The Missouri Fine Arts Academy at Missouri State University is currently in its 21st year. It’s a three-week summer program for high school students interested in the visual arts, performing arts, and creative writing. They come from all over Missouri (and this year, outside the state—read on) for an intensive schedule of classes and activities. Melissa Herr is the Director of the Academy. “This is my first year as full Director,” she says. “Last year I was Co-Director with Ray Castrey, and before that, coordinating. The Missouri Fine Arts Academy is a program for all Missouri high school sophomores and juniors. It’s an opportunity for students from different (artistic) disciplines to work together collaboratively, and also to practice their individual craft in a sort of ‘process rather than product’ environment. So we encourage artistic risk-taking and empathy and inclusion of an artistic community.” This year’s Academy started June 5th and continues through the 25th. But don’t
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