Fresno State to host Summer Arts to 2010

By REUBEN CONTRERAS

Fresno State will host the CSU Summer Arts through 2010. The chancellor’s officed announced last week.

Since 1986, the Summer Arts program has been offered to CSU students. Workshops are offered in theater, dance, music, visual arts, creative writing, new media and arts education.

The program allows students to apply units from these workshops to their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Jim Spalding, CSU director of Summer Arts, said it was critical to find a proper fit with the program needs on campus, and Fresno State stood out because of its facilities and community support.

“The cooperation and support from the campus and the community that we’ve had in the past will only continue into the future,” Spalding said.

Spalding said he is confident the cooperation and support the program has enjoyed from the campus and community will continue.

“We are extremely proud to have been selected again to host the CSU Summer Arts Program,” said Jeronima Echeverria, vice president of academic affairs at Fresno State.

Echeverria gave credit to the faculty and leadership of the university’s College of Arts and Humanities.
Fresno State will become the longest-running host to the two-week event.

“We are delighted that we will have five more summers full of artistic programming, workshops and performances for Fresno and the Valley,” Echeverria said.

Since the summer of 1999, Fresno State has been the host to CSU Summer Arts, with events on campus and in the surrounding community. The Tower Theater, Fresno Art Museum, Arte Americas, the Starline Theatre and the First Congregational Church of Fresno have all participated in hosting Summer Arts.

“We are absolutely delighted to host Summer Arts for another five years. Summer Arts adds a new dimension of art and culture to our community,” said Vida Samiian, acting dean of Fresno State’s College of Arts and Humanities.

Samiian said the community support the past six years has been phenomenal.

“Everyone is cooperative and supportive — community venues and organizations, university support systems, such as the grounds crew, to faculty and staff. It has been a community and university team effort to make Summer Arts a success, along with great facilities on campus and the community.”

Summer Arts runs from June 26 — July 23. The event is expected to feature artist works and public events, which include Joe Goode performance group and the Amakhosi Theater Company from Zimbabwe.