Our guest speaker today was Dean Pamela Swett, URI History professor and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences along with her associate, Jillian Kincaid, Senior Director of Development for Arts & Sciences. The presentation featured the recent completion of the new Fine Arts Center which had its ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this week.
We were also blessed with a visit from a husband & wife pair of visiting Rotarians from San Juan Island in the Puget Sound, Barbara (pictured on right) and Frank Fagan!
Dean Swett explained that the fine arts include art, music, art history and theater and the new center represents a vast improvement over the pre-existing center. By providing space for expression as well as study of fine arts the new center will enrich the learning and creative experience of the arts. The art space will offer 3 galleries, 9 teaching & practice spaces and 2 classes, music will have 20 office studios and 22 practice studios along with a recording studio and theater will provide 2 studios and a 1,333 sq.ft. open space for dancing, acting and more. A calendar outlining key events in the art gallery, theater (with 4 mainstage productions per year) and the music hall can be found in their on-line directory.
We all look forward to this exciting and culturally enriching addition to the University of Rhode island will bring to our students and community that helped to fund and support this accomplishment!
