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Summer festival gives life to Boone, university |
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Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |
by LINDSAY CRAVEN
Lifestyles Reporter
An Appalachian Summer Festival, presented by the Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, brings an array of music, art, theatre, film and dance to campus each year.
This year, the festival is celebrating its 24th anniversary, and promises to bring another summer of the arts to Boone.
“The festival annually attracts over 26,000 people to its performances, visual arts events, lectures and seminars,” Director of Marketing and Public Relations Megan Hayes said.
This year the festival will host a total of 37 events, from June 28 to July 26.
“While
the ‘programming mix’ of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts remains
largely the same, there are a few new elements that we feel will add
great excitement to the 2008 season,” Director of the Arts and Cultural
Programs Office Denise R. Ringler, said.
A few examples
include: the addition of a film component, an internationally acclaimed
violinist, Midori, debut performance of the Charlotte Symphony
Orchestra, and more, she said.
An Appalachian
Summer Festival is nearly a yearlong process to complete, with planning
beginning in early fall and lasts through late winter.
The line-up is announced in early spring and ticket sales began Feb. 17 this year.
After looking
back over the numbers of ticket sales from the year before and
evaluating that season, An Appalachian Summer Festival staff begins the
process of deciding which artists to invite to the upcoming festival.
“Artistic
decisions are made through a collaborative process. At the core of this
process is an ‘Artistic Partnership Team,’ consisting of artists and
arts administrators with expertise in each of the disciplines
represented by the festival,” Ringler said.
“Working with
some of the most accomplished and highly respected artists in their
fields as partners and advisors, we are confident that the festival
will continue to expand the breadth and quality of its programming,
while building new audiences for the fine arts and garnering greater
attention and acclaim for the university,” she continued.
As with any celebration on a scale such as the festival, there are challenges to overcome.
“The challenges
we face are probably typical of any large-scale public event, but over
the past 24 years, the festival has become such an integral part of
campus and community life in the summertime, that everyone pulls
together to share their expertise and to make it happen,” Ringler said.
An Appalachian Summer Festival works to achieve all of its roles to the university, the community and to the arts.
“The festival’s
identity as a university-based arts festival informs and guides
everything we do. By presenting the most accomplished creative and
performing artists from across the globe, the festival supports the
teaching mission of the university, enhances the cultural life of the
campus and surrounding region, serves as an important gateway onto
campus, and promotes the economic development of the region,” Ringler
said.
The event has grown farther than ever expected.
“…Through
extensive outreach and marketing, the festival has grown from a popular
local event to become a destination for visitors from across the
southeast and beyond,” Ringler said.
The staff of An Appalachian Summer Festival hopes to strongly encourage those within driving distance to attend the festival.
“This year, economic factors are encouraging us to look closely at our nearby ‘drive markets.’
These are places
close to Boone, such as Hickory and Winston-Salem, with which we have a
good sales history,” Hayes said. “We’re encouraging people in these
markets to come to Boone and escape the heat for an ‘arts getaway’ that
can be defined as a day trip, an overnight stay or a weekend getaway.”
Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online, by phone or at the Farthing Auditorium box office.
“The festival’s
Web site is very comprehensive and offers a full schedule of events,
specific information about each performance, exhibition, seminar and
workshop and online ticket sales,” Hayes said. “Purchasing tickets in
person saves you processing fees, and offers the highest level of
customer service.”
Tickets are available to students, faculty and staff for a discounted price.
The festival is
also offering special multiple event tickets that will allow attendees
to receive deep discounts on events of their choice.
“Our ‘Pick 5’
pass lets you choose any five tickets with a 15 percent discount, and
our ‘Festival Pass’ gives you one ticket to every festival performance
at 25 percent off our already low ticket prices,” Hayes said.
The Farthing
Auditorium box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Attendees can also call 262-4046 or visit appsummer.org for
tickets and information.
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