Clarksville, TN – One of the perks of attending the state’s designated liberal arts university, with Tennessee’s only Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is there’s no shortage of things to do. On almost any night of the week, Austin Peay State University freshmen can attend poetry readings, art gallery openings, plays, dance performances or musical concerts, all within a few feet of their residence halls.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJM_igMi8Ck[/youtube]
“We’re doing four videos in the fall that will introduce our APSU 1000 students to the arts, and give them some access to it,” Christopher Burawa, director of the center, said.
APSU 1000 is an interdisciplinary course for all incoming students with fewer than 12 credit hours. The course’s emphasis is placed on the meaning, values and goals of a liberal arts education and provides students with the skills and tools needed to succeed in college.
Earlier this summer, the Center held a summer institute with several of the Center’s Faculty Advisory Board members—Kell Black, Blas Falconer, Darren Michael and Gregory Wolynec—to develop strategies on how to inform these students about the rich, cultural opportunities offered at APSU. During the discussion, Black, chair of the APSU Department of Art, suggested they make YouTube videos covering the four different creative arts disciplines offered at APSU.
The videos, produced by APSU art students under the guidance of associate professor of art Barry Jones, will appear on the University’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/apsu1927, a week before an event. The video will typically feature an interview with the faculty member in charge of that event and a sneak peak at what attendees can expect to see.
“Any students interested in these events can then learn about them,” Burawa said. “And most events are free to APSU students.”
Students, and the general public, are encouraged to check the YouTube site regularly through the semester to see short previews of upcoming performances and events. The first YouTube video introduces students to the program of the Gateway Chamber Orchestra’s opening concert of the year, which will feature works by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach and Steve Reich. The next video will introduce students to the photographs that will be featured in the exhibition, “The Urban Landscape” that opens on November 7th. The third video will introduce students to the theater production of “Beaux Strategem,” a Restoration farce that opens on November 16th. And the final video will introduce students to the new book of short stories, “From the San Joaquin” by award-winning writer and APSU professor of language and literature, Barry Kitterman, who will read from his new book on December 7th.
For more information on the new videos, contact the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at 931.221-7876.
