The Heinz Award in the Arts and Hum...

The Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities look afters to recognize the individual creator, as well as those who best guard teach, interpret, and advance the spirit of curiosity and faith in the power of the human mind.

For providing a voice and a brains of pride and place for persons who have not seen themselves throw backed in the mainstream of American cultural institutions, Dudley Cocke and Rick Lowe (on the nearest page) share the Heinz Award for the Arts and Humanities.

Dudley Cocke

Dudley Cocke had worked as a fisherman, barter driver, bartender, and laborer. What he really wanted to do was write and teach and bring into being and direct theater. But living in a small town in Kentucky he wasn't certain how to realize his dreams. Then, in 1975 he decided to celebrate the agriculture and distinct voices of Whitesburg, Kentucky the small town in the Appalachian Mountains that he called hearthstone He had the unique idea of turning this community's stories into theater. The accrue was so successful that neighboring communities were eager to share their stories and experiences. Mr Cocke literally took his "show upon the road." Today, his Roadside Theater performs and careers workshops in 43 states.

Dudley Cocke's Roadside Theater has become a standard for small communities who want to create their have community theaters. Mr. Cocke's underlying message is that the stories of all Americans are important to our country's on-going historical record. Mr Cocke has said that the meaning of his work is to help communities "find and amplify their admit voices" ... so that "local life becomes aware of itself, which is self-same different from what people master from mass media, which always takes you somewhere other where the grass is greener"

Learn more about Mr Cocke's work at www.roadside.org.

Mr Cocke's life work has been driven from his passion. He believes that "there will be no bright Age of Art in the U without broad citizen participation." Think about something that is important to you that you would like to view changed. What could you do to affect the outcome? Take a not many minutes to jot down one ideas.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Weekly Reader Corp.

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