The Fresno Arts Council presented a special Horizon Award to the California State University Summer Arts program, which ended a 13-year run at Fresno State in July.

The program of instruction and performance by world-class visual, musical, theater, literary and dance artists was recognized during the council’s 26th annual Horizon Award ceremony at the Council Chambers of Fresno City Hall.

CSU Summer Arts is a program that provides a four-week festival of entertainment to the community of whichever CSU campus is hosting. During that time, students from all over California study under master artists and culminate each two-week course with performances of their own.

The Horizon Awards started in 1984 to provide recognition of exceptional contributions in the arts to the Fresno-area by individuals, organizations and businesses.

The Arts Council recognized the extraordinary contributions Summer Arts has provided to Fresno in arts education during the program’s tenure at Fresno State, hosted by the College of Arts and Humanities.

Associate Dean of Arts and Humanities, Jose Diaz, introduced Summer Arts director Jim Spalding and community relations specialist, Jacqueline Doumanian, to receive the award. Arts Council President Julie Linxwiler and emcee Joe Moore presented award recipients with a specially commissioned paperweight by local glass artist Bob Kliss.

The CSU Summer Arts program moves to CSU Monterey Bay in 2012.

For more information, contact Doumanian at jdoumanian@csufresno.edu or 559.241.6090.

(Photo credit: Howard Watkins)

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