Claudia Kunin, interim managing director of the University's Theatre and Interpretation Center, stated: "All of us here at Northwestern are thrilled to have been chosen to receive this prestigious grant. The resources Martin Professional is making available to us will enrich the education of our students both in the classroom and in production. The Martin Intelligent Lighting Technology Grant will directly benefit Northwestern students and significantly enhance the program and curriculum."
Located in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern offers a BA or BS degree in Theatre; MFA in Stage Design; MFA in Directing; and an interdisciplinary PHD in Theatre and Drama. It also offers a certificate program in Music Theatre jointly with the Northwestern University School of Music, and a major in Dance through the Department of Theatre's Dance Program. The Department of Theatre has a long history of academic excellence and creative professionalism having graduated world-renowned leaders in the field as producers, performers, directors, designers and educators.
Kunin explains some of the ways that the Martin equipment will benefit the program. "The 350 person undergraduate program at Northwestern emphasizes the virtues of a diverse theater education. Every academic quarter approximately 25 students spend a term working afternoons in the light shop, on crews for mainstage production, and learning the craft and technologies of stage electrics. The addition of intelligent lighting equipment to the shop's inventory will greatly raise the value of that training. Those students going on to be producers, directors, technicians, technical directors and designers will have an early exposure to the possibilities and virtues of intelligent lighting."
Martin Professional Inc CEO Troels Volver presented the Grant to Northwestern. He commented: "We are pleased to continue to offer this Grant whose goal it is to support and educate future lighting professionals in the benefits of intelligent lighting technology."
The Martin Grant is valued at $50,000 and consists of a variety of Martin fixtures and control products. Martin also provides technical training and support for the winning college or university, as well as quarterly seminars on emerging technologies and application discussions.
(Lee Baldock)
