A gala Thursday at the new La Grande Public Library will celebrate a partnership between LEO the Libraries of Eastern Oregon and the Smithsonian American Art Museum that will bring art and humanities programs to rural schools and libraries.

The evening will get under way at 6:30 p.m. with a full buffet dinner by Class Act Cateringfor $15 per person at the new F. Maxine and Thomas W. Cook Memorial Library, which will open to the public the following week.

Tickets will be available in advance or at the door.

"We consider this partnership a major step for LEO," said Jo Cowling, LEO chair and director of the La Grande Public Library. "It is a wonderful opportunity for rural residents to experience the very best of our nation’s art firsthand."

Initially, programs will be delivered through video conferencing, allowing audiences to participate directly in discussions with distant artists and speakers. As the partnership evolves it will include local guest lecturers and exhibits.

Museum staff will visit several communities in Eastern Oregon Sept. 11-15

Susan Nichols, SAAM Lunder Education Chair, and Woodrow Dowling, SAAM Director of Interactive Distance Learning, will be keynote speakers at the gala.

Other speakers will include David Westcott, vice president of development for The Oregon Community Foundation on endowment funds; Mark Simmons, state director of USDA Rural Development on distance learning and digitalization; Marilyn Johnson, director of research and development for The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry OMSI on rural outreach; and Bill Crane, senior planned gifts officer for The Oregon Council for the Humanities on the importance of art and humanities programs for rural communities.

Funding for video conferencing equipment for nine schools and libraries has been provided to LEO by OMSI, with NASA funding obtained through the support of the Oregon federal delegation. Additionally, LEO has been awarded a Rural Development grant for 11 more units, which will be placed in coming months at libraries.

"We’ve been very successful in connecting rural students and library patrons with programs from OMSI and other science providers," said Lyn Craig, LEO executive director. "The partnership with SAAM will build upon the network we have developed among libraries and schools, and will bring art and humanities programs to rural communities, much like has been accomplished with science and Chautauqua programs from the Oregon Council for the Humanities."

For information contact Craig at 541-763-2355 or .