Welcome to another season at the UMass Fine Arts Center. As always we’re bringing you some of the best art programming our world has to offer. Celebrated for our diverse programming, we have everything from Japanese Butoh to ice ballet from Russia, theater from Nicaragua to sculpture from Spain, gospel from South Africa to santoor music from India – we’ve got it all.

We are so fortunate to live in a Valley that is rich with diverse cultures and at the Fine Arts Center we not only embrace that diversity we present it on our stages, in our galleries and in the area’s public schools. As director of the Fine Arts Center, I am so proud of the staff’s artistic vision, dedication and their desire to expose our audiences to the vibrant international community of artists. Knowing exposure to and engagement in these rich expressions comes a deeper understanding - an awakening. Each year they surprise us all with programming that is powerful, beautiful, fun, unusual and always of the highest quality.

Please take a few moments to peruse our web site and read the feature articles in Spotlight. You’ll see that there is so much to explore at the Center. Then please, gather your friends and family and join me for another exceptional season and experience what is at the heart of our center – great art.

See you at the Center,

Dr. Willie L. Hill