What: The Seton Hill University School of Visual and Performing Arts will present Artists as Activists, a two-day event featuring music, theatre, dance and art presentations that discuss issues impacting our world. The events are free and open to the public, however, tickets are required for the music concert, “What’s Going On? Artists as Activists.” Tickets can be obtained online. 

When: Friday, November 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, November, 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Friday events will be held at the Seton Hill University Arts Center, 205 W. Otterman St., Greensburg, Pa. Saturday events will be held at the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Ave., Greensburg, Pa.

Background: Artists as Activists is a free event open to the community where students, faculty and alumni from Seton Hill’s School of Visual and Performing Arts will offer art, theatre, dance and music presentations that speak to a number of issues facing our world today. From bigotry and equal rights to poverty and gender violence, the art presented is meant to provide the audience with an insight into myriad issues and inspire them to make positive change.

On Friday, November 10, a Lunch and Learn will be held that will feature a number of events that showcase how art can make a powerful statement. 

From 11:30 to 1:30, the biennial Women in Art exhibit featuring the works of women artists will be open in the Harlan Gallery. In addition, dance, theatre and art presentations focusing on various global issues will occur in the second floor dance studio. And in the art therapy studio, Seton Hill art therapy graduate student Heather Togbetse will present a community art effort, Project Rise, which aims to allow people to express their feelings about social issues through their own art.

At noon in Room 311, Seton Hill alumna Saige Baxter, an artist and founder of the local arts outreach organization STAMPED, will discuss her efforts in the community and show a screening of her short film, “Every Two Minutes,” which aims to bring awareness about sexual and gender violence. 

At 1 p.m. in the first floor dance studio, theatre students will present “Theatre of the Oppressed: The Work of Augusto Boal.” The students will be doing exercises in image theatre, by creating physical images of oppression through movement and sound, and forum theatre, by allowing the audience to step in and change images from oppression to liberation. 

On Saturday, November 11, the musical concert “What’s Going On? Artists as Activists” will be presented. The concert will feature the Seton Hill University Commercial Ensemble performing music from Marvin Gaye's album, "What's Going On?" - as well as songs addressing current global issues by artists such as John Legend, the Roots, Pat Benatar and Joni Mitchell.

Regional community organizations who are working to address many of the issues addressed through the event, including the Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the YWCA of Westmoreland County, will be on hand to provide attendees with information on their services and how community members can help.