STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT

Since opening our doors, IU Auditorium has focused heavily on student exposure to and interaction with the arts. By creating educational programs, employing students, and offering significant discounts on show tickets, we provide IU students with a myriad of accessible opportunities through which they can deepen their college experience.

Educational Programming

Throughout our season, we collaborate with visiting artists from around the globe to create interactive educational programs for IU students such as masterclasses, Q&As, and side-by-side rehearsals. These programs offer students the invaluable chance to connect with and learn directly from professional musicians, dance companies, and Broadway stars, among others. Through these interactions, students gain not only a deeper understanding of their craft, but also the inspiration to continue pursuing their professional goals.

Mentorship

IU Auditorium staff members and departments offer a multitude of learning and mentorship opportunities for students on our staff. During the 2021–2022 school year, thanks to the generous support of Auditorium board members Jim and Joyce Grandorf, we hosted Grandorf Leadership Summit events in both October and February. These leadership development events are designed as one of the many ways IU Auditorium student staff members cultivate lifelong leadership and professional skills.

In October, attendees participated in a moderated discussion and Q&A with IU Auditorium alum Dave Neustadter, an executive producer with credits in 36 major motion pictures. The February event featured discussions with seven notable professionals, including IU Auditorium alumni, on several different topics. Both events ended with a networking session, allowing students to develop relationships with IU Auditorium alumni and staff members.

Give The Magic

Annually, our Give the Magic program offers underserved community members the opportunity to attend a performance at IU Auditorium for free. In March 2022, thanks to the generosity of our partners at IU Health Riley Physicians and our Circle of Friends, along with the collaboration with eight local non-profit organizations, 323 community members were able to enjoy the excitement of Blue Man Group

Iu Auditorium Gives

IU Auditorium continuously strives to find ways we can give back to our community. This year, in conjunction with our presentation of Waitress, we collected women’s clothing and accessories for My Sister’s Closet and United Way of Monroe County. In addition, we partnered with Hoosier Hills Food Bank throughout the holiday season to collect 386 pounds of food that provided families with 463 meals. We also provided veterans with free show tickets to Chimes of Christmas and An Officer and a Gentleman through Vet Tix, a national ticketing organization that supplies tickets to our nation’s military members and retirees.

Iu Auditorium Kids On Campus

In March, we were thrilled to welcome nearly 1,000 eighth grade students from Monroe County School Corporation for a daytime lecture-demonstration presented by Martha Graham Dance Company. During the 60-minute program, students were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at staging a dance production, followed by a performance by the world-renowned dance company. This event marked our third Auditorium Kids on Campus daytime program. The Auditorium Kids on Campus initiative was created to provide local K-12 students with programming enabling them to experience the performing arts and interact with worldclass artists. We are excited to continue growing this event in the coming years with the support of Smithville Foundation, Southern Indiana Physicians, Riley Physicians, IU Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council, and IU Auditorium’s Circle of Friends.

Learning Laboratory

IU Auditorium offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on, real-world experience in the live events industry through training and employment in roles such as volunteer ushers, ticket sales associates, and guest service personnel. We also employ students in our administrative offices, allowing them to explore or further a career path in marketing, development, event management, and more.