Courtesy of The Spetator
As Thanksgiving approaches, it is important to take a moment to recognize the communities on the Hill that you are thankful for. For me, the Hamilton College Choir and my a cappella group, Special K, have been two support systems on campus for which I am thankful.
Reflecting on my experiences in these two music groups, as well as my experience as one of
The Spectator
’s Arts & Entertainment Section Editors for three semesters, a position which exposed me to dozens of other arts communities on campus, I would like to discuss the value of the arts at Hamilton, and the power of arts communities on and off the Hill.
Adjusting to college life as a first-year student can be challenging and isolating. In my first semester at Hamilton, choir and a cappella reminded me of home, and quickly became like families for me, making me feel more at ease in this tough transition period. This speaks to the power of music to bring people together. The same can be said for non-musical arts communities.
I would encourage Hamilton students to get involved with theatre, visual arts, choir, orchestra, a cappella, dance, improv comedy, and more. Any group that centers around creating something with others can provide an immense amount of social and emotional support. The support in arts communities is unparalleled because the rate at which close bonds form increases when you have to let your guard down and come out of your shell to be creative with a new group of people.
My participation in arts groups throughout my life has made me the person I am today. I was an extremely shy child, and these groups, in addition to my arts education, gave me skills to express myself and boost my confidence. Everyone should be able to explore what the arts can do for their personal growth. I believe that anyone, not just people who consider themselves artists or performers, can find an arts community at Hamilton that they can thrive in.
Hamilton has shown its commitment to the arts in recent years with the 2014 opening of the multi-million dollar project, the Kennedy Center for Theater and the Studio Arts. It is crucial that this administrative and donor support for the arts continues, so that all students can participate in the arts, and arts groups can continue to have the resources they need to thrive. For the arts to continue to flourish at Hamilton, students also need to show up for each other. Attend your friends’ performances, presentations, and exhibits. Audiences are critical. Without them, arts groups would cease to exist.
When discussing the arts, it is imperative to mention the fact that not every school is as fortunate as we are at Hamilton to have strong funding for the arts. Additionally, more and more K-12 students around the country are not receiving any arts education. The arts are not seen as a priority, and are often the first to go in budget cuts. Our support for the arts must go beyond the Hill. In order for everyone to experience the benefits of the arts, we need to demand our politicians to fully fund arts education, and assist non-profits that work towards this goal.
I am thankful that I have had opportunities in the arts throughout my life on and off the Hill. I call upon the Hamilton College community to continue to grow support for the arts at Hamilton and beyond.
Sincerely,
Josie Blatt ’21
Managing Editor
