Creating Community with Chris Curtis
Regina Baraban: What do you like best about your job?
Chris Curtis: Managing the Film Matters series is one of my favorite roles. We show six to eight films a year, on topics that range from sustainable farming to feminism, followed by panel discussions. It’s such an enticing piece of programming to give people the experience of seeing a stimulating documentary, and then experience a post-film discussion that gets the brain juices flowing to learn more.
RB: How do you choose the films?
CC: In my role as film coordinator, I’m constantly scouring the digital flow of information of what’s coming up on screen—and in particular, looking at documentaries, that I think would resonate as Film Matters.
RB: What recent Film Matters did you find most inspiring, and why?
CC: On May 29, in affiliation with the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, we showed the documentary, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry, the story of the founders of the modern women’s movement that started in 1966. The film drew a huge audience of nearly 500 people, most of whom gave it a standing ovation and stayed for a fascinating discussion moderated by Barbara MacLeod of New England Cable News. The panelists, who ranged in age from 16 to over 80, had expertise and passion in equal measure and they left the audience with many takeaways. In this case, I did not select the panelists, but was fortunate to have the involvement of Mary Jo Brown (Brown & Company) and Terie Norelli, President and CEO of the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. Mary Jo and Terie not only found subject-matter experts for the panel but extended our community network to other women’s rights organizations. Everyone had a stake in making the evening a success, and it was a great community partnership.
RB: In the cases when you source panelists for Film Matters discussions, how do you find them?
CC: I head to Google to find subject matter experts in New Hampshire, and I also contact the University of New Hampshire, which is a fabulous resource. Typically I include one or more speakers from UNH per panel, and they’re all amazing and terrific. UNH has been such a go-to place for me—the long list of UNH professors who have participated are a truly impressive group.
RB: Tell us about Music Hall partnerships with other Seacoast arts organizations, such as Arts in Reach and Portsmouth Music & Arts Center.
CC: AIR and PMAC are just two examples of community partners that we have been working with for years. These organizations have young people who are interested in the arts and there’s a mutual benefit when we can give them a close-up experience with world class artists. A wonderful example is the group of PMAC students who met in the Loft with Joshua Bell. After answering questions, he honored us by pulling out his violin and performing an impromptu piece of Bach. The youngsters who heard him will remember this forever. As will I!
RB: Every season for the past 20 years, the Music Hall offers the School Day Series of live theater for young children. Why do you think this series resonates with parents, teachers, and kids alike?
CC: The crux here —and research supports this—is that when you can blend in curriculum within wonderful entertainment, sets, costumes, etc.—the arts become a vital part of learning. Not only does a School Day Series performance give students and teachers a chance to get outside the four walls of academia, but it also gives them a chance to talk about all the learning that is tucked in there. And the first arts experience children have sticks with them forever.
RB: What other Music Hall community programs have you helped develop in recent years?
CC: Opera Connection is one example. Opera expert and writer/producer Dennis Kleinman is a super speaker, super knowledgeable, and eager to share his experience with others so they can expand their enjoyment of the art. This seemed like a great opportunity to expand the discussion about our Met at The Music Hall series and add to socializing and learning. Now it is coming up to its five-year anniversary! Stay tuned for information on a special celebratory event in September where Dennis will preview the whole season’s worth of upcoming operas.