The immense success of the new exhibition “Sacred Gifts: The Religious Art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann, and Frans Schwartz” at Brigham Young University’s Museum of Art has prompted museum directors to extend museum hours and provide a free “Sacred Gifts” iPad app download highlighting the exhibit. Starting Jan. 1, the Museum of Art now serves the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday to accommodate high demand on evenings and weekends. Despite the extension, museum director encourage patrons to reserve their free ticket required for admittance as soon as possible. Free downloads of the Museum’s interactive audiovisual iPad app designed exclusively for “Sacred Gifts” are now available at the iTunes Store, thanks to generous funding from donors William H. and Patricia W. Child. The app features uplifting educational resources including expert interviews, historical context, music, personal anecdotes and spiritual insights. Funding for the app’s development was also provided by the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation, the Allen Foundation and the BYU Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts. Previously, the app had only been available for patrons on rental devices within the Museum for a $3 fee. For more information contact Hilarie Ashton at (801) 422-2569 or hilarie_ashton@byu.edu. Source: BYU News

Randy Boothe, singer, pianist music maker and director of the BYU Young Ambassadors, was featured in January’s issue of Utah Valley Magazine.

Vai Sikahema, a graduate of the broadcast program in BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications was honored with an induction into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich star in the hit Western “Destry Rides Again” in a one-time screening at Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library auditorium on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.

The Brigham Young University Jazz Legacy Band will present a concert of Dixieland and Swinging Jazz with special guests Lemoyne Taylor and the Mississippi Mood Orchestra Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

Performance at 7:30 p.m. has sold out

Tickets for all events are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981, byuarts.com/tickets. 9 — The Utah Symphony returns to BYU with a program of classical masterworks featuring guest conductor Matthias Pintscher and pianist Inon Barnatan at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The symphony will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, and Matthias Pintscher’s “Towards Osiris.” 11 — The annual Utah Crosstalk contemporary music concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 16 — The Mexico City Woodwind Quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 18 — Vocal Point, BYU’s premier nine-man a cappella ensemble, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 21-25 — The Young Artists of Voice competition, featuring top student talent from BYU’s School of Music, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. Visit byuarts.com for information on individual evening programs. 23 — “Timothy O’Sullivan: The King Survey Photographs” will run through May 26 at the Museum of Art. Although details of his life are scarce, the photographic legacy of Timothy H. O’Sullivan is far-reaching, and his images are regarded as some of the most compelling photographs taken in the 19th century. This exhibition showcases images captured by O’Sullivan for the King Survey, a government-sponsored expedition to gather practical and scientific information from the vast territory between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean. His images of mining operations, barren landscapes, unusual geological formations and meditations on his own presence in the West represent a powerful, raw vision of this little-known territory. Visit moa.byu.edu for details and exhibit hours. 23-25 — Iran’s Leev Theater Group will present “Hamlet, Prince of Grief” at 9 p.m. in the Margetts Theatre. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 4 p.m. Household objects and children’s toys are used to play out a domestic and political history of betrayal and death as Shakespeare’s tragic hero comes to terms with his violent fate through an obsessive retelling of the moments preceding the tragedy. “Hamlet, Prince of Grief” was first presented in Iran by Leev Theater Group, featuring acclaimed Iranian actor Afshin Hashemi. It was chosen as Iran’s Best Theater Group by the Critics and Writers Association of Iran’s Theater House and was named Tehran’s Best Theater Group by the Dramatic Arts Center. 23-25 — The Theatre Ad Infinitum will perform “Translunar Paradise” at 7:20 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. “Translunar Paradise” takes audiences on a journey of life, death and enduring love. After his wife, Rose, passes away, William escapes to a paradise of fantasy and memories, a place far from the reality of his grief. Returning from beyond the grave, Rose revisits her widowed companion to perform one last act of love: helps him let go. With live accordion accompaniment, this exquisite piece of mask and movement theatre was a multi-award winning, critically acclaimed sellout at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011. Theatre Ad Infinitum is an award-winning international ensemble based in London, developing new and original theatre for a multi-cultural audience. 23-25 — Australia’s Perth Theatre Company will present “Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer” at 6 p.m. in the Nelke Theatre. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2:40 p.m. This multi-award-winning one-man micro-epic puppet show melds technology and multimedia into a touching story of enduring love and the end of the world. Creator and performer, Tim Watts employs a unique blend of mime, puppetry, live and recorded music, and live animation to present an exploration of the oldest and next frontier: the deep blue sea. The seas have risen, billions of people have died and those who are left live on farms on mountaintop skyscrapers. The scientists have tried everything. Floating islands sank, space probes found nothing, and the giant sponges, visible from the moon, are now rotting icons of failure. Now science and humanity are turning to the oceans. A last ditch effort to save the human race requires journeying down through the mysterious depths of the deep blue sea to find a new place to live. These are the dire circumstances that surround the tale’s central hero, Alvin Sputnik. Having just lost his wife, Alvin accepts this perilous mission to follow her soul down to the underworld to be with her once more. 29 — The Q'd Up Jazz Quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 30-Feb. 1 — The BYU Theatre Ballet will present “Swan Lake” during 'Ballet in Concert' at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 2 p.m. 31-Feb. 8 — William Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” will be on stage at the Margetts Theatre. Lightheartedly adapted (twice) and directed by Teresa Dayley Love, Shakespeare’s adventurous romance gets the double treatment – and a happy ending – in two special adaptations: as a fairy tale suited for youngsters and as a noir mystery perfect for the young at heart. Exploring the Bard’s common themes of mistaken identity, innocence wronged and jealousy, “Cymbeline” tells the story of a princess in a pickle, her banished husband, a villainous queen and “a whole lotta mayhem” in Britain. Caution: audience participation ahead! All month at the Museum of Art: “Sacred Gifts: The Religious Art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz.” through May 10, 2014. “Simpler, Brighter, Stronger: Southwestern Art and Early Modernism, 1910-1960.” through July 26, 2014. “e.g. Monika Bravo: Landscape of Belief.” through March 15, 2014. “Shaping America: Selected Works from the Permanent Collection of American Art.” through March 2018. Admission to all exhibits is free. Hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sunday. For more information, visit moa.byu.edu . Source: BYU News

Brigham Young University’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts in conjunction with the Laycock Center for Creativity and Collaboration will present its debut season of the OFF THE MAP art festival, a collection of three non-traditional theatre performances, Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 23-25, in the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Sharing a passion for the arts brought dancers from Brigham Young University and China together in a unique cross-cultural experience.

Few universities enjoy the international name recognition of BYU, as proven by the recent triumph in the Hyundai Lens of Loyalty film contest in December 2013. This fall, Hyundai Motor Company challenged 25 universities ranging from the west to east coast including heavy hitters such as Oregon, Michigan and Florida to the film contest. After submitting a one-page treatment for a film, seven finalists were chosen to produce the final product, and were funded $10,000. Of the finalists, BYU was awarded the additional $10,000 prize by a panel of judges for its recent five-minute film highlighting BYU football fans around the world. The film was then created, produced, and edited by an innovative student team at The Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration. The team included students from all disciplines, including advertising, film and music. Students Dustin Locke headed the effort as advertising director, with Layne Russell as film director. The aim was for students to showcase football-related traditions unique to their school, according to a press release by Hyundai Motors. “We thought about it and unfortunately BYU can’t compete with tailgating,” explained Locke, advertising major. “But the one thing that sets us apart is reach and the fact that we bring a lot of people to away games.” The idea then developed to let the fans speak for themselves about their passion for BYU. “We have a uniquely true world-wide following here at BYU,” said Jeff Sheets, director of The Laycock Center. “We then cross-sourced and looked for the most unique and insightful fans to be featured.” Fans from as far away as Hawaii, London and South Africa were featured in the short film. One man, a foot cancer amputee living in Barcelona, Spain, proudly wears his BYU emblazoned prosthetic to show he bleeds blue. Another couple in Hawaii installed one of the first satellite dishes on the island in order to see the BYU football games. They then proceeded to invite their neighborhood to watch the Cougars fight their way to victory over the years. “It was a cool experience for us to go across the world and talk to BYU fans. I don’t get to play on the BYU football field, so it is cool to do something for the team,” commented Locke with a wry grin. Incredibly, the team put together the entire production, from recruitment of fans to editing in only two and a half weeks. Students worked night and day to put together the film, while scrambling to get homework done between traveling around the world. The dedication in these un-paid students embodies the mission of the Laycock Center to facilitate a collaborative environment for creative ideas and stunning talent. As Vanessa Mckenna, advertising major, excitedly exclaimed, “It’s all about collaboration!” and a literal love of the game on and off the field.

The timeless Christmas classic, Frank Capra’s 'It's a Wonderful Life,' will have a one-time screening at Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library auditorium Thursday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.

Museums, services and facilities at Brigham Young University will have special hours between the fall and winter semesters Dec. 17 to Jan. 4. Museum of Art - Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum is closed Sunday. Admission is free, but tickets are required for the 'Sacred Gifts' exhibit. For more information and a list of available exhibits, visit moa.byu.edu. - Closes early Dec. 24 and 31 at 4 p.m. - Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Museum of Peoples and Cultures - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday until 7 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. The museum is located at 700 N. 100 East, Provo. Admission is free. For more information, visit mpc.byu.edu. - Closed Dec. 23-25 and Dec. 30-Jan 1. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum - Closed until spring 2014 for construction. - During the construction, free outreach and webcasting shows are available to public. For more information, visit mlbean.byu.edu. Education in Zion exhibit - Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday evenings until 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located in the Joseph F. Smith Building west of the Harold B. Lee Library. For more information, visit lib.byu.edu/sites/educationinzion. - Closed Dec. 23-Jan. 1 and Jan. 3. BYU Bookstore - Closes early Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. - Open Dec. 26-29, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Closed Dec. 25, 31 and Jan. 1. For more information, visitwww.byubookstore.com. Wilkinson Student Center - The Wilkinson Student Center will have regular hours except Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, when it will close at 6 p.m. - Regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 6 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Wilkinson Student Center Studio 1030 (Salon) - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Closed Dec. 24-25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. For more information, visit studio1030.byu.edu. Wilkinson Student Center Cougareat and other campus restaurants - View updated Christmas hours for each campus restaurant at dining.byu.edu/cougareat/hours.html. Wilkinson Student Center Cougar Creations Copy Center - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. - Closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. For more information about campus copy services during the holidays, visit printandmail.byu.edu. Wilkinson Student Center Games Center - Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. - Closed Dec. 24-26 - Closes early Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. and opens Jan. 1 from noon to 11 p.m. For more information, visit gamescenter.byu.edu. Harold B. Lee Library - Opens later and closes early Dec. 21-Jan.4, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. All services will be available during these hours, including Special Collections. - Closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. As always, the library remains closed Sundays, except for the Family History Library which is open on the second and fourth Sundays for family history research. View all library holiday hours at lib.byu.edu/about/hours/exceptions/. Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours Wednesday to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sunday. - Closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. For more details, visit alumni.byu.edu. For more information about campus events and hours of operation during the holiday season, see the campus calendar at calendar.byu.edu. Source: BYU News