TJC plans 11th annual Arts Fest throughout April

Tyler Junior College has announced its 11th annual Arts Fest, to be held throughout the month of April on the TJC main campus.

The festival is a collaboration of “The Bell Tower Arts Journal,” International Day, Tyler Museum of Art, and various TJC departments including art, dance, music and theatre.

Student involvement is key to the festival’s success; and each year, a competition is held among TJC students to create an original Arts Festival logo. This year’s winner was Maddison Johnson, a sophomore visual communications major from Tyler.

The festival will offer performances, exhibits, guest speakers and more, at various times and locations across the TJC campus and at the Tyler Museum of Art. All events are open to the public, but tickets are required for some performances.

TJC’s 33rd annual International Day will be held Tuesday, April 22, in the Apache Rooms of Rogers Student Center. In addition to an up-close look at music, food and customs from around the world, the event will also include an opportunity for visitors to renew or apply for U.S. passports.

“April has always been our busiest time of year, in terms of the sheer volume of arts events happening on campus, so it made sense for us to package it and name it Arts Fest,” said Lara K. Smith, professor/chair of the TJC Departments of Communication Studies and Theatre and Arts Fest director.

Smith continued, “We love having company on our beautiful campus, and Arts Fest is a great time to pay us a visit and take in the many talents offered by our students and faculty.”

The festival offers works from each of the areas of TJC’s Cultural Arts District, including musicians, singers, dance, art and a theatre production.

A few of the festival’s featured events include:

•  April 11: TJC and UT Tyler Combined Orchestra Concert
• April 16: Speech and Debate Team Showcase
• April 22: International Day and “Bell Tower Arts Journal” launch party
• April 28: Musical Theatre Showcase
• April 30: Thunderdome Art Competition

For a complete listing of events and times, go to TJC.edu/ArtsFest.