Imagine that you are a painter and that each morning for three weeks you will be going to the studio to work with 13 or 14 other students under the direction of an accomplished artist. Imagine that the class is going to last for three hours, giving you time to throw yourself into you work.
If you are a dancer, imagine that you'll have the opportunity to stretch and grow in both classical ballet and modern dance. The classes are small, the passion is intense and the growth is simply phenomenal.
The same growth opportunities exist for students in the other arts disciplines at GSA, a three-week residential program providing individual and in-depth group instruction in the arts for current high school sophomores living in and attending school in West Virginia.
It sounds like a dream, but for 100 current West Virginia high school sophomores, these dreams will become reality at the West Virginia Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) at Davis and Elkins College July 1-21, 2012.
A Message from Tom Hackman, dean of GHA 2012
As the new dean of the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA), I am proud to be involved in offering this life-changing opportunity to the young people of West Virginia. GSA 2011 was an overwhelming success, and that was just a start.
For three weeks in July, the best young artists in the state will gather at Davis & Elkins College to hone their craft. Through structured time within the seven GSA disciplines (creative writing, acting, dance, digital media, visual art, vocal music and instrumental music), students will be able to focus on their art.
Working with master teachers in their field, each student will have the opportunity to expand his or her knowledge base and further develop skill sets. Additionally, each day will include an ‘interdisciplinary period’ which gives the student experience in another artistic discipline in order to broaden artistic horizons.
The GSA program at Davis & Elkins will include off-campus trips, exciting enrichment events, and a chance for students to get to know their peers from around the state. The overall theme for GSA 2011-2013 is History and Heritage in the Arts. As such, in 2011, GSA explored the state’s Civil War history through field trips and on-campus events. These experiences helped to create an artistic framework for student learning. Building upon this, the theme for 2012 will be “The Way We Worked.” In summer 2012, the Randolph County Community Arts Center will host a photography exhibit of the same name from the National Archives. The exhibit centers on the way our approach to ‘work’ has changed over time. From Grecian urns to the Bauhaus movement to ‘The Office’, vocation and industry have always been a subject for artists and craftspeople. How society views work and progress has shaped art in any given period.
We will follow this unique exhibit with two weeks of overlap with the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College. Every year, Augusta brings some of the finest traditional musicians and artists to Elkins for five weeks of learning and fun. Augusta Heritage Center is known nationally and internationally for its activities relating to traditional folk life and folk arts of many regions and cultures. This collaboration provides GSA students with some one-of-a-kind experiences. Tom Hackman, GSA dean.
Goals and opportunities at GSA
The goals of GSA are for students (1) to become more knowledgeable and proficient in their discipline; (2) to interact with other disciplines in ways that will broaden their outlook on arts in general; and (3) to learn more about the history and artistic heritage of their home state and region. For outcomes, we expect the students to (1) become more confident in their own abilities; (2) create a sense of community with their peers from across the state; and (3) develop pride in the history and heritage of their native state.
Arts areas addressed include acting, creative writing, dance, digital media art, instrumental music, studio/visual art and vocal music. Skilled artists/teachers will work with students who demonstrate potential in those areas. In addition, the Governor’s School for the Arts attempts to broaden the students’ understanding of the arts through interdisciplinary courses focusing on common elements in the arts disciplines.
In the discipline of Acting, we’ll be focusing on speaking and moving with passion, clarity and feeling; exploring complex texts with tools and exercises that will unlock meaning and allow for deeper connections; and experimenting with approaches to finding and communicating personal connections in the experiences and stories of others. Everything we do will be designed to facilitate your growth as an actor, storyteller and animator. Our work will enable you to develop the expressivity of your voice and body, put your imagination to work, and encourage you to listen and respond to your acting partners actively and spontaneously.
Writers are in class with others who share their passion for writing. Within a supportive and fun workshop environment, writers will explore the works of some of our most celebrated Appalachian authors, respond to a variety of writing prompts and genres, as well as give and receive constructive feedback. Students emerge with refined creative writing skills, a strong voice, and confidence in both written and verbal expression.
Our aim is to give the students a conservatory atmosphere within the dance discipline. The focus is on ballet and modern, helping to refine and stretch the dancer’s abilities and focuses.
The 2012 GSA Digital Media Class will learn about and create work in a broad range of digital media. Those will include digital photography and video, 3D animation, virtual photography, motion graphics, and special effects. The class will employ all their talents and learned skills to collaboratively create a science fiction short film.
We keep the program small, so that each student receives a lot of individual attention not only from the primary teacher but other adjunct staff members as well.
This is no ordinary “music camp.” We stress the artist community concept and immerse the students in experiences that push them to the point that they are truly changed during their three weeks with us—only to return to you a more mature leader as well as musician and productive young adult.
Our time at the Governor’s School for the Arts will focus on two important parts of the art making process, improvement of basics skills and creativity. Young artists need to learn the fundamentals of art making and these skills are best attained and demonstrated by studying from life.
Students will learn about their vocal instrument—how it functions, and how to stay healthy. They will learn the foundations of vocal technique (breathing, tone production, etc.), and they'll have the opportunity to build on their potential.
The Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) was initiated through the efforts of former First Lady of West Virginia, Maestra Rachael Worby and sponsored initially by Governor Gaston Caperton.
1994-1998 Fairmont State College Dr. Suzanne Snyder, dean; 63 students in areas of dance, instrumental music, theatre and visual art; number increased to 80 in 1995; vocal music added in 1998.
1999-2000 Marshall University Dr. Larry Stickler, dean
2001-2002 West Liberty State College Mark Williams, dean
2003-2004 West Virginia University William J. Windsor, dean; creative writing added to curriculum in 2004
2005-2007 Marshall University Dr. Larry Stickler, dean; number of students increased to 84
2008-2010 West Liberty State College Dr. Alfred deJaager, dean; number of students increased to100; digital media added.
2011 Davis & Elkins College Dr. Victor Thacker, dean
2012 Davis & Elkins College Professor Tom Hackman dean
How much does it cost?
There is no cost to students or their families for tuition, room, meals, activities, books or instructional materials. The only expenses for which the students' families are responsible are health and accident insurance, personal expenses, and travel to and from auditions and the academy site.
If I am selected to attend GSA, will I have to stay weekends?
The GSA program requires that students be on campus and actively involved for the entire three weeks. You'll find, however, that you'll not feel that you "have to stay." Instead, you'll see they days go by so quickly that you won't believe that the final day occurs so quickly.
Will I be able to go to church on Sunday?
Unless the group is traveling, you will be able to attend church on Sunday morning. There is a chapel on campus that will appeal to many, but RAs will also be available accompany students whose faiths are not represented on campus. to specific churches.
Remember that the application has two parts: one to be sent electronically and one to be sent via the mail. You are responsible for submitting both parts, which are found in the Applications section of this site. Incomplete applications or those sent after the deadline will not be considered. The postmark deadline for the paper portion is January 20, 2012. The online portion must be submitted by January 10.
Sherry Keffer
Director of Governor’s Schools
Capitol Building 5, Room 205
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305
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