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December 13, 1999
With the new year only a few weeks away, people are stocking up on party favors, confetti and champagne. But while most celebrations quickly come and go, Montclair State will keep the festivities alive through ArtsFest 2000, a year-long arts and cultural festival.
"The arts are a good vehicle for celebrating the millennium," said Gerard Caracciolo, director of the International Center for the Arts, who is spearheading the project. "Art has been a wonderful way of recording history-that's how we can look back and see who we were, who we are and who we are becoming." And that's what ArtsFest 2000 is all about-celebrating the past, present and future.
From dance, music and theater performances to art exhibitions, film series and educational programs, ArtsFest 2000 is designed to promote global unity by engendering understanding, respect and appreciation for the contributions made by diverse cultures to the country and the world.
"By doing this, we hope to bring people together in partnerships both inside and outside the campus community," said Caracciolo.
Although the festival is a School of the Arts project, it is inviting participation from other colleges/schools and departments. Most of the main attractions, however, will come from music, fine arts, theater and dance.
"Music, for instance, will have a whole series of events that features the work of Aaron Copland, who is one of the most celebrated American composers," Caracciolo explained. Many international and multi-cultural programs also will be featured throughout the year. The Theatre and Dance programs will present a work from an international playwright, and the art galleries will offer exhibitions from China and Brazil. "The international presence will promote the exchange of different perspectives and give rise to building bridges through new collaborations," said Caracciolo.
The China exhibition expects to bring in new perspectives from several Chinese artists. One of the lead artists of that exhibition will be here for a short-term residency in March. Caracciolo said he hopes ArtsFest 2000 will bring additional visibility to the University's arts programming. "Once visitors see our educational and artistic programming, they may become interested in Montclair State as a place to study."
A schedule of ArtsFest 2000 events is available on the Web at www.montclair.edu/Pages/ICA/Artsfest/htm.