Performing Arts Signature Series, or PASS, will not have in-person events for the fall. The series will instead offer a unique experience with take-out from a premium local restaurant paired with access to an online performance by a visiting artist who recorded a performance specifically for this event.
The first three are:
Thursday, Oct. 15: John Patti on steel drums.
Thursday, Nov. 5: A Chicago-based Japanese drumming group.
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021: Sultans of String, a folk-rock string trio.
Tickets include a digital link to the performance and take-out dinner from either Crust in Bettendorf or Combine in East Moline using a fixed price menu created for the event. A link to the menus with instructions for placing orders will be provided in advance.
Quad City Arts Executive Director Kevin Maynard says subscribers can purchase the series of three parties for a discount ($140 per person), as well as one dinner and show for $50 or a “show only” option for $20.
Typically, PASS events were $50 per person, held at venues throughout the Quad-Cities, where guests can enjoy complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a performance with a world-class visiting artist in residence through the Visiting Artist Series, and a chance for guests to mingle with the artists.
The full season usually consists of six parties from September to April. Quad City Arts remains committed to finding new ways of bringing arts experiences to the community, and Maynard says there are more PASS concerts planned for 2021.
“We will have more PASS events for the first half of 2021. We opted to not plan out that far ahead, because depending on what all is happening in the world, our ideal situation is, we would be to do some sort of hybrid event, to have people back in person. But we want to be able to make that decision when we know a little more. We don’t want to rush anything, so we’re being as safe as possible.”
All proceeds directly support the Visiting Artist Series, a performing arts residency program presenting music, dance, and theatre for school and community audiences.
Maynard says the series has moved to an all-online format this season and will provide schools with access to video, demonstrations, brief performances, study guides, and streamed live performances that teachers can build into their curriculum. The overall costs for the Visiting Artist Series will be less than a typical year, and available to more students in the six-county area served by Quad City Arts.
The Visiting Artist Series, usually 10 to 12 artists in a school year, is provided free for schools and other locations. During last season, more than 24,000 K-12 students were reached through the program – in which two residencies had to be canceled in March and April due to Covid-19.
The series will start its 47th season this year, he says, broadening student awareness of cultures and artistic genres.
“The Visiting Artist Series – we want to make sure that students represented in our community can see themselves represented on stage. We also want to give our students a look into other cultures, and other styles of music. Really, just kind of help all our students to be more aware of the world outside of our community.”
For more information on VAS and PASS, visit quadcityarts.com.
