At BIMA, participants major in one of four arts disciplines: music (instrumental and vocal), visual arts, writing and theater. In addition, participants choose workshops to explore new concepts, create in a different medium, or engage in artistic collaborations.

See a sample day at BIMA

Read more about BIMA's arts faculty

Recordings from the 2007 BIMA Arts Festival

Music:
BIMA’s music program offers intensive training in instrumental music and voice. Taught by professional faculty, the program is structured around ensembles based on participants’ interests and skills, and may include chamber music, choral music, and jazz. Participants develop and refine artistic, technical, and performance skills and have the opportunity to study theory. Practice time is integrated into the schedule. Throughout the BIMA summer experience, participants attend world-class musical performances throughout Boston and in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts.

Visual Arts:
BIMA visual artists experience a true art environment working in the Brandeis fine arts studios.  Experiment is encouraged as skills are developed.  Artists work in a variety of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and mixed media. Directed assignments and open ended questions invite the artists to test new ideas and techniques and develop their visual vocabulary. Group critiques provide them the skills to respond to others' work and challenge them to question and refine their own style and artistic statements. BIMA visual artists will be exposed to the work of professional artists, the history of art, and the language of contemporary art. The rich cultural and natural environment of New England provides an inspiring backdrop for the program.  Art viewing opportunities range from the world-renowned collection at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to the Berkshires’ cutting edge contemporary art at MASS MoCA.

Writing:
The BIMA writers develop the craft of writing and explore their individual writing voices. With the guidance and mentorship of professional writers, BIMA writers read and critique each other's work and discuss published stories and poems as models and inspiration. Sessions may focus on skills such as character development, narrative structure, dialogue, rhythm, meter, and voice. Visiting writers of note conduct master classes and readings.

Theater:
BIMA offers promising actors an experience above and beyond traditional theater programs. Actors at BIMA will focus on character development, scene work, crafting and presenting monologues, voice, movement and other core techniques. In the past, BIMA actors have also explored acrobatics, clowning, puppeteering, and street theater. Actors will work closely with a talented faculty and guest artists to form an ensemble that creates original, collaborative, theatrical works.

2007 BIMA Arts Workshops

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