Chamber Music PLUS Southwest

The Arizona Cultural Forum

The Arizona Cultural Forum, January 12-14, 2007 will provide, via the humanities and the performing arts, new perspectives, syntheses, and insights into apparently diverse subjects – the medical sciences and the arts. Through carefully focused scholarly and artistic presentations and guided discussion, the Forum: Robert Schumann, Creativity and Mental Illness, will explore interesting parallels and themes common to the legacies of creative artists (music, literature and visual arts) who have battled mental illness with Schumann (commemorating 150th year since his death) at the center.

This multi disciplinary program was originated by Chamber Music PLUS. In its two-year history audiences as well as participating organizations have grown.
The goals of the Cultural Forum are to create opportunities for new learning by convening artists and scholars to share their knowledge with the general public in in relaxed spaces at free or nominal cost. Harry Clark and James Reel curate and co-direct the Forum.

About Harry Clark & James Reel

Mr. Reel, arts editor of the Tucson Weekly, and a host on KUAT-FM, formulates the panel discussions, recruits participating humanities scholars, and assists with marketing strategies. You can listen to James daily, on KUAT FM Radio and you can read his blog on news about classical music by clicking on his photo or name.

Mr. Clark, artistic director of Chamber Music PLUS, creates new texts and programming strategies, and enlists musical historians and performing artists who have demonstrated their abilities to speak about their art within cultural, historical, psychological, and sociological contexts.

The 2007 ACF-Schumann, Creativity & Mental Illness

Inspired by the 150th anniversary of Schumann’s death, The Forum is dedicated to Creativity and Mental Illness. The goals of the Cultural Forum are to create opportunities for new learning by convening artists and scholars to share their knowledge with a general public including seniors and university students in free or nominal cost events in relaxed settings.

ACF 2007 presents day and evening activities. All sessions consist of talks, followed by panel discussions and live performances. All day and afternoon events are free. The public evening performances may carry a nominal $10/person charge.

The 2007 Forum will present no less than 9 events including the SW premiere of award winning playwright David Rabe’s drama "Good For Otto” written for the Northwest Center for Mental Health in collaboration with Richard O'Connor, the executive director of the Center at the time.
For a detailed schedule of activities, click here.

The Arizona Cultural Forum is sponsored by