A note from the director

The arts have been an integral part of Connecticut College’s mission since our founding. We were the first college in the country to offer music and art as full academic disciplines and we launched our first professional concert series in 1917. As the original home of the American Dance Festival, presenter of world-renowned artists and a founding partner of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Theater Institute, we have demonstrated a commitment to and history of presenting the performing arts. The tradition continues as we offer a full suite of programs, including the onStage at Connecticut College guest artist series, a professional performance series filled with world-class music, dance and theater. It is unique, eclectic and innovative programming designed to engage, entertain and inspire.

The performing arts venues at the College include the newly renovated Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium, Evans Hall in Cummings Art Center and Tansill Theater. The diversity of the venue styles enables the College to present performances in venues that best suit the needs of the performance. The College also hosts, through the Ammerman Center, a Biennial Symposium for Arts and Technology, that creates a forum for multi-disciplinary dialogue at the intersection of arts, technology and contemporary culture. The symposium brings artists and researchers from a wide range of fields together to engage, interact and share ideas as they present new works, research and performances in a variety of formats.

As a liberal arts institution we understand that the arts play a vital role in helping our students and the community to see the world and ourselves in entirely new ways. The arts help us to think critically, reflect deeply and engage more compassionately. The arts provide opportunities for the community to gather and share experiences, which are critical to establishing and maintaining healthy and vibrant communities.

The artists that grace our stages come from a wide array of ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds and perspectives and offer performances, both classical and contemporary, that are rarely seen elsewhere in our community. To stay up to date on our events and performances make sure you sign up to be on our email list.

Please join us this season and attend a performance of student work or the work of seasoned professionals. The arts will entertain and inspire you. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Robert A. Richter ’82
Director of Arts Programming