The Arts In India tour members returned last month from an inspiring and awesome journey to India. India is the Hot spot for tourism in all its facets- educational, fun and now medical tourism. Economy is strong and cell phones are attached to everyone’s ears. Pizza Hut, McDonald’s and mega malls cropping up in every city show the influence of the west on India’s youth. Yet tradition holds supreme as well- centuries old magnificent monuments, luxurious palaces turned into hotels, classical dance and music and artistic traditions all overwhelm the traveler.

India is incredible in so many ways. The overflowing humanity that covers every inch of visible space reminds one constantly of a billion people striving to live, survive and prosper in the country. The roads are choked with traffic in the big cities and what a scene it is with expensive SUVs, small cars, two wheelers, scooters, bicycles, trucks honking and pushing each other to make way. No traffic rules hold here. To say nothing of the occasional animal who decided to wander to the other side of the road. It is chaotic, maddening and colorful.

Then there were the beautiful quiet moments in idyllic surroundings of the backwaters of the lake Vembanad in Kerala, a visit to a gymnasium to see the world’s oldest martial arts being practiced with a religious fervor, visit to the Taj Mahal, ride on an elephant up to the Amber Fort, these are among the few rich experiences the Arts In India tour members enjoyed and carried home the wonderful memories. It’s all a part of the Incredible India experience.

The Fine Arts Center is pleased to announce Kathryn Maguet as the new Director of the Center Series program. She comes to us from the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Sun Valley, ID where she served as Director of Performing Arts. While at Sun Valley Center for the Arts, she created an extensive residency program, commissioned new works, programmed an outdoor concert series, festivals and special events. She worked collaboratively with the education and visual arts departments to create multidisciplinary projects that explored such diverse topics as Chinese Immigration, contemporary art and culture from the Middle East, the legacy of Woody Guthrie and the role of social activism.

Quoting Dr. Willie Hill, Director of the Fine Arts Center, “We are thrilled to have Kathryn join our staff. She comes to us with an exemplary vision of programming that is exciting and innovative. We chose her for this position because of her outstanding reputation in the field, her experience in creating community collaborations and her ability to work as part of a team.”

"I am excited by the opportunity to build on the past successes of the presenting programs at the Fine Arts Center and to work collaboratively with the Five Colleges faculty, staff and students to maximize the benefits of this world-class fine arts center," said Maguet. "I hope to deepen the connection to community, and by community, I mean the campus community as well as the broader community, to a whole range of performing arts experiences and to present programs that reflect the rich cultural complexion of western Massachusetts and beyond." Welcome Kathryn!

The Fine Arts Center would like to thank the following sponsors of our Fall 2006 Season! Their support is essential to our success. Finck & Perras Insurance, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, WEIB 106.3fm, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, Florence Savings Bank, WFCR 88.5fm, Yale Genton, Fathers & Son, 93.9 The River, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, Apple Computer, The Valley Advocate, El Diálogo, PeoplesBank, WGBY TV-57.