The arts will be celebrated at Drexel like never before during “Night of the Arts,” an event hosted by the University’s Entertainment & Arts Society (EAS). Held Nov. 20, the event will highlight the artistic creations of student artists from various disciplines in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design as well as non-arts majors from all across the University.
Besides giving students a forum and location to show off their work, the event will also provide networking opportunities with local industry professionals, including many Drexel alums. EAS received a grant from the Drexel Alumni Association and is working with the organization to bring alumni to the event. And, EAS has been working with Drexel’s co-op office at the Steinbright Career Development Center to invite past co-op employers from the Philadelphia area.
“We wanted to dedicate an event to showcase the various mediums of arts on campus. There's so much artwork going on at Drexel and it is often over shadowed by the sciences. We want to say ‘Art is here!’” said Joy Weir, a junior entertainment & arts management major and president of the EAS.
According to Weir, this is the biggest opportunity for Drexel student artists to showcase their creativity. Event attendees can watch screenings of student films, visual artwork displays, theatre and dance performances and a live rock concert from Last Frontier and RFA, two student bands from Westphal’s Music program.
With their experience and expertise on display, students participating in “Night of the Arts” will have a great advantage when networking with industry professionals and Drexel alums. Weir said she hopes this event will connect students to potential co-op employers in arts and entertainment fields.
To raise money for EAS and assist students with unpaid co-ops, the student organization will hold a raffle drawing for tickets to local arts and entertainment events as well as artwork, jewelry and gift cards to local institutions.
“The raffle drawing is for tickets to events in the city as well as merchandise from various sports teams, gift cards and prizes. The proceeds go to EAS and the Co-op Scholarship Fund, which goes to students with unpaid co-ops to assist with transportation and living expenses,” Weir explained.
Some of the items include tickets to shows at the Annenberg Center, Wilma Theatre, Fringe Arts, Philadelphia Orchestra, BalletX’s Winter Series and a membership to the Philadelphia Film Society. Gift cards and goodies from Shake Shack, Saxbys Coffee and Dockstreet Brewery will also be available for the raffle.
Tickets are free for Drexel University students and $5 for general admission, available at the door. Wristbands will be distributed for exit and reentry throughout the course of the night.