Wayne State faculty, staff and students plan to be active partners in the 13th annual Detroit Festival of the Arts scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Sept. 17-19 in the University Cultural Center.

Hudson's Project Imagine presents this year's festival, which will offer more than 500 visual, stage and street performing artists from across the country, and opens at 11 a.m. Friday.

The 20-block festival site encompasses the Detroit Cultural Center, Wayne State campus and Orchestra Hall and will feature the Artists' Marketplace, five outdoor and two indoor performing stages, a Lit Fest-on-the-Lawn and an International Food Court.

The festival will have a Children's Fair with a Youth Artists' Market and favorites such as the Festival of Banners with a parade and workshop, a sand sculpture and grand arts procession.

University participation will run throughout the festival activities including the Wayne State Pavilion, which will present these units:

Alumni Relations - Display of Alumni Association magazine and materials, Organization of Black Alumni membership drive;

Business - Display board, informational packets, giveaways;

Community Affairs - Outreach and university information, WSU sweatshirt giveaway on Sunday;

CULMA Center for Peace and Conflict Studies - Harmonic Project update (to improve relations between ethnic groups in Detroit), information on interactive school-based peer mediation program;

CULMA Office of Instructional Programs - Q and A session on educational programs and professional opportunities in labor and metropolitan affairs;

CULMA Urban Safety Program - Interactive digital camera with photos of children to promote visual record of urban youth and safety protocols;

Education - videotape of various college aspects, Computer Aided Design demonstration, informational materials;

Engineering - Ethanol-powered car on display, display of various programs;

Fine, Performing, Communication Arts - Presentations by various departments;

Law - Model of new Law School on display, information, giveaways;

Liberal Arts - Display of programs, giveaways;

Lifelong Learning - Table-top displays, giveaways;

Nursing - Free blood pressure screening, large display highlighting college;

Science - Free cholesterol screenings, displays, presentations and demonstrations by different college units;

Theatre - Photos of past performances, highlights of the 1999-2000 program, students with brochures giveaways;

University Press - Sale of damaged and overstocked books at reduced prices; and

WDET-FM - Hosts will be onsite, broadcasts in Pavilion and WSU Stage, photo/profile promotion, giveaways, WDET-FM merchandise for sale.

Wayne State's presence in the Children's Fair will show up in cheerleading demonstrations, science demonstrations, dance workshops, ballet performances, puppet performances and fun and games with professors.

The Lit Fest-on-the-Lawn is a new, enlarged venue this year in a large tent on the north lawn of the Detroit Public Library. Faculty and students including M.L. Liebler and The Magic Poetry Band will share the stage with national, state and local readers and performers.

Other university plans include a fencing demonstration in front of Reuther Library on Saturday, a 1999 Faculty Art Exhibition in the Community Arts Gallery with an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Friday, and an Ice Cream Social 3-6 p.m. Friday outside the Linsell House. The Reuther Library presents two exhibitions Friday, Russ Marshall's' "˜Labor and Industry Photographs' and David Clement's "˜Detroit's Soulful Signage'.

Students in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts will perform on many stages during the festival and university libraries will hold a used book sale on Saturday.

In addition the WSU Alumni Association will offer a family-style pancake breakfast for alumni and guests from 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Sept. 19, under a huge canopy near Alumni House on Ferry Mall. Four seatings will accommodate 400 guests for a menu of hot-off-the-griddle pancakes and sausage links with all the trimmings. Live music enhances the festival setting. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2.50 for children under 12. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (313) 577-2166.

Another university function, the Walk with Art Walk-a-thon fundraiser, sponsored by WDET-FM and the Detroit Radio Information Service from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, will meet at WDET-FM, 4600 Cass. The walk goes through the festival area and includes a T-shirt and snacks in the official festival Food Court. Registration for adults is $15 and $10 for children. Call DRIS Director Kim Walsh at (313) 577-7684.

The festival offers something for everyone in the family; it is advisable to come prepared to spend the day. Comfortable shoes and clothing, cash and credit cards are recommended. It is not recommended to bring the family pets.

Information booths will provide schedules, maps, information about rest rooms, lost and found (people and items) and emergency medical care.


Festival hours are as follows:

Marketplace Zone, west of Woodward. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday;

International Zone, east of Woodward. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and

Children's Zone, WSU Gullen Mall.11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Wayne State parking cards will be honored only in Structure 5 on Saturday and Sunday; the charge for public parking will be $3 per car. Street closings in the area will begin Thursday, Sept. 16.


For information call (313) 577-5088 or visit the Detroit Festival of Arts Web site.

The festival is presented by Hudson's. It is produced by the University Cultural Association and Wayne State University.