PITT ARTS Begins 11th Year of Exposing Students to Cultural Gems

Issue Date: 
September 22, 2008

On the heels of its 10th anniversary, PITT ARTS has begun another academic year in which it will expose thousands of Pitt students to ballet, opera, art exhibitions, and other cultural gems, both on and off campus.

Last year, more than 35,000 students took advantage of what PITT ARTS has to offer, including those who participated in more than one offering.  This year, as Oakland hosts Life on Mars, the 55th Carnegie International exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the T. Rex vs. T. Rex exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, PITT ARTS is expecting an encore year of brisk participation.
PITT ARTS programs follow.

Pitt Nights


Oct. 10, Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Jan. 30, and Feb. 18

Pitt faculty and staff are invited to join graduate and undergraduate students on these nights for outings to the symphony, ballet, opera, public theater, or other venues. The discounted ticket price includes free transportation, a free dessert reception, and a visit with a cast member or artistic director.

Free Arts Encounters

Similar to Pitt Nights, these are offered exclusively to Pitt undergraduate students. More than 100 outings are offered throughout the academic year, ranging from film and dance to other arts events. Transportation; a dinner, buffet, or dessert; and tickets to the performance are free.

Artful Wednesdays


Sept. 24 -Dec. 3

Nordy’s Place, Lower Level, William Pitt Union
A free lunch and performance will take place for Pitt students from noon to 1 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays. The lineup includes flamenco dancers on Sept. 24 and master drummers, musicians, and dancers from the Republic of Congo on Oct. 1.

The Cheap Seats Program

This program runs throughout the entire year and provides deeply discounted tickets for a number of cultural venues to Pitt students, faculty, and staff. Pitt people may purchase as many as four tickets and may buy for those not within the Pitt community as long as the Pitt person purchaser attends the event. Tickets can be reserved in the PITT ARTS office in 929 WPU.

Last year, PITT ARTS sold 11,000 “cheap seats” to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh CLO, CLO Cabaret, and other performance venues.

For more information, contact PITT ARTS at 412-624-4498 or visit www.pittarts.pitt.edu.