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| Fine Art and Cultural Heritage |
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Heritage Plaza
 The mission of Heritage Plaza is
to encourage and enhance the economic development of the downtown business area through historic preservation. Our highest hopes for Longview's future are in this salute
to its past. The "salute," can be found throughout Heritage Plaza but most specifically on its historic wall displays
which tells the story of Longview during its first one hundred years,
1870-1970. A relaxed tour through the Plaza will reveal the following
history in capsule form on the walls. | Gregg County Historical Museum
"Women in the War Effort” - an exhibit featuring several eras of Gregg County History starting with WWI and heading into today. The exhibit conveys the importance of women during our country’s most trying times – times of war.
Exhibit runs until October 3, 2013
Open during Regular Museum Hours
Tues - Fri 10 am - 4pm
Sat noon - 4 pm
| | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.gregghistorical.org/ | Longview Museum of Fine Arts
 The Longview Museum of Fine Arts was begun by the Junior Service League of Longview in 1958, and held its first yearly Invitational Exhibit in 1959. In 1970, a Museum charter was issued by the State of Texas and the League's collection was place on permanent loan. The present location on Tyler Street was renovated in 1997. The inaugural exhibit was held on January 17, 1998. Charlotte & John Wrather also donated their property toward this space. Today the Museum displays its permanent collection in the Wrather Gallery, the main gallery inside the front doors. The Premier I and II Galleries adjoining host traveling exhibits six times per year, with private members' receptions the weekend before opening to the public. LMFA has a permanent collection of over 300 paintings, etchings, woodcuts, photographs, works on paper, lithographs, serigraphs, collages and pieces of sculpture that are rotated from the vault on a regular basis. It is our privilege, and honor, to share these works with the community, making Longview a better place to live and visit.
| | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.lmfa.org/ | ArtsView Children's Theatre
 Education at ArtsView Children’s Theatre is so much more than learning how to sing, act, or dance. Children of all ages, as well as adults, are introduced to essential knowledge and life skills every time they visit ArtsView. Each age group delves a little deeper into perception, creative expression, historical and cultural heritage, response and evaluation. The tools used to develop these skills are song, dance, and theatre.
| | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com | S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center LeTourneau University
 The S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center is the premier performance center for the city of Longview, Texas, and surrounding communities. With world-class acoustics and staging, the center attracts shows that Longview residents would not be able to see without traveling many miles. The center also functions as LeTourneau University's chapel, providing LETU students with a place to gather together three times per week for incredible Christian speakers and music groups. The chapels are open to the public and a schedule can be found on the LeTourneau University Web site.
The S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center opened in Fall 2007. Designed by professionals in architecture and theater design, the center features 1,400 seats on the ground level and another 600 seats in two, opera-style balconies.
The building features a full working stage and orchestra lift, as well as prop and staging areas, dressing rooms, soundproofed rehearsal rooms, classrooms and offices. It is the largest single-building capital campaign in LeTourneau University's 63-year history. | | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.belchercenter.com/ | Longview Ballet Theatre
 In 1971, a young dancer’s dream of creating a ballet company in her small town came true when she founded Longview Ballet Theatre. Pat George Mitchell believed ballet should be accessible to everyone, and she has spent her life developing the talents of young dancers and creating memorable ballets.
Thanks to the generosity of our patrons, in 2001 LBT was able to bring local company members and dancers from the New York City Ballet together on one stage. Rarely do towns the size of Longview have the opportunity to see world-class ballet dancers perform locally. The response from the community was overwhelming. Audiences were thrilled to see the intricately challenging and moving choreography of the great George Balanchine performed by members of the world’s best ballet company and talented Longview Ballet Theatre wearing one of a kind costumes.
In 2008, LBT moved its performances to the state of the art S.E. Belcher, Jr Chapel and Performance Center on the campus of LeTourneau University. Over 5000 people have seen productions of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
| | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.longviewballet.com/ | East Texas Symphonic Band
 The band was organized in 1988 by Dr. James Snowden. Two concerts were presented during the first season. Today, the band typically presents four concerts each season (November, February, April and May). Admission is $1 at the door for concerts held at the S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center, with students and children admitted FREE. The May "Pops in the Parks” concert is free to ALL attending.In 1997, the Band was invited to perform for the 50th Anniversary Clinic-Convention of the Texas Bandmaster's Convention in San Antonio. ETSB was the first "community band” ever invited to play at that event.
In 2002, a special patriotic concert titled "A Tribute to America” was held on September 11. The purpose of this program was to honor the character and spirit of America which has enabled our country to rise above the terrorist attacks and move forward in a positive manner. Guest performers for this concert were members of various area church choirs. The Band has also played for the Balloon Glow at the Great Texas Balloon Race, Alleyfest, Longview Partnership Banquet, the Judson High School Reunion and most recently at the Dedication of the S. E. Belcher Jr Chapel and Performance Center. ETSB was the only instrumental ensemble to perform at this historical event. | | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.etsymphonicband.com/ | Longview Symphony Orchestra
 Since 1968, the Longview Symphony has provided live orchestral performances of classical music to audiences in Longview, TX.
Starting as an amateur group with a few conservatory-trained musicians volunteering their time, today the orchestra is composed entirely of professional musicians from Longview, the greater East Texas area, Shreveport, LA, and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Fourteen members are on staff at area universities and colleges, others are music educators in primary and secondary schools and many teach lessons privately. Dr. Isidor Saslav, the concertmaster since 1999, has served as concertmaster under the batons of Pablo Casals, Aaron Copland and Sir Neville Marriner. He has worked with Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Mstisla Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, Arthur Rubinstein – and other great musicians of our time all over the world.
Tonu Kalam joined the Longview Symphony as music director/conductor in 1988. This talented director commutes from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he is a tenured professor of music and conductor of the University of North Carolina Symphony. Also trained as a composer and pianist at Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley, Kalam appears as guest conductor throughout the United States and Europe. He is a past President of the Conductors Guild, an international organization devoted to the art of conducting. In 2005, Kalam was officially declared an Honorary Texan by the Texas Legislature. Maestro Kalam follows early directors, James Snowden, Longview High School band director, and Dr. Frank Carrol, dean of music at Centenary College, | | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.longviewsymphony.org/ | LongviewDance.com
 LongviewDance.com is operated by community leaders and the East Texas Chapter of USA Dance. You can contact us by calling Tonya Waite (903) 720-1295 | | For More Information Visit: HTTP://www.longviewdance.com/ |
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