[Press Release] : press release

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

News from First Night Columbia - New Year's Eve celebration

COLUMBIA, MO (October 14, 2005) -- First Night Columbia is gearing up
for the New Year and is pleased to announce the festival will be
featured in the November/December issue of Midwest Living magazine, a
magazine with almost a million readers in 12 states. The article
features three Midwest New Year's Eve celebrations, one being
Columbia's. 

More good news is that the senior staff for Stephens College has agreed
to allow First Night to expand on to the Stephens College Campus. The
Windsor Auditorium and Stamper Commons buildings will be used to create
four new entertainment venues. The First Baptist Church staff has also
agreed to let First Night use their church located close to the college.
Many of the other spaces used in the past will also be available such as
the First Christian Church, the Methodist Church, the Armory Sports
Center, Boone County Government Building, Missouri Theatre and more. 

The Missouri Arts Council (MAC) recently awarded $10,135 to First Night
Columbia. The funds will support the celebration of New Year's Eve
through the arts. Over 60 performances, art and activities at 14
locations are scheduled in downtown Columbia beginning at 6:30 p.m. on
Dec. 31. The MAC recently awarded grants to Missouri schools and
organizations to support the arts. The Missouri Arts Council, a division
of the Department of Economic Development, is the second-oldest state
arts agency in the country. Since its inception in 1965, the Missouri
State Legislature has appropriated general revenue dollars for MAC to
grant to organizations in Missouri for their arts programming.

Recently the board approved another year term for co-directors Jane
Accurso and Karen Ramey. The board of directors are Greg Ahrens, Kate
Akers, Jan Blair, Judy Campbell, Leigh Nutter, Carolyn Oates
(president), John Patton, Glen Ward, John Warner and Kathleen
Weinschenk. 

For more information about First Night Columbia, contact Karen Ramey at
874-6397 or at newyear at coin.org.

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/index.php