Centrum, the nonprofit multidisciplinary center for artists at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, is entering its 2009 workshop season, introducing new gatherings and formats to its slate of experience-based immersions in the arts.

Registration has opened for all workshops and is available online at www.centrum.org or by calling Centrum at 360-385-3102, ext. 114.

"There are so many amazing things about being at Centrum," said one participant. "Talented artists who are accessible and willing to teach, the challenges to my playing, the town, the physical environment, the proximity to the sea. Every summer, it’s like Port Townsend turns into New York City – that’s how good the arts are, here."

Centrum features weekend and weeklong workshops all year long. Some are geared toward youth and happen in partnership with the State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Others are massive intergenerational workshops that culminate with mainstage performances by Grammy winners, National Heritage Fellows and Pulitzer Prize winners. All Centrum artistic events are curated by artistic directors who select faculty and design workshop and performance experiences.

Intergeneration Workshops

The intergenerational workshops launch March 3-6, with the Québécois Intensive lead by the band De Temps Antan; May 7-10 features the "Literature of Witness" event, featuring poet Carolyn Forché and fiction writer Micheline Aharonian Marcom; the week of June 28-July 5 features the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes; July 12-19 belongs to writers with the Port Townsend Writers’ Conference; the week of July 19-26, Port Townsend turns into a jazz mecca with Jazz Port Townsend; the week of July 26-Aug. 2, Centrum’s 15-year tradition of the acoustic country blues continues during the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival; Sept. 17-20, "Jazz and the Word" comes to Centrum. What is it about jazz that inspires so much great writing? Writers including James Baldwin.

Youth Workshops

In addition to these intergenerational workshops, several youth workshops will take place, including a arts exploration workshops, "Water World," which focuses on the arts and marine science, high school summer arts camp and a DANCE This workshop.

For further information, contact Centrum at 360-385-3102, ext. 114.