By Juan Betancourt
Web Editor
The Brookhaven College School of the Arts will host its second annual BCSA Open House to showcase its course offerings to students. The event will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 19 in the Performance Hall lobby.
Information on art, dance, drama, humanities, kinesiology and music courses will be offered, Brianna Johnson, social media and marketing director for the BCSA, said in an email to The Courier. Upcoming events will be showcased and information on summer and fall courses will be available.
Jason Bennett, an adjunct music professor, said the open house is a perfect opportunity for students to be well informed and look at various course options for the School of Arts. He said he wants students to interact with staff and ask questions about the programs available.
Bennett said there has been a movement by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce or eliminate certain art foundations. He said that makes him worry about the future of the arts.
Trump said he wants a proposal to eliminate the arts, according to The New York Times.
“We use [art] as an opportunity to celebrate what we do and remind people to show art and how it looks,” Bennett said
Popcorn, cotton candy and coffee will be available, and attendees will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for prizes.
Bennett said last year each department offered different prizes – the music department gave free music lessons, the theater department gave tickets to any showing of the Uptown Players theater and the art department gave art supplies.
Like in last year’s open house, Bennett said the art department will have hands-on demonstrations. A 3-D printer and a ceramics wheel will be showcased this year, Johnson said. Performances from theater, dance and music students and faculty will also be showcased.
Bennett said he understands many students may not register for classes but said he wants them to at least know the School of the Arts is an option.
“We’re trying to bring awareness of the arts,” Bennett said.
