Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-08-07
County
Lists Plan for
Arfs.Cenfer
Montgomery Gets
81 Million Project
For Family Use

Tentative plans for q 81 mil
lion family center for the per-
Torrance and teaching Of the
arts were outlined today in
Montgomery County.
Details of the proposal were
disclosed by members Of the
Montgomery County Arts Cent
er upon acquisition of its first
permanent offices at 1927 Wis
fconsin avenue IN Bethesda.
A site for the facility itself
which members hope to have
IN operation by 1964-has not
yet been chosen. Two weeks
ago, however. the Maryland
Park and Planning Commission
recommended q z5-acre tract
near Wisconsin avenue and
Route los.
The facility. according to
Mrs. George Brashap, Center
vice president for site acquisi-
ton, is primarily intended for
family use.
Detectives Set
I'VE plan to have a complete
teaching program which will
include all art FORMS" she said.
I'm keeping with its location in
the suburbs, we intend to place
the emphasis on family partici-
patton"
Instruction, according to
tentative plans, would be Civ
en- in these fields:
/. THEATE r. Workshops
would include both acting and
production at all age levels.
Special encouragement also
would be given to aspiring play
wrightS, particularly in the
field of children's plays.
2. MUSIC. The formation of
performing groups, both choral
and instrumental, is among the |
first aims of Center sponsors.
8. DANCE. Workshops, espe-
cially for advanced students. !
would be set up. probably con-
centrating on ballet and mod |
ern dance.
4. VISUAL ARTS. Glasses
and individual instruction
would be offered in painting, |
ceramics, sculpture and print
ing.
In addition, Mrs. Brashay
said, the group plans to Spon-
sor performances by profess
Sional artists, ranging from
chamber musicians to theatre
cal companies.
But the emphasis will be on
local and original work." she
said. 1--WE believe you should
the vitality of an arts
center not by what you bring
into it but what you bring out
of it,"
She said the Center group, a
nonprofit educational corpora
ton, wants eventually to en-
ploy q permanent teaching |
staff plus part-time instructors
and volunteers.
Actual architectural plans
for the Center will not be COM
pleted until a site is selected,
she said. The group, however,
hopes to build a facility that
would include a theater ex-
pandable from about 600 to
1 200 seats and about is class
room-studios.
Mrs. Brashay said an ex-
pandable auditorium would
lend itself to both small
productions and full-sized pre-
sensations.
Drive Planned
The 5OO-member organiza-
ton, headed by Bennett Bos-
key. a Bethesda lawyer, is
planning fall drive to double
its membership. The organiza-
ton was formed in 1858 by
Montgomery community lead
ers.
The group is laying tentative
plans for a fund drive, prob
ably beginning next year. If
that campaign is successful,
Mrs. Brashay, said, the Center
may be built in sections, begin
ming in 1868, as money becomes
available.
Architect for the project is
Reyes Letheridge and Condor
of Washington. Pietro Bel
luschi, dean of the School of
Architecture at the Massachu-
sets Institute of Technology,
is serving as special consultant.