by the Bumbaugh family,” Hamilton said.According to Hamilton, the Arts Council Band will also be playing some inspirational music using a variety of instruments including violin, bass, accordion, guitar and vocals.
The summer concerts are free, but donations are welcome. All proceeds from the event will help the Arts Council to deliver future cultural and community programs in Hancock.
For more information or to reach the Hancock Arts Council, e-mail Sinclair Hamilton at sinclairhamilton@verizon.net or call 301-678-5719.
EVENING IN HANCOCK
THE HANCOCK ARTS COUNCIL
NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sinclair Hamilton
Tel. 301-678-5719
Hancock, Maryland, March 28, 2010
An Evening In Hancock
Dinner, Music, Great Talk! Once again the Hancock Arts Council is putting on an evening of entertainment at the PARK N' DINE restaurant. The "Evening In Hancock", on Friday April 16th with a dinner buffet starting at 6 p.m., will feature a wide variety of performances.
Last year the tickets sold out quickly and it was standing room only. Sinclair Hamilton the arts council chairman said " This is a fundraiser for the Hancock Arts Council and it will help us with upcoming programs like the Summer in the Park concert series. The funds will also help us to install lights and curtains in the auditorium in the Community Center. Don’t miss this evening as it is a good show with a great dinner, it’s for a good cause, and it will be a lot of fun"
A limited number of tickets will be available in advance at the Hancock Town Hall at 126 W. High St. - phone 301-678-5622. The Hancock Town Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For further information Sinclair Hamilton can be reached at 301-678-5719.