Local band to play overseas
That’s right! Local band The Clarks will be playing a show in Parma, Italy, on May 30th. The concert will be held on the Piazza Picelli in Parma and will mark the initiation of an arts and cultural exchange between Southwestern Pennsylvania and the city of Parma. The connection with the Parma government has been established through St. Francis University of Loretto, PA, which hosts an annual study abroad program in Parma featuring studies in art, language, drama, photography and music. Our own guitarist, Rob James, will be there teaching a guitar course to St. Francis students and the Clarks band and crew will travel to join him for a night of music on the Piazza.
The concert is being made possible by the Department of Culture and Youth Cultural Policies of the Municipality of Parma and their Overview Project. This project is an arts and cultural exchange between Parma, Shanghai and New York and will now include Southwestern Pennsylvania through the efforts of Professor Charles Olson of St. Francis and Signore Lorenzo Lasagna, Head of the Cultural Policy and Youth Creativity Department of Parma. The Clarks concert is just the beginning of a cultural exchange that will continue with future opportunities for artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers to present their work to the citizens of Parma.
About the Overview Project: The Project aims to place the city of Parma in a key role as a center for and driving force of culture throughout the world, through its relationship with other cities. The Project targets young creativity, aiming to promote the growth and development of contemporary art. Its founding values are internationalism and culture. The firm belief that innovation means making room for new artists, and the exchange of both national and international experiences is an effective means for growth in today’s world, has led to the creation of the Overview Project.
About the St. Francis Springtime in Italy study program: The Springtime in Italy program provides students with unique experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime. During the program, students live in residence halls in Parma, Italy where they take classes from SFU professors. Because tourism is not a large industry in Parma, students are able to experience true Italian culture and cuisine. Classes include Art History, Italian, Studies in Drama: Opera, Guitar with Rob James (guitarist from The Clarks), Hand Drumming with Jim Donovan (drummer from Rusted Root), and several others. On the weekends, students are free to travel on their own with their 6 day TrenItalia Pass, allowing them to plan their excursions based on their own interests. This ensures that each student will have a unique experience while studying in Parma.
International Center for Education and Outreach
About The Clarks: The Clarks are currently rehearsing and recording new material which will appear on their 8th studio disc, tentatively scheduled for a September release, and will headline the Homegrown Hoo Ha Too at Post Gazette Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, on June 21st. The Clarks Online – The Official Site of The Clarks