ASU Office of Arts and Cultural Programs

Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources programming is offered by the Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, which administers “The Schaefer Center Presents…” performance series, An Appalachian Summer Festival and the APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series. The office also manages the 1,673-seat Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, home to a host of campus and community events.

Now entering its 35th season, An Appalachian Summer Festival has quickly emerged as one of the nation’s leading regional arts festivals, featuring the very best in music, dance, theatre, film and the visual arts. Presented during the month of July, the festival has grown from a popular local and regional event to become a destination for visitors from around the country, who are attracted by the breadth and quality of its artistic programming, as well as the natural beauty of its High Country setting. With an audience of 27,000, the Southeast Tourism Society has named the festival one of the “Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” in recent years.

“The Schaefer Center Presents…” is a series offering campus and community audiences a diverse array of music, dance and theatre programming. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a "window on the world" through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region. Musical events range from symphony orchestra and chamber music performances to jazz, folk, traditional, international, and popular artists. Theatre productions range from serious drama to musical comedy. Dance performances offer an equally wide array of styles, from ballet to modern dance to international companies representing cultural traditions from around the world.