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WVWC set to host Governor’s School for Arts

By Brad Johnson 2 min read

BUCKHANNON -- The West Virginia Governor's School for the Arts will return to West Virginia Wesleyan College for the summers 2024 to 2026, officials announced.

WVWC previously hosted the West Virginia Governor's School for the Arts from 2014-2016.

The dates for the Summer 2024 program are June 23-July 13.

"As an artist-led institution, we at WVWC know full well the value of GSA and the impact it has on the development of tomorrow's artists," said Dr. James Moore, West Virginia Wesleyan College president. "We were honored to host three highly successful GSAs between 2014-2016. We can't wait to have more of these students back on campus and show them how much we 'get' the journey they're on."

"WVWC has a tremendous commitment to creative and performing arts," a school press release states. "This fall, over 45 creative artists enrolled at West Virginia Wesleyan College, contributing to the largest new student class since 2017." 

Moore, the school's 20th president, came to WVWC in 2006 as Director of Jazz Ensembles, where he built one of the most vibrant collegiate jazz programs in the region and was heavily involved with GSA's prior launch at WVWC.

The 2024 Governor's School for the Arts is bringing back digital media as a major focus ,as students are showing more of an interest in this evolving media. Students work intensively within their disciplines, but also spend time in interdisciplinary study with other forms. 

Governor's School for the Arts will be headed by Dean Thomas Schoffler, who is chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance and an associate professor at WVWC.

Schoffler said, "As a professional theater maker and a teacher, I am thrilled to facilitate the GSA experience for young West Virginia artists because I know how vital that connection to other artists can be.

Former GSA attendees cite that being part of our intensive arts community allows them to grow and hone their craft in ways they never expected, while also forging 'forever friendships' with fellow artists of multiple disciplines."

Current sophomores can apply soon at https://govschools.wv.gov/.

The deadline is March 1.

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