We are fortunate to live in a culturally diverse area. Throughout our existence, the Fine Arts Center has kept cultural programming and educational outreach at the core of our mission and values. To further reach out to our latino neighbors, we now offer the Center Series portion of the website in English and Spanish. Spanish speakers can simply click on the "Español" link of the Center Series page to access the pages in spanish. It our goal to translate the entire site over the next year or so.

Charlotte Hill O’Neal, artist and former Black Panther activist, left the U.S. over thirty years ago and is now the co-director of the United African Alliance Community Center in Tanzania, East Africa. The organization sponsors an international exchange program for underprivileged American and Tanzanian teenagers. Charlotte along w ith her husband Peter also coordinate study-abroad programs for several U.S. universities, bringing American college students to The UAACC to work alongside young Tanzanians while teaching them English, computer skills and HIV/AIDS awareness. Charlotte Hill O'Neal aka Mama Charlotte has been both a resident artist and teacher at UAACC since it's inception in 1991. Her life, art and community healing have been well documented in a PBS special entitled "A Panther in Africa".

Ms. O’Neal will visit the campus and show a new body of works on fabric.This exhibit is an event associated with The 2006 Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series entitled "Politics and Protest: The 1960's and Now." Augusta Savage Gallery located at the New Africa House will host the exhibit October 24 - November 21.

Did you know that many of the Fine Arts Center's visual and performing arts programs have artist educational residencies?

Residencies range from a couple of hours to several weeks. Recently, Swiss artist Beat Streuli offered one-on-one critique sessions with MFA art students. The students received valuable feedback from one of the hottest visual artists of our time. NEA Jazz Master Paquito D'Rivera will bring his expertise in latin jazz to music students in a master class scheduled this fall. Through these types of activities, Umass student learn from the best in their prospective fields. These are lasting experiences that will influence students and live on in their memory.

Our local schools also benefit from residency activities. For example, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s lead trumpet, Sean Jones will be working with students at Amherst Regional High School and DBR & THE MISSION will present two interactive performances to Northampton High School students.

More extensively, four artists from Tales of Beijing Opera, a performance residency of the Asian Arts & Culture program, will have full-day class visits in three different Springfield Public Schools (elementary, middle and high schools) as part of a 13-year partnership with their Chinese language program.

Did you know that your gift to the annual fund provides vital support for these important residencies that reach far into our campus and regional communities? Please give as generously as you are able.click here

Thank you!