Summer Arts Renews Contract with Fresno State Through 2010

California State University, Fresno was selected to continue serving as host campus through 2010 for the acclaimed CSU Summer Arts, the CSU Chancellor's Office announced today.

The decision marks the third consecutive contract period awarded to Fresno State, the first beginning in 1999 before a renewal in 2002. It will make the Fresno campus the longest-running host for the prestigious two-week event.

Prior to Fresno, the festival had been held at campuses in San Luis Obispo (1986-87), Humboldt (1988-95) and Long Beach (1996-98).

Dr. Jeronima Echeverria, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fresno State, said the decision to return to Fresno State for the unprecedented third contract period was a credit to the faculty and leadership in the university's College of Arts and Humanities which serves as the event host for the campus.

"We are extremely proud to have been selected again to host the CSU Summer Arts Program," Echeverria said. "We are delighted that we will have five more summers full of artistic programming, workshops, and performances for Fresno and the Valley."

Jim Spalding, CSU director of Summer Arts, said he is confident the cooperation and support the program has enjoyed from the campus and the community will continue in to the future.

The CSU announcement said that "Fresno State's facilities and support from the community were two powerful reasons why the contract was extended."

Since the summer of 1999, Summer Arts' first year in residence at Fresno State, many of the festival's public events have taken place in community venues such as the Tower Theatre, Fresno Art Museum, Arte Americas, the Starline Theatre, and most recently the First Congregational Church of Fresno.

Summer Arts workshops have also moved their classroom activities off-campus, working with local hospitals, juvenile detention centers, and Fresno-area middle schools.

Dr. Vida Samiian, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, said community support the past seven years has been phenomenal.

"Many if not all of the events are often sold out," Samiian said. "Everyone is cooperative and supportive -- community venues and organizations, university support systems such as the grounds crews to faculty and staff. It has been a community and university team effort to make Summer Arts a success along with great facilities on campus and in the community."

The Summer Arts web site reports that CSU campuses were invited to submit proposals to host the event last March.

"The process was critical in finding a proper fit with the program needs on campus, and the service the program will provide to the community in which it resides," the web site reports.

CSU Summer Art celebrates its 20th anniversary season in July 2005, and will feature workshops taught by and public events featuring world-renowned guest artists such as The Joe Goode Performance Group, The Alexander String Quartet, Kannon Dance Company of Russia, Amakhosi Theatre Company of Zimbabwe, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Eliot Fisk.

The Summer Arts 2005 catalog and applications are now available and information about the specific workshops being offered and the public events calendar can be found at www.csusummerarts.org or call (559) 241-6090.

Contact: Tom Uribes (559) 278-5366 or 246-1717