If you've driven through downtown Hot Springs lately, you may
have noticed that another bathhouse on historic Bathhouse Row is springing to
life. People are once again coming in and going from the Hale Bathhouse, the
oldest bathhouse on the street, after its doors were closed for more than 40
years. From the lobby of the Hale's 3
Arts Cafe and Bookstore, the newest endeavor of the Muses Creative Artistry
Project, you can hear the sounds of music, poetry, and conversation among
friends, and feel the creativity that is evident throughout its gracious,
comfortable decor. The National
Park Service issued a two-year commercial use authorization to the Muses
in March 2011 to operate the café and bookstore in the lobby of the historic
building.
The Muses Creative Artistry Project has
embarked on a comprehensive capital campaign, with the objective of acquiring a
40-year lease on the Hale Bathhouse along Bathhouse Row. The building will be
restored in accordance with National Park Service guidelines to establish a
cultural arts center housing The Muses Creative Artistry Project, from which it
will carry out the majority of its annual programming plan. Once restored, the
arts center will benefit multiple cultural and educational organizations, with
a regional impact. Educational outreach is focused, among other things, on arts
integration and curriculum expansion at the Williams Education Center , a non-profit
center dedicated to obtaining college scholarships for minority youth in Garland County ; the Odyssey
Program at Hendrix College in Conway , AR ; and other
educational institutions. The Hot Springs Music Festival and Hot Springs Jazz
Festival, already collaborators with The Muses Project, will also benefit
through access to the Hale Bathhouse. The restoration plan for the Hale includes
two performance venues, artists’ living quarters (more than 30 of The Muses’
performing artists and apprentices live out of state), rehearsal spaces for
both music and drama, fine arts studio and gallery, classrooms for workshops
and community outreach, wellness center, library, coffee shop and bookstore –
all of which will be accessible to professional artists as well as students. It
is anticipated that the bathhouse will be restored and open for business in
late 2013.
The capital campaign has already entered
its first phase of the capital campaign by converting the lobby of the Hale
into the 3 Arts Café and Bookstore,
which opened in June 2011. The café offers delicious salads, sandwiches, and
light gourmet appetizers, as well delectable sweets and pastries. New Orleans style gourmet
coffees and English teas are available, all brewed with Hot Springs ’ thermal spring
water. The café offers downtown visitors and residents a unique respite from
the hustle and bustle of daily
life. The bookstore displays and
sells original works by local artists and craftspeople, highlighting the
excellent quality available in the region. Of particular note are the fine
ceramic pieces created by Jim and Barbara Larkin and the artisans of Fox Pass
Pottery. An intriguing selection of inspirational books on creativity and the
arts, ranging from music and poetry to gardening and cooking, are available.
Patrons can enjoy their books on wicker furniture in a peaceful sunroom
setting. Wi-Fi is also available for customer convenience.
“The
Muses’ goal is to become a mecca for art and healing in downtown Hot Springs through arts immersion – nourishing mind, body and
spirit,” explains Toni Spears, certified life coach for the Muses. The Muses
Creative Artistry Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving
classical art and music through performance, education, and wellness. Soprano
Deleen Davidson, whose broad-based liberal arts education includes history,
fine art, music and German, leads the artistry project as president and
principal artist. The Muses offers a regular series of concerts, art
exhibits and creativity seminars designed to enhance the cultural life of the
region and to grow the arts-based economy.
Upcoming
Muses offerings include the fourth annual Opera Gala on September 23, beginning
with a wine reception at the Hale Bath House at 6:30 p.m. Following
the reception, opera goers will enjoy a lovely stroll through Arlington Lawn to
the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa’s Crystal Ballroom for heavy hors d’oeuvres
and the performance, involving an ensemble of 20 singers, musicians, actors and
artists from across the country that will perform Mozart’s “The Magic
Flute.” Tickets to this event, just $75
each, include the entire evening's reception, hors d’oeuvres and performance.
On Sunday afternoon, September 18, at 3:00 p.m. , just days before the Opera Gala, eight talented
Muses will present “Magic Flute Cocktail," an “appetizer” for the upcoming
week’s performance. The concert is the
third in the Muses' concert series, “The Four Seasons in Art and Song,” held in
Anthony Chapel at Hot
Springs '
Garvan Woodland Gardens. The
seasonal series will conclude with the sixth annual presentation of the
"Voices of Angels" sacred Christmas concert on December 18. Tickets
for the seasonal concert are $25 each.
For more information about the Muses or to reserve
event tickets, contact The Muses at 501-463-4514 or www.themusesproject.org. Tickets for all performances can also be
picked up at The Three Arts Café and Bookstore.
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