NJ 버겐퍼포밍아트센터와 문화교류 NY 플러싱타운홀에 이어 두번째 뉴욕한국문화원(원장 이우성)이 북부 뉴저지의 대표적인 공연예술 기관과 업무협약(業務協約)을 맺어 관심을 끌고 있다.
뉴욕한국문화원은 22일 미국 현지의 한국문화 홍보와 한국공연 창작개발 및 유통 활성화 등을 위해 뉴저지 버겐퍼포밍아트센터(대표 도미닉 론케이스)과 파트너십을 맺는다고 밝혔다.
뉴욕한국문화원은 지난 1월엔 뉴욕 퀸즈의 플러싱타운홀과 업무협력을 맺은 바 있다. 이번 협약으로 뉴욕한국문화원은 뉴욕 내 최다인구 밀집지역인 퀸즈 플러싱과, 북부 뉴저지 한인타운이 있고 주류사회 정치 경제 문화계의 은퇴인사들이 다수 거주하는 잉글우드 지역에서 더욱 폭넓은 한국문화 수요층을 개발할 수 있을 것으로 기대를 모은다.
이날 업무협약엔 이우성 원장과 도미닉 론케스 버겐팩 CEO, 프랭크 허틀3세 잉글우드 시장, 발레리 허틀 뉴저지하원의원 에드몬도 쉬워츠 버겐팩 이사장 등이 참석했다. 제이크 정 버겐팩 이사의 사회로 거행된 업무협약식에서 이우성 원장은 한국문화 현지 문화융성사업프로그램을 발표하고 에드몬도 쉬워츠 버겐팩 회장이 협력에 동의하는 축사가 이어졌다.
뉴저지 버겐퍼포밍아트센터와의 업무협력은 지난 5월 뉴욕한국문화원의 공연 프로그램인 ‘오픈 스테이지 2014’ 공연작 ‘꿈동이 인형극단: 버드나무를 타고 올라간 용궁’ 인형극 공연을 한인 2, 3세 및 패터슨 지역 저소득층 학생들을 대상으로 선보인 것이 계기가 되었다.
뉴욕한국문화원측은 “당시 기대를 뛰어넘는 열화와 같은 성원을 받으면서 북부 뉴저지 지역에서는 지리적, 물리적 문제로 뉴욕 맨해튼이나 퀸즈까지 한국문화 공연을 관람하기가 어렵다는 것을 파악하게 되었다”면서 “더 많은 미국 주민들에게 우수 한국 문화 수요 욕구를 조금이라도 해소시키자는 취지에서 업무협약을 맺게 되었다”고 소개했다.
내년 말까지 1년여간 지속되는 양 기관의 첫 번째 협력 프로그램으로 다음달 18일 버겐퍼포밍아트센터에서 ‘Korea Dance Awakening’ 공연이 공동 개최된다. ‘Korea Dance Awakening’은 뉴욕 뉴저지에서 활동 중인 젊은 한국인 현대무용 안무가들의 대표 작품 시리즈 공연이다.
그간 버겐퍼포밍아트센터에서 상대적으로 음악장르가 주를 이뤘다는 점에서 관객들에게 더욱 다양하고 새로운 한국 문화를 소개하는 기회가 될 것으로 보인다. 또한 내년에는 북부 뉴저지 거주 어린이들을 대상으로 하는 한국 문화 공연예술 캠프 등도 마련할 예정이다.
이우성 문화원장은 “뉴욕과 지리적으로 가까우면서도 우수한 한국문화예술을 접할 기회가 많지 않았던 북부 뉴저지 지역민들의 문화적 갈증 해소에 보탬이 되었으면 한다”면서 “북부 뉴저지를 대표하는 유서 깊은 공연장인 버겐 퍼포밍아트센터가 한국의 고유 전통과 뛰어난 문화예술을 전파하는 중심무대가 될 것이라는 기대 또한 크다”고 의미를 부여(附與)했다.
뉴욕=민지영특파원 newsroh@gmail.com
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Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is a theater of and for the community that it serves throughout northern New Jersey, by being a creative focus, educational resource, and engine of economic vitality. A not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, bergenPAC’s mission is to make the live performing arts accessible to all by building a creative home and education center that guides and liberates the imagination of our young, inspires and expands the lives of our adults, and attracts established and emerging artists of excellence and relevance.
History
In the fall of 2004, the Bergen Performing Arts Center reopened the doors of the former John Harms Center, long considered one of the leading cultural institutions in North Jersey. Founded on April 30, 2003, bergenPAC was begun by a small group of dedicated individuals. Led by Frank Huttle III, they were determined to preserve this special theater that had brought some of the world’s finest performing artists “right next door” for so many years.
The John Harms Center was one of the largest performing arts centers in New Jersey and the largest arts center in northern New Jersey. When the Harms Center closed its doors on April 14, 2003, the public was stunned and there was a huge outcry. Through the creativity and efforts of bergenPAC’s founders, a new public/private partnership was formed that could coordinate and leverage the resources of community bodies such as the city, county and state, as well as private performing arts patrons and donors. Working together, bergenPAC has built the framework to enhance the quality of life for cultural devotees, families, and the community at large seeking entertainment and inspiration close to home.
The John Harms Center originally opened as the Englewood Plaza on November 22, 1926, built by the Reade chain as a movie-vaudeville house. The design of the Plaza was described as “late-Victorian luxury that presaged the art deco style of the 1930’s.” Builders incorporated special acoustic features to maximize the natural sound energy of the main stage.
Spring 1930 saw the advent of “talking” movies at the Fox Plaza, as it was known then. During the Forties the war effort was supported with patriotic films. United Artists purchased the building in 1967 and kept the doors open through 1973, when it closed. Through the efforts of a group of local citizens under the leadership of John Harms, the John Harms Center came to life on October 10, 1976 with the performance of the Russian pianist, Lazar Berman.
John Harms (1906-1981) was an organist and teacher who began his career as an impresario in 1941, arranging concert appearances in North Jersey of many famous and lesser-known artists. A one-man operation, he selected and booked performers, rented the performance space, wrote press releases, and personally telephoned or corralled over 1,200 contacts. His dream of a concert hall of his own became a reality when The Plaza came on the market. In the 1990s, two major renovation projects turned the John Harms Center into a modern concert hall and media facility, while preserving the vintage acoustics that made it a unique sought-after performance and recording site.
In 2003, bergenPAC reopened the doors of this historic cultural performing arts and education institution, enhancing the spirit and tradition of its original founders. It has become a nationally recognized home for recordings through its partnership with the Bennett Studios, a state-of-the-art recording studio with whom we are fiber-optically linked. HBO, PBS, The WB Network, A&E, MTV, QVC, Sony and many others have used the theater for international broadcasts. Tony Bennett, k.d. lang, The Count Basie Band, Sting, John Fogerty, Vanessa Williams, Dixie Chicks, The Bacon Brothers, Jamie Cullum, Jim Norton, Juanes, Govt. Mule, and Woody Allen are among the many artists who used this theater for recordings. Thus, this vintage acoustic hall became the home of a media production system that is unique and unparalleled. Tony Bennett called the acoustics the “best-sounding theatrical hall in the American song tradition.”
Most importantly, however, bergenPAC has become a leader in bringing world class cultural and educational opportunities to its community – both in New Jersey and broadcast throughout the world. Our education programs touch tens of thousands of families each year who otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience live performance. Each and every day bergenPAC works with its board, staff, volunteers and partners to ensure there is a world class Home for Arts and Education that is accessible and affordable to all
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