CultureFest is back in-person at the Eskenazi Museum of Art and will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. The Welcome Week event was not held in-person at Eskenazi last year due to the pandemic and was instead held virtually.
Public Experiences Manager Laura Scheper said the event often helps to build relationships among students, staff and faculty on campus and paves the way for future opportunities for students. Scheper said she is excited to interact with students who attend the event, as this may be the first time many are discovering the museum.
“We hope students discover the Eskenazi Museum of Art as a place they can return, as often as they like, to relax and treat themselves to self-care,” Scheper said.
CultureFest is also taking a major focus on social justice this year, Scheper said. Office of Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs representatives will be present throughout the event promoting the “Together We Commit” pledge, which involves recognizing one’s privilege, calling out intolerance and to continue to learn as much as possible.
Event activities include artmaking with an art therapist and the arts-based wellness experiences manager music with DJ Space Bunz, self-guided tours and a coloring activity on the front lawn.Attendees also have the opportunity to make a t-shirt expressing what they stand for.
Students will have the chance to take one of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” self-guided tours, including tours revolving around social justice, engaging with cultures, experiencing art with others and focusing on relaxing and reflecting. The first 200 to participate will receive a free half-pint of Chocolate Moose Ice Cream at the Museum Cafe on the second floor.
The Black Lives Matter mural will also be unveiled at 6 p.m outside.
Scheper said CultureFest and the Eskenazi Museum are safe places to meet new people and share experiences together.
“What I love about CultureFest is that it provides a safe space to try something new – to engage with artwork from different cultures, to connect with others who are also exploring the museum for the first time and just to learn a little about how museums work,” Scheper said.
In case of rain, the artmaking and music will be moved inside. All of the Eskenazi Museum’s exhibits will be open until 6 p.m.
