Inver Hills Hosting Fine Arts Festival

Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get creative, because is hosting its first ever this weekend.

“People don’t realize the hidden gem that we present,” said Doug Binsfeld, Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at Inver Hills. “Our commitment to the fine arts on this campus is very strong.”

The free festival begins April 19 and includes three full days of programming.

Attendees can try their hands in a wide range of artistic niches, such as glass fusing, stage combat or bookbinding, in the festival’s many workshops.

They can also contribute to a collaborative mural or attend a variety of lectures, concerts and performances.

“We want the community to be able to participate here on campus,” said Paul Wegner, a faculty member with the Inver Hills Art Department, who teaches photography.

The festival was organized by Binsfeld, with the help of representatives from the Art, Music, Theatre, English and Communication departments. Festival workshops and presentations will be led by college faculty, professional artists, community members and students.

The Inver Hills Community College Art Club is also involved in the event. Club members will be in attendance, working on the collaborative mural, manning a booth featuring origami and filming their documentary project, which seeks to answer the question “What is art?”

Inver Hills has extended festival invitations to the majority of metro area high schools, universities and colleges. The event is also open to the public.

One primary goal of the Fine Arts Festival is to increase the school’s community outreach. Binsfeld hopes to draw at least 500 attendees.

For more information about the event, visit Inver Hills’ website.