25th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser for The Visual and Performing Arts Department at Michigan Tech

The Visual and Performing Arts Department at Michigan Tech is celebrating their 25th anniversary this academic year.

There will be a celebratory 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 6th, beginning at 5:30pm at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.   You’re invited to come celebrate with an evening of cocktails, dinner, and live arts entertainment.

The VPA 25th Anniversary Gala will feature intimate performances in the lobby and on stage, and live auction supporting the Marian and John Irish Award for Environmental Art, the Visual and Performing Arts Department Theatre Scholarship Fund, and the Rozsa Center’s Class Acts Program. Come dressed for celebration!

There will be a cash bar, cocktail hour, full dinner, live music throughout the evening both in the lobby and on stage, an auction of unique arts experiences, artists working during the gala, and more.

Full evening details:
5:30 Cocktails/Social Hour
Interactive visual art activities will be going on in the Lobby:  “Drawing in Real Time” by Terri Frew,
“Painting in Real Time” by Lisa Gordillo, and
a 25th Anniversary Banner audience interactive painting.
We will also have some theatre/costuming displays.

6:30 Full dinner with live music in the Rozsa Lobby
7:30 Performances, auction, and dessert on the Rozsa Stage.
Live Auction of Arts Experiences held between sets of three music ensembles
conScience:  Michigan Tech Chamber Singers
KSO String Quartet
Dan Fuhrmann and Friends

Tickets for the evening are $75 per person.  Corporate tables are available (seating 8) for $1,000.  Tickets can be purchased by calling the SDC Ticket Office at 906-487-2073 or following this link.  More information can be found here.

The evening will be a fundraiser for three initiatives:

Visual Arts Award:  Marian and John Irish Award for Environmental Art
Description:  The Marian and John Irish Award for Environmental Art is awarded to a junior or senior visual arts student whose artistic work connects art and environmental awareness.  Students who receive this award demonstrate a commitment to studio arts and to environmental stewardship; they also demonstrate creative leadership—either in their arts classes or in arts projects they complete in our community.

Theatre Scholarship:  Visual and Performing Arts Department Theatre Scholarship Fund
Description:  This Scholarship Fund provides critical support for students majoring in Theatre and Electronic Media Performance or Theatre and Entertainment Technology.  This fund will provide scholarship assistance both to continuing students as well to prospective students in theatre arts.

Class Acts Endowment
Description:  The Rozsa Center Class Acts Program ensures that students in the Copper Country Intermediate School District have affordable access to professional performing arts and educational events. This endowment supports the artist fees for visiting performing arts productions performed for K-12 students during the school year so ticket prices can be offered for just $1.00 or $2.00 per student.

According to Jared Anderson, Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, “Please join us as we celebrate and supports arts opportunities for students of all ages in the Copper Country. We want to make sure these three initiatives are funded in the upcoming year, and of course celebrate all our achievements in bringing Visual and Performing Arts as a Department at Michigan Tech for more than 25 years now. We are proud of the work we’ve accomplished and look forward to even greater growth and success in our 2018-19 season, and beyond!”