Arts First
{{Short description|Annual festival at Harvard University}}
ARTS FIRST is an annual arts festival held at Harvard University over four days at the end of the spring semester. It includes live performances (music, dance, theater, poetry readings, comedy, fashion, and more) as well as art exhibitions and art-making activities. It was founded by alum John Lithgow and Office for the Arts Director Myra Mayman in 1994 to honor the artistic community at Harvard, and is run by Harvard's [https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/arts Office for the Arts (OFA)].{{cite web |title=Harvard Gazette Arts First at 25 |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/harvards-arts-first-celebrates-25-years/ |publisher=Harvard University Gazette |accessdate=16 October 2023 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016153448/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/harvards-arts-first-celebrates-25-years/ |url-status=live }} The festival is a public event and many of the events are free.
Participation
All Harvard affiliates (undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae) may apply to perform and exhibit artwork during ARTS FIRST. Performing ensembles may include non-Harvard affiliates, as long as at least one performer is a Harvard affiliate.{{cite web |title=Arts First FAQ |url=https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/arts/arts-first-faq |publisher=Harvard University Office for the Arts |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=8 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408221014/https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/arts/arts-first-faq |url-status=live }}
The festival involves up to 2,000 artists, giving over 100 performances and exhibitions.{{cite web |title=Celebrating the Arts at Harvard |url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2016/03/celebrating-the-arts-at-harvard |publisher=Harvard Magazine |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015655/https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2016/03/celebrating-the-arts-at-harvard |url-status=live }}
Volunteers are recruited to assist in running the festival. They are not required to be affiliated with Harvard University.
Participant funding
Some funding is provided for selected Public Art projects in Harvard Yard. ARTS FIRST Performance Fair performances are directly given a free venue, publicity, and production support, instead of funding.
Performances
The Performance Fair includes opera,{{cite web |title=Harvard College Opera |url=https://harvardcollegeopera.com/ |website=harvardcollegeopera.com |publisher=Harvard College Opera |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218141845/https://harvardcollegeopera.com/ |url-status=live }} dance,{{cite web |title=Harvard Ballet Company |url=https://www.harvardballetcompany.org/ |publisher=Harvard Ballet Company |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218201946/https://www.harvardballetcompany.org/ |url-status=live }} music of many genres,{{cite web |title=ARTS FIRST at the Harvard Art Museums: Music in the Courtyard |url=https://calendar.artsboston.org/event/arts-first-harvard-art-museums-music-courtyard/ |website=artsboston.org |publisher=Arts Boston |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015623/https://calendar.artsboston.org/event/arts-first-harvard-art-museums-music-courtyard/ |url-status=live }} stand-up and improv comedy, theater, poetry and experimental performances.
Public art
The festival includes exhibitions of public art in Harvard Yard and other locations around the campus. Works include sculpture, installations, or installations with performance/video components and film/video.{{cite web |title=ARTS FIRST at the Harvard Art Museums: Direct Animation & Cameraless Filmmaking Materials Lab Workshop |url=https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/visit/calendar/arts-first-at-the-harvard-art-museums-direct-animation-cameraless-filmmaking-materials-lab-workshop |website=www.harvardartmuseums.org |publisher=Harvard Art Museums |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015730/https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/visit/calendar/arts-first-at-the-harvard-art-museums-direct-animation-cameraless-filmmaking-materials-lab-workshop |url-status=live }}
Student projects that are selected for exhibition in Harvard Yard receive supporting guidance from a professional visual artist.
Harvard Arts Medal
The Harvard Arts Medal is an annual award established in 1995 to recognize "excellence and demonstrated achievement in the arts by a Harvard or Radcliffe alumnus/a or faculty member."{{cite web |title=Harvard Arts Medal |url=https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-arts-medal |website=ofa.fas.harvard.edu |publisher=Harvard University |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=8 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408220803/https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-arts-medal |url-status=live }} The medal is given to an individual who has achieved distinction in the arts and who has made a special contribution to the good of the arts, to the public good in relation to the arts, or to education.{{cite web |title=Alumna Tracy K. Smith '97 Awarded Harvard Arts Medal |url=https://arts.columbia.edu/news/alumna-tracy-k-smith-97-awarded-harvard-arts-medal |website=Columbia University School of the Arts |publisher=Columbia University |accessdate=20 February 2019 |archive-date=24 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624175220/https://arts.columbia.edu/news/alumna-tracy-k-smith-97-awarded-harvard-arts-medal |url-status=live }} It is awarded on the recommendation of a committee of (Harvard) faculty, alumni and administrators, by the Office of Governing Boards and the president of Harvard.
During a 2012 interview discussing his part in initiating the Harvard ARTS FIRST annual festival, John Lithgow said, "In 1995, I proposed the Harvard Arts Medal. The idea was to celebrate the fact that, although it’s rare, Harvard men and women do go into the creative arts."{{cite web |title=Q&A: John Lithgow Talks Arts First |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/4/24/john-lithgow-q-a/ |website=The Harvard Crimson |publisher=The Harvard Crimson, Inc. |accessdate=20 February 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401201322/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/4/24/john-lithgow-q-a/ |url-status=live }}
The recipient of the annual Harvard Arts Medal is announced during the course of the festival.{{cite web |title=Harvard ARTS FIRST Festival |url=https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/harvard-arts-first-festival--5 |publisher=The Boston Calendar |accessdate=18 February 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218142117/https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/harvard-arts-first-festival--5 |url-status=live }}
= Recipients =
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ofa.fas.harvard.edu/arts/festival-schedule 2019 Festival Schedule]
Category:Music festivals in Massachusetts
Category:Film festivals in Massachusetts