MISSION & HISTORY OF THE UD ARTS SERIES

Founded in 1961, the Arts Series was “designed to enhance the liberal education
of university students.” For nearly 50 years, the program has brought hundreds
of artists to campus, opening the programs to the community as well. Funded by
the College of Arts and Sciences, the programs have ranged from poetry and
drama, to music, dance and the visual arts. 

In the early decades, the Arts Series featured guests such as poets W.H. Auden
and Louis Untermeyer(1963), the playwright Edward Albee (1979), the noted dancer
Edward Villella (1974) and, perhaps most famous of all, Ella Fitzgerald (1975).
As the years progressed, an emphasis on performance rather than lectures emerged
(as other speaker series on campus developed), and a more diverse palette of
performers were presented. Recent artists have ranged from Ronald K. Brown to
Vieux Farke Toure and the Throat Singers of Tuva.

These selections reflect the revised mission statement of the Arts Series to sponsor
“distinctive, varied and engaging arts events to enrich the cultural life of our
community.”  The goal is to help support the University’s overall goal of creating
“A vibrant and diverse community in the Marianist tradition.” To this end, the Arts
Series unites faculty, student, staff and community representatives to present
performances, exhibitions, workshops, residencies and dialogues featuring artists
drawn from around the world. 


COMMITTEE MEMBERS

2008/09 SEASON

Slavic Soul Party

Heinavanker:
The Estonian Choir

Project

Curtis Barnes:
A Jazz Tribute

Sumarsam: Notes from a
Gamelan Master

LitFest: A Poetry Symposium
in collaboration with the
Department of English

WORLD RHYTHMS SERIES
In cooperation with CITYFOLK

Brasil Guitar Duo
Rhythm in Shoes with
Dallas Chief Eagle
Lo Cor de la Plana

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