‘Forest City Times’
debuts Dec. 9

PORTLAND — Art at Work is presenting “Forest City Times,” which features two original performances – “Radio Calls,” with Portland police officers, and “The Weeping City” with students from Portland High School at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at Portland Public Library’s Rines Auditorium.

In “The Weeping City,” a production by Maine Inside Out, Portland High School students explore their relationship with the police through dramatic performance.

The evening continues with Art At Work’s “Radio Calls,” a performance by Portland police officers about their lives, work and interactions with Portland’s youth.

A facilitated dialogue with performers and the audience will conclude the free event. The end goal of “Forest City Times” is to create a civic art-based dialogue, while the post-performance dialogue with the public hope to bring forth new insight and understandings between Portland students and police.

“Forest City Times” was initiated by Portland Police Chief James Craig, when he asked Art At Work’s Director, Marty Pottenger, to write and direct a performance that communicated the police officers’ perspective to local high school students.

Art At Work, a project of nonprofit Terra Moto Inc., is a national initiative to improve municipal government through strategic arts projects with city employees, unions, elected officials and local artists.

While the event is free, donations will be accepted. Reservations are suggested by calling 874-8681. For more information, please visit artatworkproject.us.

Portland schools host
holiday concerts

PORTLAND — The Portland Public Schools will be performing concerts for the holiday season at the following times and places:

•Tuesday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Portland High School

•Wednesday, Dec. 15, 6 p.m., Lincoln Middle School

•Thursday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m., Moore Middle School

•Thursday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m., Deering High School

•Monday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m., King Middle School

All concerts are free and open to the public.

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