As we transition into a year with a new president, a new mascot and new traditions, Mercyhurst’s School of Arts and Humanities will soon be introducing one more tradition that will surely leave its mark.
On Thursday, Oct. 8, Mercyhurst’s various liberal arts and humanities departments will be celebrating the arts by introducing a new event, Arts on the Hill.
Dance Department Chair Tauna Hunter explained that “Arts on the Hill evolved out of a desire by the School of Arts and Humanities to bring more exposure to the arts on a campus wide scale.”
The event, run by Mercyhurst students with faculty supervision, is sponsored by the Dance, English, Music and Art departments, in collaboration with the Mercyhurst Theatre Program.
The purpose of the event is to allow students a day in which they can immerse themselves in the arts.
When asked why such an event is necessary for our school, Hunter said “the arts are the heartbeat of a liberal arts education, and it is important to generate awareness of the fact that art is infused into our lives every minute of every day.”
The celebratory day of art will commence at 2 p.m. with yoga in the Grotto, followed by an interactive tour with the “dead” residents of the Spoon River Theatre who will give monologues from Edgar Lee Masters’ Masterwork, that  the actors are representing.
Other events will include a drum circle in Garvey Park, Zumba and a campus-wide dance party.
There will also be an opportunity for students to perform during an informal open mic session. All are welcome to take the stage and read poetry, sing or play an instrument.
Activities lasting throughout the day include a bake-off, make ‘n’ take arts and crafts, and long-lasting chalk drawings that students can create on sidewalks around campus.
If the plethora of fun activities is not enticing enough, there will also be free food, competitions, prizes and giveaways.
Be sure to stay the whole day, as winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m.
Hunter hopes that Arts on the Hill will become an annual event for the school, because she anticipates that “taking an entire day to reflect on the importance of the arts in our daily lives can inspire further exploration by the entire Mercyhurst family.”
Do not miss out on attending Arts on the Hill, a new tradition to celebrate the arts.