The Redfern Arts Ambassadors made their debut on Keene State College’s campus at the beginning of this year.
The group works to spread awareness of the Arts on campus and organizes various events featuring different modes of artistic expression that will take place over the course of this semester.
The overall goal of the program is to build understanding, participation and excitement over the arts within the Keene State community.
The Arts Ambassadors spent the majority of the fall semester getting to know one another, discussing different ideas and tackling the challenges of getting students involved in the performances offered by the Redfern Arts Center.
Tim Smith / Photo Editor
The spring semester will be focused on carrying out these ideas; the group is now working towards creating monthly coffeehouse events hosted at the Redfern in order to promote cross-disciplinary participation and showcase the talent present at Keene State. These coffeehouse events will take place on Feb. 18, March 31 and April 28.
The group will also present at the Academic Excellence Conference, sharing their experience as ambassadors and some of the findings and assessments of the program in a talk entitled “Why Would I Go to the Redfern? An Examination of the Perceived Value of Live Performance at Keene State College.”
One member of the Arts Ambassadors, Marisa Benson, said that she took the initiative to join the program due to her passion for the arts. “I want to explore and share the importance of art as an avenue for deeper understanding and growth.”
Benson said she had an enlightening experience, realizing the power in expressing oneself through art in various modes such as painting, dancing, writing, music and poetry.
She explained that artistic expression positively impacted her physical, emotional and spiritual health. Benson said she hopes to spread this feeling throughout campus in order to reduce stress and promote self expression.
Ashley Gage, also a member of the Redfern Arts Ambassadors, said she joined the program with the hopes of introducing art to those who have never been exposed to it. Her personal goal, which she shares with the group as a whole, is to get people to attend Redfern events and help them explore creative outlets they may have not experienced.
“We want this program to be a way people can connect to the arts and experience new things that they wouldn’t normally go see by themselves,” Gage said.
Arts Ambassador Morgan Sulham explained one of the upcoming events held by the Redfern called The Intergalactic Nemesis.
According to Morgan Sulham, the show will feature a live graphic novel with voice actors narrating on stage and will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Redfern Arts Center.
Aryanah Haydu can be contacted at ahaydu@kscequinox.com
