Enriching our culture

McAlpin OnSTAGE series
Indian River State College marks 40 years of the performing and visual arts program in the McAlpin Theatre. The theatre is home to the McAlpin OnSTAGE series which offers seven shows for $70 — providing patrons the best variety and value of shows available anywhere on the Treasure Coast. IRSC PHOTOS BY MOLLY BARTELS

IRSC cultural offerings benefit both students and community

Indian River State College serves as a vital community resource that offers enrichment opportunities of all kinds for all ages. With performances, programs, and events that range from theater, to lectures on timely topics, to summer camps and activities for children, IRSC campuses welcome thousands of residents each year who enjoy all that the college offers.

Taking the lead role in more than 30 performances annually, IRSC students who major in theatre, dance or music demonstrate their talents in the McAlpin OnStage series, which fosters a comprehensive foundation for future educational and professional pursuits. Facilities utilized by the performing and visual arts programs — such as the Fee Dance Studio, art studio space, classrooms and rehearsal rooms — all emphasize the college’s commitment to the development of a well-rounded student.

IRSC dance student Angelita Leal
IRSC dance student Angelita Leal expresses her art through motion at the Fort Pierce Jetty. The College’s dance program brings the performing and visual arts to life through movement.

Performing arts classes have been offered from the college’s earliest years — expanding into a truly comprehensive program in 1981 with the opening of the McAlpin Fine Arts Center. As IRSC marks 60 years, the 630-seat proscenium theater celebrates 40 seasons as a home for the arts and a cultural hub for the community.

Theater patrons can also enjoy an intimate and immersive experience at the Wynne Black Box Theatre — a flexible 100-seat theater that allows the audience to surround the stage. Shows at the Wynne range from original IRSC productions to beloved comedic favorites from Neil Simon.

Hallstrom Planetarium shows are live multimedia presentations that tell stories about the planets and stars where visitors view the heavens from the comfort of 71 reclining seats. The planetarium is also home to “Saturday Afternoon STEAM Talks” that facilitate discussions about science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The perennially popular “KID SPACE” program opens the heavens to children ages 4 to 12 to take them on scientific voyages of discovery.

Children participate in an Aqua summer camp at the Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex
Children participate in an Aqua summer camp at the Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex on the Main Campus in Fort Pierce. IRSC offers a variety of summer camps and programs for children of all ages.

The college offers a variety of fun, challenging and educational summer camps for primary, middle and high school students. Campers have the opportunity to work directly with coaches, faculty and staff to develop skills and explore their curiosities. Camps include athletic activities such as swimming, basketball and baseball. Students ages 12 to 17 can take part in Coding with Arduino Bootcamps hosted by LASER-TEC at IRSC and scheduled throughout the year.

The Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning at IRSC offers educational opportunities for men and women age 50 and older who are ready to explore shared topics of interest in a college atmosphere. Each year the program offers more than 80 courses in topics that include current events, history, health and cooking offered across all five IRSC campuses and select community sites.

In partnership with the IRSC Foundation and the Ray and Peg Hirvonen Charitable Foundation, The Fielden Institute also sponsors the Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings subject matter experts on current topics to the IRSC Vero Beach and Stuart campuses.
Home to the IRSC National Championship Swim Team, the Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex is also available for use by the public. To make use of the pool complex, community members can obtain a free IRSC Activity Card from the Student Affairs office to access the facility during hours available on the events calendar at irsc.edu.

Through all of these activities and more, IRSC has endeavored to improve quality of life and promote social interaction for our students and our neighbors. Members of the college community are invited to the IRSC 60th Anniversary Block Party & Open House on May 16 to sample many of these enriching experiences firsthand.


Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning members
Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning members participate in a class through the IRSC Culinary Institute on the Mueller Campus in Vero Beach. Participants learned about recipes and cooking techniques and experienced a multi-course, Tuscan-themed lunch.

INTERESTED?

Performing Arts and Hallstrom Planetarium Shows
IRSC Box Office: 1.866.400.7529

Lifelong Learning Institute: 772.462.7880

Pool Hours: irsc.edu

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