At the Spring Arts Walk, numerous South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) creative divisions will coalesce into a unique installation and two-day event in the historical Olympia venue, Ben Moore’s. Percival Place at Ben Moore’s will include art pieces from SPSCC faculty, performances from SPSCC theater and music students, bites provided by the Culinary Arts Program and contribution from the school’s Craft Brewing and Distilling Program. Ben Moore’s may also serve as a future downtown Olympia presence for SPSCC and the SPSCC Foundation for education and workforce development, especially for artistic and technical programs.
Percival Place at Ben Moore’s will span the course of the Arts Walk on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27. After 5:00 p.m. on both nights, the event becomes exclusive to those 21-years-old and over.
In alignment with the downtown festivities, SPSCC will also feature an installation of faculty artwork in the Ben Moore’s lobby, which will be available to all ages on both days of the Arts Walk. “Families wandering in off the street can see the art,” says Kati Sagawa, director of strategic communications for SPSCC. “There will be some sculpture pieces, there will be some mixed media, there will be some canvas work.”
Friday night, two singer-songwriters, who are both faculty and staff at SPSCC, will open the night with musical performances. Then, a viewing of student-produced short films will premiere, showcasing the SPSCC Film Program. Before the night ends with a round of beer choir, several music numbers from the SPSCC production of Fun Home will be performed.
The second day of events is set to kick off at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. The day will start with a free improv work shop, instructed by SPSCC theater professor, Lauren Love. Family friendly, the improv workshop is open to all skill levels. After the workshop, a mini film festival will play and will highlight short student films. In addition, a casting call for community members interested in acting in future student films will be hosted by program faculty. Cast members from Fun Home will take the stage again and perform before a break for the Procession of the Species. The night will conclude with a jazz set, performed by members of the SPSCC Music Program.
SPSCC Brews Up Fun and Education
SPSCC is also highlighting their Craft Brewing and Distilling Program during the 21-years-old and over events each evening. The event will feature a signature cocktail created in a collaboration between SPSCC craft brewing students and Heritage Distilling. Additional beer and cocktails will be available to purchase throughout the evenings, as well. “We’re trying to make sure everyone knows what’s going on with our distilling program,” says Sagawa. “Forward thinking, this was kind of an introduction to the future possibility of a tasting room. Our program will be in a new space in Tumwater that is currently being built in the craft district. Heritage Distilling from Gig Harbor is moving down here. We’ll also have a brewery and our students will work alongside them in the craft district space.”
Ben Moore’s is a versatile location for the college’s future culinary and showroom plans. SPSCC is seeking to recognize the venue’s historical significance, while creating new memories and a new community within the historic restaurant’s walls. “We really wanted to honor the history in the space and not make it something totally new,” explains Sagawa. “We are going to have photos of the restaurant through the years. That will be some of the artwork on the walls, historical photos.”
This is the first time the college has brought a compilation of their artistic and culinary programs to an Arts Walk event. Percival Place at Ben Moore’s signals a new chapter for SPSCC to expand their community reach beyond campus. “It’s a college-wide effort to have information about becoming a student and to have student and faculty highlighted there,” says Sagawa. “To show the community connection and have that presence downtown is really important to us. To be where the action is happening, rather than expecting people to always come to campus. We want to be out there as much as they come here. We are doing things that other schools in the country are doing and just to highlight that and share with our community is really exciting.”
Percival Place at Ben Moore’s will be open on April 26 from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and on April 27 from 12:00 p.m. until 8 p.m. After 5:00 p.m. on both days, the event will be for 21-years-old and over, with the exception of the lobby art gallery. There is a $15 entrance fee for the event that will include one drink ticket, appetizers and live entertainment. For more information about the Percival Place at Ben Moore’s, visit the South Puget Sound Community College website.
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