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Spots Filling Fast at BPAC’s Mississippi Summer Arts Institute

Campers ages 5-11 perform the group number on the BPAC mainstage to hundreds of parents, family, and friends at last year's final PLUS event. (Photo credit Gunner Sizemore, 2018.)

Children ages 5-18 are invited to Delta State University’s Bologna Performing Arts Center to participate in the 22nd summer of programming for the Janice Wyatt Mississippi Summer Arts Institute (MSAI). Registration for CORE Arts (12-18 year-olds) and PLUS Camp (5-11 year-olds) is now open and nearing 75% capacity. For more than 20 years, MSAI has fostered a love of artistic learning and has offered campers the opportunity to hone their talents while performing on the biggest stage in the Delta. This summer will feature exciting artistic activities for children of all ages.

CORE Arts Camp is a two-week residential intensive held on campus at Delta State University. Students create their own class schedule in a five-period-per-day format, attending hour-long courses in the performing, visual, and digital arts.

This year’s camp is scheduled for June 9-22, and fewer than 10 spots remain. Non-residential options with lower fees are available for local students who wish to attend daily classes and activities but who do not wish to stay in the dorms. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate artistic merit and significant financial need on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on scholarships, contact the arts education office at 662-846-4844.

CORE Arts classes are taught by leading artistic faculty from the state of Mississippi as well as artistic professionals from around the nation. Grenada-based visual artist Robin Whitfield will lead two courses framed around her arts curriculum Earth Color and her experience as a water color artist and naturalist. Teaching artist Erin Mulligan, accredited by the Mississippi Arts Commission, will lead three dance courses at CORE Arts, in addition to yoga workshops for campers in the evening. Other courses slated for the 2019 Institute include film photography, weaving the landscape, graphic design, ensemble performance, cosplay through sculpture, and a host of other performing and visual arts courses.

Space is still available for young artists ages 5-11 to attend PLUS Camp, a high-energy, performance-oriented day camp scheduled for July 15-20. Campers learn a choreographed medley of songs and attend other classes throughout the day, including Portraiture, Dance Technique, and Music. A final performance and visual arts exhibition scheduled for 10 AM on July 20 will showcase the hard work and dedication of the PLUS Campers.

Interested campers can download hard-copy applications or pick them up from the BPAC, or register online at bolognapac.com. For more information, stop by the BPAC or call Cade Holder, arts education coordinator, at 662-846-4844.

The 2019 Janice Wyatt Mississippi Summer Arts Institute is sponsored in part by the American Legion Delta Post 1776, the Mississippi Arts Commission, Entergy, AT&T, the King’s Daughters and Sons Circle Number Two, the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, Hey Joe’s, Domino’s Pizza, the Crosstie Arts Council, and the EPHIC Women’s Club.