George Mason University - College of Visual and Performing Arts (Mason Arts)

We are so excited to share two of our very own #MasonArts alumni were granted distinguished alumni awards during the 2024 Celebration of Distinction! The Celebration of Distinction is the university’s longest running celebration of alumni achievements, honoring excellence at George Mason University. Filmmaker and alumna, Kwanza Gooden (BA Film and Video Studies ’13) was awarded a College of Visual and Performing Arts Thomas W. Iszard IV Distinguished Alumni Award for 2024 for her contributions to the Mason community and her own community. Kwanza is a director, writer, producer, editor, and videographer whose work has been featured on USA TODAY, BuzzFeed, and BET Digital (BET Networks). Among many accolades she was awarded Best Director at the Oscar-qualifying Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival for her short film, "Token." Through film, TV and visual media, Kwanza continues to provide a platform that amplifies the often muted voices of those that are underrepresented and misrepresented. Bobby Lacy II (BA Music ’16, MA Arts Management ’21) was awarded the Green Machine Ensembles Distinguished Alumni Award for his significant contributions to Mason and his own community. His career started right out of school, working as an audio visual specialist with the Mayor's office in D.C. Six years later, he decided to go to college at George Mason where he graduated first with a BA in Music Voice and later an MA in Arts Management. Throughout his years at Mason, Bobby has always been a member of the Green Machine and created and directed The Green & Gold Soul. Bobby is currently Associate Director of the Green Machine Ensembles. ➡️ To learn more about our extraordinary #MasonAlumni visit, https://lnkd.in/eTGzNEaN #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #ProudCollegeMoment #alumniassociation

Rappahannock Media/InsideNoVa recently featured our very own Hylton Performing Arts Center on George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus celebrating 10 years of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative this fall! The initiative has grown into an #arts and #community hub serving military-connected people across #NorthernVirginia by creating and offering arts programming, support for veterans and their families and research. Since its inception, the Veterans and the Arts Initiative has served more than 16,000 people, offering free, hands-on workshops, art exhibitions featuring Veterans’ artwork, and concerts for our local Veterans, Service-members, and military family members. To learn more about this impactful program, visit, https://lnkd.in/g9NWEbf6 #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #veteransinthearts #military #servicemembers

George Mason University’s Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA) is known for its dedication to fostering artistic talent and providing unique opportunities for #musicians and #educators. This summer, MCAA proudly hosts Evgenii Mikheev, an accomplished #clarinetist and Cultural Vistas Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellow, as he explored his teaching style and furthered his skills as an educator and administrator. As Eugene continues to thrive as a musician and educator, MCAA remains a beacon of excellence in the #arts, attracting talent from around the globe and nurturing the #nextgeneration of artists and educators. ➡️ To learn more about Eugene Mikheev's journey from Saratov to George Mason, visit, https://lnkd.in/dMS2vygF #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #mcaa #MasonCommunityArtsAcademy ##music #musicatmason #gmumusic #schoolofmusic

At George Mason University, the computer game design program offers students more than just an education—it provides a direct pathway into the #gamingindustry. Emphasizing practical #experience and industry #connections, the program enthralls students in the game community, preparing them for thriving careers. Key events like The Global Game Jam, organized by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA®), illustrate this immersive approach and allow students to find unique opportunities to hone their skills and build valuable networks. A game jam is an event where participants, ranging from novices to seasoned professionals, come together to create #videogames from scratch within a set timeframe, often a weekend or a few days. These events are centered around a specific theme, which remains undisclosed until the jam begins, challenging participants to think #creatively and work #collaboratively under time constraints. The goal is not just to produce a finished game but to engage in an intensive, hands-on learning experience that enhances #gamedevelopment skills and fosters a sense of #community among #developers. ➡️ Read more about how our Computer Game Design Program sets our students up for #success: https://lnkd.in/d6xbsv5G #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #computergamedesign #gamedesign #videogamedesign #game

We are so proud to spotlight recent Visual Voices artist Kei Ito, an #interdisciplinary installation artist and immigrant, navigating themes entrenched in trauma and inheritance within the context of his identity and heritage. His artistic practice is deeply rooted in the profound legacy passed down from his late grandfather, Takeshi Ito, a resilient survivor of the harrowing atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Takeshi Ito was part of the formation of the Japanese organization, Nihon Hidankyo, a #grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again. ➡️ To learn more about Kei Ito and his grandfather's legacy, visit Mason Arts Amplified: https://lnkd.in/dtB4RMge #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #nobelpeaceprize #nobel #norwegiannobelcommittee #NihonHidankyo

Professor John Kocur and Dr. Charles Ciorba, faculty members from the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, have released a new book that delves into the art of #jazzimprovisation, "Straight from the Source: A Tune-Based Approach to Learning Jazz Improvisation." "Straight from the Source," serves as a comprehensive guide for all #instrumentalists to learn how to improvise and offers an authentic example of how to learn #musictheory, #jazzhistory, and #culture while digging into the music one tune at a time. The authors suggest that great jazz recordings and the tunes themselves should be the primary source material for the beginning and novice improviser. ➡️ To learn more about our #MasonArtsFaculty and their tremendous achievements in the arts, visit, https://lnkd.in/djxKhYnb #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #music #musicatmason #gmumusic #schoolofmusic

Are you looking to #hire adaptive, innovative, creative #talent? 🗓️ On Tuesday, November 12, the College of Visual and Performing Arts is hosting the Mason Arts Career and Internship Fair, at the Center for the Arts on George Mason University's Fairfax, VA campus. This is your chance to meet talented #students and #alumni from the many creative disciplines in our college. These students and alumni are looking for #internships, part-time, and full-time roles. Interested in reserving a table at the event? Visit the link below for more details and to register! ➡️ Explore Event Details and Reserve Your Table: https://lnkd.in/dHvSn-sU #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #careerandinternshipfair #careerfair #employers #hiringfair #artscareer #creativecareer #internfair #interns #employmentfair #employment #fairfaxva #nova #northernvirginia #employertabling

Always delightful to see our #community coming together in support of the #arts. 💚💛

Shout out to our very own School of Theater #alumni Hasan C. for being featured on Canvas Rebel to share his story of moving across the country to pursue his dreams as an #actor, #performer and #creative. 💚💛 Earning his BFA in Musical Theater in 2022, Hasan graduated George Mason University with the confidence and experience that helped him chart the course for the next stepping stone in his career - moving across the country to pursue #film and #television in Los Angeles. After just 24 months of living in LA, Hasan had performed in major motion pictures with #Netflix, #Amazon and #Universal as well as other theatrical and creative pursuits. ➡️ Learn more about Hasan and his story as a working artist, https://lnkd.in/es4QaHfE #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #BFA #Musicaltheater #actor #LA #losangelesactor #canvasrebel #schooloftheater #masonalumni

Shoutout to George Mason University Computer Game Design professor James Casey for his mention in recent Bloomberg article on the potential of the #crypto market successfully expanding in the #metaverse. Not only is James Casey a faculty member at George Mason, but is also the Director of the Virginia Serious Games Institute (VSGI) with 12 years of experience developing #videogames and expertise in the production and live management of games. ➡️ To learn more, tune into Access to Excellence Podcast episode #49 where Professor Casey discusses the imprint the metaverse is making on society and our future, https://lnkd.in/dRtSDsT2 #gmu #georgemason #georgemasonu #georgemasonuniversity #masonnation #masonarts #cvpa #choosemason #alltogetherdifferent #patriotpride #greenandgold #highereducation #highered #university #college #visualandperformingarts #gmufaculty #facultyhighlight #computergamedesign #gamedesign #videogamedesign #metaverse #cryptocurrency #bloomburg #podcast #seriousgames #vsgi #virginiaseriousgamesinstitute