The Brigham Young University College of Fine Arts and Communications 141st summer convocation commences Aug. 12 at 8:00 a.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Families and friends are invited to watch the students complete this part of their education. Those individuals who who can’t be present at the convocation can view the ceremony online by clicking here. Dean Ed Adams will preside over this year's program that features five speakers from a variety of majors including public relations, studio arts, dance, graphic design, and media arts studies. This convocation differs from other college’s ceremonies as it includes a special musical number from a graduating student. This performance features 'Une ChÁ¢teleine en sa Tour” for the harp by graduating Music Performance Major Eliza Jane Holland. “I recognize that your graduation is a result of much personal determination, self-discipline and dedication,” advisement center supervisor Julee Braithwaite said of students participating. “I hope that as you move on to new opportunities, you will enjoy a sense of satisfaction in the things you were able to learn, create and achieve while here at BYU wish you all the best as you pursue your future professional and personal endeavors.” After the presentations, graduates will individually walk across the stage to receive their diploma. Students who graduate in December are invited to attend the next April graduation ceremonies and those who graduate in June are invited to attend the August graduation ceremonies. The ceremony will last approximately two hours. Students participating in convocation should arrive in the HFAC tunnel at 7:15 a.m. prior to the ceremonies.

Name: Wade Hollingshaus BYU employee since: 2006 My job at BYU is... chair of the Theatre and Media Arts Department. A department chair does a wide range of things. One that I find very rewarding is the work I do to make sure that our faculty have what they need to teach and continue their research.

Students create experiential technology to help patients explore outside hospital walls

As hospitals around the country ban Pokémon GO to preserve safety and security, a group of BYU advertising students have developed a solution that allows sick kids to play the game without impeding hospital functionality.

The Brigham Young University 2016-17 BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series opens Sept. 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m. with two special performance from Leslie Odom, Jr., Tony Award-winning star of the hit musical, Hamilton.

Wade Hollingshaus, chair of the Theatre and Media Arts (TMA) Department in the College of Fine Arts and Communications, will give the Devotional address. Hollingshaus' remarks will be broadcast live on BYUtv, BYUtv.org (and archived for on-demand streaming), KBYU-TV 11, Classical 89 FM, BYU Radio and will be archived on speeches.byu.edu. Wade Hollingshaus is the current chair of the Theatre and Media Arts (TMA) Department in the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Hollingshaus is an associate professor in the TMA critical studies faculty, is head of dramaturgy studies and is an affiliated faculty with BYU's Scandinavian studies program. He is a member of the Performance Philosophy research network and currently serves as American Society for Theatre Research's liaison with the Theatre Library Association. His primary research interests center on rock performance and culture in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He is also interested in Finnish and Scandinavian theatre and film. In 2015, Hollingshaus was awarded the BYU Alcuin Fellowship, which recognizes outstanding teacher-scholars whose work at the university transcends the limits of their disciplines, and who have made significant contributions to the general education and honors curriculums.

BYU ARTS Art Director Nick Mendoza and Designer Sam Reed earned a Grand Gold from the CASE VII 2016 Award of Excellence for their entry in the Design & Poster category. The entry was a poster designed in support of the university’s Contemporary Dance Theatre (CDT). It features one image cut into three pieces on three posters — as a metaphor for the various dance choreography combined in one show. We asked Nick if he would share more about the award-winning project. READ MORE >>>>>>

Legendary soul and R&B star Gladys Knight will perform as the featured guest during BYU’s Homecoming Spectacular! on Saturday, October 15. The live concert will be held in the Marriott Center, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., as part of BYU’s Homecoming Week celebrations. Knight will be joined by singers Peter Hollens and Lexi Mae Walker in two special 90-minute shows presented by the BYU Alumni Association and sponsored by Deseret First Credit Union and Liberty Mutual Insurance. READ MORE >>>>>>>>

Brigham Young University’s performing group Living Legends recently returned from a three-week tour in the Pacific Islands where they dazzled appreciative audiences with their show “Seasons” and built lasting friendships through service rendered at schools, hospitals, care centers and other venues. “What they brought to the South Pacific will long be remembered,” said the Rev. Maauga Motu of the National Council of Churches in Samoa. “What they performed will live forever.” The message from the performers was one of love, peace and unity among all peoples and cultures. More than 16,500 children, teenagers, parents, university students, dignitaries, diplomats, religious leaders and members of the media were entertained and served during the nine performances and 19 private outreach events during the tour. READ MORE>>>>

The Brigham Young University Museum of Art has hired Dr. Kenneth Hartvigsen as Curator of American Art. The retention of Dr. Hartvigsen was precipitated by the retirement of long-time Curator of American Art, Dr. Marian Wardle, who acted in this role for over 14 years. Dr. Hartvigsen will continue the scholarly legacy of Dr. Wardle, researching and publishing the BYU Museum of Art’s collection, engaging diverse American Studies faculty across campus, and curating exhibitions that support a wide variety of disciplinary curricula. Read more>>>>

“Where does the power come from to see the race to its end?” pondered Eric Liddell moments before his 1924 Olympic victory in Paris. “From within.” In March 2017, the true-to-the-faith stories of British runners Liddell and Harold Abrahams will be rekindled in a live stage production of Chariots of Fire as part of the BYU theatre season. The desire for a BYU production of the play ignited from its origination in London’s Roundhouse Theatre and subsequent West End production in 2012 during the London Olympic Games. BYU Arts producer Jeffrey Martin attended a performance and immediately hoped to be able to produce the play in Provo. READ MORE AT BYU ARTS>>>>>>

The BYU Center for Animation has a history of earning accolades for its student-created animated short films each year. 2016 has been no different.