The fifth ARTS FIRST festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday. The four-day festival includes more than 200 performances, concerts, exhibitions, theater and dance productions, film screenings, a parade, a barbecue, and impromptu happenings. All the events take place in and around the Harvard campus and are open to the public. All Saturday Performance Fair events are free.

This year there will be a special emphasis on programs for children, from hands-on arts activities and musical events to outdoor celebrations and exhibits that actively involve children.

During the festival, President Neil L. Rudenstine will present the third Harvard Arts Medal to singer/activist Bonnie Raitt '72. The medal was created to honor a distinguished alum or faculty member who has made an outstanding contribution to the arts.

A full schedule of events is available in the ARTS FIRST '97 Guide, which can be found at the Harvard University Information Center in the Holyoke Arcade, the Harvard Coop, Sanders Theatre, the Inn at Harvard, and the Charles Hotel.

For a story on the Native American plaque dedication ceremony, see page 5. For a selected listing of ARTS FIRST events, see the Calendar section.

 

---

Copyright 1998 President and Fellows of Harvard College