In today’s world, it seems we are nickel-and-dimed at every turn. Things are even worse for college students as the tuition rate continues to climb. Luckily for those of us who attend Ohio University, we get cut a little slack.The Arts for Ohio Initiative, a project created to integrate the arts into the Ohio University community, eliminates the cost of admission for students for performances and exhibitions presented by the university. The initiative is funded by Vision Ohio in hopes of increasing the presence of arts on campus and inspiring new ways of conversing and thinking.
Not only does the Arts for Ohio Initiative help provide larger audiences at events, which inevitably helps the artists, but it also provides opportunities that students might not get otherwise. College students are traditionally low on funds, so free admission removes a huge barrier to experiencing art.
According to a study by the Arts Education Partnership, students who are exposed to theater, dance and music have more success in school than those who concentrate on academics alone. This is yet another huge benefit of the Arts for Ohio Initiative, and great news to people like me who already view art on a regular basis.
The fact that this initiative is still in place with all the recent budget cuts is a testament to the importance of the arts and arts education. Perhaps the best part of the initiative is the sheer amount of art going on all the time. If you look at the calendar on the Arts for Ohio Web site, there are literally events going on every day, and something for everyone to enjoy.
Here are some events you won’t want to miss this quarter:
•“Marisol” by Jose Rivera, OHIO’s School of Theater main-stage production for this quarter
•Winter Dance Concert, performed by the OHIO School of Dance
•Women of Appalachia art exhibit, currently housed in the Multicultural Center Art Gallery in Baker Center
•Singing Men of Ohio and Singing Men of Ohio Alumni & Friends concert
All of this quarter’s events are listed on the Arts for Ohio Calendar of Events.
3 comments:
Art for me is a great release from the stresses of school and I love the comment about how students involved in theater, dance and music have more success in school. I truly believe in this and I am extremely glad you are providing a list of events on campus! I am always looking:)
Some of my best memories of college come from the times when I attended Arts for Ohio events. I never thought I would be able to see shows like Chicago or Hairspray right here on my own campus. I agree that students exposed to the arts are more successful in school. Hearing a concert or seeing a show challenges the mind in a very different way than a typical academic setting.
It's awesome you wrote about this. I have had such great experiences working with Arts for Ohio. As a member of student senate, and learning about Vision Ohio, I was able to see first hand the strength the program got through funding to make each event possible. It's awesome that this is available, and I hope that it continues at OU for years to come.
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