Arts Center

A place to learn and experience music, theatre and visual arts

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Join the Creativity at the Arts Center

The Arts Center events can be a vital part of your AA transfer degree if you are a student or your cultural enrichment as a community member. The Arts Center, where you can be a part of all things we call “Fine and Performing Arts”.

You can be in a play or attend one. You can perform in a concert or be in the audience. You could visit the Esvelt Gallery for inspiration from nationally recognized artists or be in the annual student art show. You can spark conversation by attending lectures or attend a foreign language film.

Events, Programs and Spaces

 

Art Exhibits

The Esvelt Gallery features between seven and eight professional shows throughout the year.

Once a year, the faculty select works from students in their classes to be a part of the Student Art Exhibit, one of our most popular exhibits of the year. Students learn how to properly prepare their art for exhibition and they get a chance to win awards or prizes if their work is chosen as one of the top three in several art medium categories.


Summer
  • Virtual exhibition by John Bissonnette:  June 29 to August 18.
Fall
  • Virtual exhibition by Rachael Mayer: September 21 to October 23
  • Virtual exhibition by Tirazheh Eslami: November 2 to December 3
Winter
  • Lisa Soranaka: January 4 to February 4
  • Annual Faculty Exhibition: February 15 to March 18
Spring
  • Chris Theiss and Kristen Theiss: April 5 to May 6
  • Annual Student Exhibition: May 17 to June 16

Please check the events calendar to confirm dates and obtain additional information.

The Esvelt Gallery is now accepting proposals for solo and group exhibitions for the 2020 to 2021 academic year. Proposal requirements:

  • cover letter
  • 10 to 15 images of work on a CD
  • annotated list of works (with thumbnail images)
  • CV
  • artist statement
  • and SASE if return of materials is desired

Mail to:

Esvelt Gallery Coordinator
Columbia Basin College
2600 N. 20th Ave.
Pasco, WA 99301

For online submissions, send an email to the Gallery%20Director that includes a link to an online portfolio of 10-15 images, and attach the additional documents mentioned above in PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Please contact the gallery director for floor plan and additional information.

Applications accepted throughout the year. Honorariums awarded to exhibiting artists.

 

Concerts

musicians performing

The Music department has six groups as part of the music offerings at CBC. Vocal jazz (FreeForm) the CBC Jazz Ensemble, concert choir, chamber choir (DeserTones), orchestra and the Columbia Basin Concert Band all can give students an opportunity to be on the stage. 

In addition we have partnered with Camerata Musica to host a number of their concerts throughout the year. Camerata Musica programs feature chamber music concerts by solo musicians and small ensembles. Performers include local, national and internationally known musicians. Please visit their website for ticket information.

Information coming soon.

Please check the events calendar to confirm dates and obtain additional information.

 

Exhibit, Performance and Practice Spaces

image of lights in theatre

The Arts Center, built in 1971, is the hub of the fine and performing arts at CBC. The many spaces that are part of the complex have been updated and configured to support the education of our students and enhance audience enjoyment.

Esvelt Gallery: A multi-level exhibit area with an outdoor sculpture court accessible through sliding glass doors.

Studio Spaces: The drawing and painting studio is equipped with tall ceilings and general art studio equipment. The design studio is equipped with new chairs and work surfaces for better student creativity. The 3D studio is equipped with woodworking power tools, ceramic wheels, kilns and sculpture tools.

Band and Choir Rooms: Each room is equipped with quality instruments and equipment for students to freely create and perform.

Crabb Piano Lab: This twelve unit lab is equipped with state-of-the art electronic pianos and instructor station. Students wear head phones and can only hear themselves practice and the instructor can hear one student or the group when needed.

Practice Rooms: There are four sound proof practice rooms with pianos for students to privately compose, sing or play music.

CBC Mainstage Theatre: Built in 1971, the CBC mainstage theatre is a 284-seat thrust theatre that provides a very intimate theatrical experience for our audience and performers. The facility contains a fly system, sound system, costume and scenic shop spaces. One of the highlights of the theatre is the state of the art lighting system with the latest in computer controlled LED and moving lighting fixtures that provide our students access and training on the latest equipment.

CBC Diane C. Hoch Amphitheater: The Theatre department has been producing shows in our amphitheater since 1986 and the venue has grown along with it. The current performance area is a 50’x30’ stage with a custom designed roof lighting truss similar to professional concert venues. The venue will hold up to 600 patrons with state of the art sound and lighting systems. The Diane C. Hoch amphitheater provides a professional foundation for our students to learn and perform, while giving our audiences an experience they cannot find at any other school in the northwest.

CBC P204 Black Box: Once the television studio at the college, the P204 Black Box is a flexible configuration space that is used as a classroom and performance venue that allows students to experiment in a wide array of theatre styles and configurations. The space seats approximately 40 to 50 people and has a simple lighting system that is perfect for the student productions.

Scene Shop, Costume Shop, Cloud Space, Dressing Rooms: These spaces are filled with supplies and equipment to assist students in the theatre arts to learn set building, lighting and sound design, make-up and acting from award winning faculty and visiting artists.

 

Jazz Unlimited

Hosted by the Columbia Basin College Music Program since 1972, Jazz Unlimited is an annual festival and competition for middle school, junior high school and high school concert bands, jazz bands, concert choirs and jazz choirs around the Northwest. The festival includes clinics, special guests and concerts.

This festival offers invaluable education opportunities to learn and perform with top adjudicators and nationally known musicians.

  • Friday, April TBD: Wind Ensembles
  • Saturday, April TBD: Jazz Bands
  • Friday, April TBD: Concert Choirs
  • Saturday, April TBD: Jazz Choirs

To be announced

  • Friday, April TBD
  • 7:30 pm, TBD

Email Application: For your convenience, application forms are fillable. Please save your application on to your hard drive and email the file to Dave%20Cazier. Your application will not be complete until we receive your entry fee.

See rules and submission instructions in the application document links below.

 

Lecture Series

The Mid-Columbia Community Lecture series features up to 15 free lectures per year on history, politics, music, philosophy, spiritual traditions and everything in between. Lectures include presenters from Humanities Washington and Pacific Northwest National Labratory (PNNL) programs.

Most lectures are at 7 pm on the third Thursday of the month.

Speakers Bureau is one of Humanities Washington’s oldest and most popular programs. A roster of 28 cultural experts and scholars provides low-cost, high-quality public presentations across the state, encouraging audiences to think, learn, and engage in conversation. These diverse and engaging speakers cover a variety of topics, including popular culture, photography, architecture, literature, food, film and history. Best of all – these presentations are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Speakers Bureau website.

For over 50 years, PNNL has created a place for courageous discovery and innovation. PNNL’s extraordinary scientific and societal contributions inspire confidence and hope for a more prosperous, safe, and secure world. Battelle, operator of PNNL since 1965, is proud to be a founding sponsor of the Columbia Basin College Community Lecture Series. Through this partnership, we are helping the general public better understand and explore a variety of new topics, including how PNNL science is transforming the world.
Fall Quarter

Information coming soon.

Winter Quarter

Information coming soon.

Spring Quarter
Information coming soon.

Plays

The Theatre department offers plays and musicals all year long. You could choose to be under the lights on stage or behind the scenes designing lights or building sets, the opportunities are here for your taking. 

Fall Quarter
  • "Very Still and Hard to See" by Steve Yockey
Winter Quarter
  • "The Sun is a Man by" Firen Hodges (World Premiere) 
Spring Quarter
  • "John Proctor is the Villain" by Kimberly Belflower 

Do you need to attend a play to fulfill a course requirement? Or do you just want to take a break from your studies and be entertained? Either way, you can attend most plays at CBC for free, unless otherwise stated.

CBC students receive two complimentary tickets to attend each theatre production during the regular academic year (does not include summer).

  • In the Arts Center Office or at the door.
  • Show your current CBC ID.
  • Sign the student comp ticket form.

Summer Theatre

image of play on outdoor stage with audience

In addition to the productions during the academic year, Summer Theatre (formally known as Summer Showcase) is a self-support program featuring musicals and strait plays that are popular with audiences. Community members are encouraged to audition for these productions.

Title: TBA

Dates: July 2021

8 pm in the Diane C. Hoch Amphitheatre (outdoor stage)

  • There will be concessions available on site.
  • There will be about 200 folding chairs available.
  • Patrons may bring their own folding chairs and/or blankets.
  • There will be portable toilet facilities available.
  • No pets allowed

The regular 8 pm start time may be delayed by weather or other reasons, but this does not mean a performance will be canceled. If a performance is given after a delayed start, Rain Checks are not valid and unused tickets will not be exchanged or refunded. If the show is indeed canceled, the patron can use their rain check at another scheduled performance, wait in line to receive their refund, or come back to the division office during regular business hours for a refund.

Tickets

The CBC Arts Center uses the online ticket service Tix.com for any event requiring a purchased ticket. You can visit Tix.com for a list of current events with tickets on sale.

  1. Online: Using Tix.com, click on the logo to the right.
  2. Outlet: The Dance Boutique - Richland or at the CBC Performing Arts Office - Pasco Campus
  3. Phone: 509.542.5531
  4. At the door: The box office will open 60 minutes prior to curtain.

We have partnered with Tix.com to offer online ticket sales. There are many advantages to using Tix.com. Click on the logo to the right to access online sales.

  • 24/7 availability
  • Real time map with seat availability and selection
  • Purchase with a major credit card
  • E-ticket printing on your personal printer

The phone hours are the same as the Arts Center office hours. If you call after hours, and leave a message, we will return your call as soon as we can the next business day.

  • All orders taken over the phone require a current debit/credit card to reserve tickets. Visa and MasterCard only.
  • Tickets purchased over the phone will be mailed to the patron unless otherwise instructed.
  • Any ticket orders taken seven days or less prior to the performance will be held at ‘Will Call’.

We accept the following forms of payment:

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit/Debit - Visa and MasterCard only
  1. *SEATING AFTER CURTAIN TIME IS NOT GUARANTEED. Once the performance has started, it may not be possible to seat late arriving patrons or those leaving their seats for other reasons. The CBC Arts Center accepts no responsibility for inconvenience to latecomers or people leaving their seats.
  2. *If you have not arrived by the time the show starts, we reserve the right to resell your seat, with no refund.
  3. *Children under seven-years-old and babes in arms are NOT ALLOWED. 
  4. Pets are NOT ALLOWED.
  5. NO REFUNDS. All ticket sales are final.
  6. EXCHANGES: Contact the CBC Arts Center.
  7. The management reserves the right to revoke the license granted by this ticket by refunding the purchase price.
  8. We reserve the right to ask you to leave for disruptive behavior.

*Inside shows only.

Fast Facts Arts Center

27

Number of concerts offered in 2018-2019

7

Number of plays produced by the Theatre Department in 2018-2019

12

Number of exhibits, including the student art show, hosted by the Esvelt Gallery in 2018-2019

15

Number of debates and lectures in 2018-2019

contact

Students walking around CBC's Pasco campus