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HAPPENINGS Horowitz Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary Season with Donor Tribute Over the past 10 years, the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center has seen more than 360,000 patrons, and 75,000 students have taken classes in the arts and humanities division. On Saturday, January 30, 2016, the college celebrated this milestone by honoring donors and supporters of the Horowitz Center with a reception and main stage program in the Smith Theatre. "The Horowitz Center has so far exceeded my expectations," said Valerie Lash, dean of arts and humanities. "The building is a work of art itself, and to be able to teach, learn, and create here is inspiring." The event recognized those who contributed to the building fund. Arts Collective and Writers Collaborate Arts Collective opened its 21st season by hosting an improv coffeehouse this fall, debuting a new creative partnership among the Arts Collective's What Improv Group, HCC Creative Writers, and Howard County Poetry and Literature Society. At the event, writers read their original poetry and prose to the actors. The actors, never having heard the works before, interpret what they hear. The result is a funny and heartwarming evening of improvisation, poetry, and prose. Tara Hart, coordinator of HCC Creative Writers, explains "One of the great things about the process is that this is not just a comedy show, we're looking for the audience to be moved in a variety of ways. We offer a rich variety of pieces; poems on very serious subjects or short stories with vivid, even disturbing images, and we see what the actors do with that. Although I have to say, there is a lot of laughing." Energized by the success of this partnership, Arts Collective is looking forward to finding more ways to partner with HCC Creative Writers for creative performances in the future. Former HCC President Mary Ellen Duncan, who was instrumental in planning the building, added "It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for Pete and Beth Horowitz." Their daughter, Faith, expressed great pleasure in the fact that the Horowitz Center has become a place of cultural and academic excellence, just as her parents envisioned. Donor Joanne Davis said of the tribute evening "This [building] was the beginning of a rebirth that has continued and continues on now. So we're very excited to be here." Spring 2016 | Pathways 17