Wayne State University's Arts Achievement Awards program, honoring a community arts activist and seven prominent alumni, will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in Old Main, the university's historic landmark building.

President David Adamany will present the 1996 Arts Advocate Award to Louis Redstone of Detroit, founder and retired chairman of Redstone Tisea Architects.

Recipients of the 1996 Arts Achievement Awards: art Sergio DeGiusti of Redford; art education Rosemary Gould of Pittsburgh; communication Thom Sharp of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; dance Alvin Mayes of College Park, Md; English Elizabeth Meese of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; music Joseph LoDuca of Bloomfield Hills; theatre Robert Lambert of New York City.

The awards program is part of WSU's annual "Celebration of the Arts" that will be held Wednesday-Saturday, April 16-19, to showcase the variety of arts programs and activities that are regular features at the university. The celebration overlaps the Old Main centennial celebration weekend April 17-20 to mark the building's "official" reopening after a $45,800 million renovation and restoration.

Most activities are free and open to the public and include displays of art, literature, music and dance. Among the scheduled events, along with phone numbers to call for information (main campus area code is 313):

Wednesday, April 16

· Dance master class with Alvin Mayes, 2 p.m., Dance Studio B, 3315 Old Main, 577-4273;

· Slide lecture by Rosemary Gould, 7-9 p.m., 156 Community Arts Building,

577-0902.

Thursday, April 17

· Reception with comedian Thom Sharp, 1-2 p.m., Japanese Room, Manoogian Hall, 577-2943;

· Presentation of Arts Achievement Awards, 4 p.m., Dance Studio A, 3317 Old ­ 2 ­
Main, 577-2246.

Friday, April 18

· Music lecture and demonstration by Joseph LoDuca on "The Process of Film Scoring," 11:45 a.m., 101 Schaver Music Building, 577-1795;

· Lecture by Elizabeth Meese on "Critical Intimacies" 3 p.m., room 3234, English, 51 W. Warren, 577-7695;

· Performance of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, 8 p.m., Bonstelle Theatre, 3424 Woodward, 577-2960;

· Opening performance of Broadway by Philip Dunning and George Abbott, 8 p.m., Hilberry Theatre, 577-2972.

Saturday, April 19

· Lecture by Sergio DeGiusti on "Ethnicity and Art: Forces Which Shape Creativity," 4-5 p.m., Community Arts Auditorium, 577-2980;

· Performance of The Glass Menagerie, 8 p.m., Bonstelle Theatre;

· Performance of Broadway, 8 p.m., Hilberry Theatre.

For more information about the celebration events or awards call Eileen Raider in the Office of Community Affairs at (313) 577-2246.