CAL STATE SUMMER: Appearances are deceiving, says...
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CAL STATE SUMMER: Appearances are deceiving, says Jim Spalding, interim director of the Cal State University Summer Arts program, soon to begin its second summer at Cal State Long Beach.
“Where we had 35 public arts events--aside from classroom activities--at 1996 Summer Arts, this year we will present just 22,” he says. “But our [student] attendance and our budgets remain comparable to last year. In fact, we will in 1997, between June 29 and July 26, serve more than 500 students, an increase of 20%, in our programs.” And serving college students by providing them with intensive arts workshops is the primary activity of the festival.
Where appearances aren’t deceiving, he acknowledges, is that this year’s offerings give less emphasis to classical music than last year’s. There will be just two professional performances, by the New York New Music Ensemble, July 17 and 22. Theater and performance art, multimedia, world music and visual art are all represented, with an equal emphasis on lectures and performances; highlights will include an appearance by Tony Award-winning theater designer Ming Cho Lee and the Cambodian dance company Danse Celeste.
Spalding promises a return in 1998 to some of the classical music attractions of last year: a two-week composers workshop, a guitar and lute fortnight, a class in opera scenes, a vocal ensemble workshop--in all, 17 different workshops.
Information on the performance series: (562) 985-2964.
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