Fine Arts Festival

Event Overview

The purpose of the Lenawee County Fine Arts Festival is to celebrate and enhance high school students’ knowledge and skills in the fine arts. The FAF was designed to provide Lenawee County high school students an experience with like-minded peers; an opportunity to add to their personal growth; and recognition for their unique gifts and talents. Students have an opportunity to work with professional artists and instructors to better hone their skills and explore new forms of art within their specific track.

Typically, students are involved in one of nine tracks: Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Drumline, Orchestra, Video Production, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music.

Held each year in May at Siena Heights University, the 2019 event will be the 12th annual festival. Traditionally, the festival included various workshops and creative experiences, break-out sessions, and instruction that culminated in a collaborative, final performance. New in 2019, the format will be shifting to give students more opportunities to explore different forms of track-specific art through expanded workshops. The final combined performance will also be eliminated, with each track instead hosting a brief sharing session / performance in their rehearsal space, spread out across an evening schedule.

2019 Festival Information

Theme

"Seize the Day," inspired by Newsies the Musical.

Flyer

2019 Fine Arts Festival Flyer

Date and Location

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Spencer Performing Arts Center (Siena Heights University)

For students, the festival workshops run all day, starting at 9am. Students will be transported by their home district to the Siena Heights University Spencer PAC. The day will include lunch, dinner, and breakout sessions, and will end will track-specific evening showcases.

Evening Showcases (5:30 - 7:00 p.m.)

Students will use short showcases to display some of the skills they learned during the day. Please note that unlike previous years, there will be no cumulative final performance at the Field House. The schedule for each track is shown in the schedule below. All performances will take place at the Spencer PAC. Parents, families, and community members may access Spencer PAC from the parking lot at the Oakwood Drive campus entrance, or from on-campus sidewalks between Dominican Hall and McLaughlin University Center. Please utilize Siena Heights University's Interactive Campus Map for additional guidance on the location. Students are welcome and encouraged to stay for other tracks after their showcase is complete, but are free to leave once they are finished.

Evening Showcase Schedule

5:30 p.m.
Drumline Track (Sculpture Park - right outside Spencer PAC)

5:45 p.m.
Band Track (Band Room)
Video Production Track (Music Hall)

6:00 p.m.
Drama Track (Lab Theater)
Visual Arts Track (Lobby)

6:15 p.m.
Creative Writing Track (Lab Theater)
Orchestra Track (Main Theater)

6:30 p.m.
Dance Track (Lab Theater)
Visual Arts Track (Lobby)

6:45 p.m.
Arts Immersion Track (Main Theater)
Vocal Music Track (Music Hall)

2018 Recap

The 2018 Fine Arts Festival (FAF) was held on May 9, 2018, at Siena Heights University, The Croswell Opera House, and The Adrian Center for the Arts. Over 440 students registered in one of nine tracks: band, creative writing, dance, drama, drumline, orchestra, visual arts, video production, and vocal music. During the day, students participated in instructional workshops, breakout sessions, and other creative experiences. In the evening, students participated in an evening collage-style performance in the SHU Field House to share what they learned and their new skills from the day with family members, community members, and other students.

The theme of this year’s Festival was “Rise Up,” inspired by the Broadway hit, Hamilton: An American Musical. Each track explored this theme in unique ways, focusing on specific pieces from the musical and also the concepts of overcoming adversity, standing up for oneself, and rising up to face challenges and opportunities.

This year’s FAF was a success in large part to our sponsors, supporting foundations, and partner organizations: Siena Heights University, The Croswell Opera House, Adrian Center for the Arts, Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Adrian, Adrian District Library, Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Craft Handmade, Ghidrah’s Mind Body Spirit, Michigan Works! Southeast, Red Paint Printing, LLC, Red Raptor Comics, The Novelty Shoppe, SASS, Smarty Design Co, and Visit Lenawee.