What next for Page Theater? The heart of the Performing Arts Center at Saint Mary’s has been the 455-seat Page Theater. The university has promoted it as “the premier performing arts center” in southeast Minnesota. The Page performance series has brought 25,000 people a year to the venue, not counting campus performances, community workshops, and school matinee programs. The performance building opened in 1987.

Can clubs, guest artists fill the campus arts gap?

WINONA, Minn. – Fingers crossed, students and profs are struggling to keep the arts alive at Saint Mary’s University, where once the arts were flagships of the liberal arts curriculum. In 2022 under new president James Burns, Saint Mary’s downgraded programs in music, theater and arts and trimmed its faculty by 20%. So what’s next? The university now advertises itself with a triad of programs:

>Practical training. This now is the main curricular thrust. Programs in business, nursing and public health.

> Character development. Defined as “ethical excellence.

> Liberal learning. Still offered even though courses in the arts, history, music, philosophy, religion and theater are shadows if their former selves.

Although perforing arts programs were decimated, the university is looking to hire a music director of music to organize student music activities and shows this summer. These, it’s hoped, will include a choir and pep band. “It’s an arts co-curricular model,” said Lynette Johnson, he campus director of events, said in a Winona Post interview. In general these activities will not include faculty. The arts activies will be largely through student clubs.Tentative plans incuide two theater productions next school year with remaining students whose academic programs that are being phased out. The university hopes to start a drama club to have student-led productions, Johnson said,. Saint Mary’s also will also bring in community and professional productions, she said. In the same vein, the university’s arts gallery will run a full schedule. Also, she said, the university plans to offer short workshops for students to learn about the arts.