Center for Arts and Culture celebrates ‘Five Years of Arts and Culture in Action’ with free, public events

The University of Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture will celebrate “Five Years of Arts and Culture in Action” with a series of free, public events March 23 (Friday) and 24 (Saturday) at its home on West Washington Street in South Bend.

Located in the former Children’s Dispensary in the West Washington National Historic District, the Center for Arts and Culture provides educational opportunities and inspiration through the creation and appreciation of art, the study of cultures and community engagement.

It is home to Segura Arts Studio, a printmaking studio that champions established artists from marginalized groups; the Crossroads Gallery; and the University’s Office of Community Relations, which works with community partners to support local events and programs that contribute to a healthy and prosperous community.

The public celebration will commence March 23 with an evening celebration and building tours from 7 to 9:30 p.m., including a reception with hors d’oeuvres; three art exhibitions; a musical performance by the Oblates of Blues, a blues band comprising Notre Dame theology professors; and a printmaking demonstration.

Activities will resume from 1 to 5 p.m. March 24 with more building tours in addition to live music, art, science activities, dancing, entertainment, live painting, refreshments and more, including:

1 p.m.: “Sing, Move and Make Music,” featuring The Music Village.

2 p.m.: Shakespeare, featuring the Robinson Community Learning Center’s Robinson Shakespeare Company.

2:30 and 4:30 p.m.: Printmaking demonstrations with artist Ramiro Rodriguez.

3 p.m.: Story time with the St. Joseph County Public Library.

3 to 5 p.m.: Music by the Music Village Jammers.

“The Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture is proud to celebrate five years of arts and culture programming,” said Jackie Rucker, associate director of Community Relations for Notre Dame, adding, “We want our five-year celebration to be reflective of what we have experienced through those five years, with opportunities for children and adults to experience art and culture in action.”

The Center for Arts and Culture opened in the former Children’s Dispensary in 2013 following extensive renovation of the building and with support from the City of South Bend, South Bend Heritage Foundation, Dorene Dominguez, Vanir Construction Management and various donors, including the Institute for Latino Studies, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the Florence V. Carroll Charitable Trust and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, now St. Joseph Health System.

As part of its educational mission, the Center for Arts and Culture offers a host of events and programs, from “The Global Experience,” a series of annual programs and events focused on cultural education, to literacy tutoring, parenting classes, adult caregiving seminars and annual summer camps for area middle school students.

For more information or to register for the Friday celebration, visit artsandculture.nd.edu or call 574-631-3249.

Contact: Erin Blasko, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu

Originally published by Erin Blasko at news.nd.edu on March 15, 2018.