Fairfield University’s Open MINDS Institute offers topical seminars and participatory workshops for the general public. New this season, the Quick has partnered with the Pequot Library in Southport, Conn. and the Fairfield University College of Arts and Sciences to present an expanded range of subjects.
Imagine the pleasure of participating in a fascinating college seminar with no required reading, no exams, and no assignments. This is truly lifelong learning's gift that keeps on giving.
— Philip Eliasoph, PhD, director of the Open MINDS Institute
Expand your perspective on timely topics — including politics, music, media, and art — through the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University’s Open MINDS Institute. An exploratory “classroom without walls,” the program offers a series of seminars and workshops led by master instructors from around the globe.
“Imagine the pleasure of participating in a fascinating college seminar with no required reading, no exams, and no assignments," said Philip Eliasoph, PhD, director of the Open MINDS Institute. "This is truly lifelong learning's gift that keeps on giving."
Each workshop can be signed up for individually, with no long-term commitment required. The classes are designed to be highly participatory, with teachers and students engaging in a learning partnership. The Quick has collaborated with the Fairfield University College of Arts and Sciences and the Pequot Library to offer the following topics for the fall 2019 season:
- “Opera and Us for Beginners: Exploring Live From the Met,” with instructor Erik Novoa; September 26 – October 31, 2019 (Thursdays, 1– 2:30 p.m., Quick Center). This class will examine some of the most well-known melodies from The Met: Live in HD’s upcoming season, as well as other essential works.
- “The Supreme Court: Its Greatest Cases,” with instructor Alan Neigher, J.D.; October 8 – November 5, 2019 (Tuesdays, 1– 2:30 p.m., Pequot Library). Designed for non-lawyers, the course will address the most significant Supreme Court cases involving race and civil rights, freedom of expression and privacy, money and commerce, and criminal justice.
- “Fact in the Age of Fake News: American Democracy’s Stress Test,” with instructor Matthew Tullis, PhD; October 9 – November 6, 2019 (Wednesdays, 1 – 2:30 p.m., Pequot Library). Don’t miss the discussion of what constitutes fake news, the different forms it can take, who is producing it, and which sources are trustworthy in the current media landscape.
- “Love, Lust, and Luxury; The Art of 15th Century Florence,” with instructor Fiona Garland; October 16 – November 13, 2019 (Wednesdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Quick Center). Garland, known for making her content accessible and relevant, will lead a discussion on the prolific inventory of artists from Florence. The final class will include a tour of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s incredible Florentine collection.
Courses are $290 each. QCA Member price per course is $275. Enroll in two or more courses and enjoy a discounted price of just $250 per course. All course registrations are through the Quick Center Box Office; for more information or to register, visit www.quickcenter.com or call the box office at 203-254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.
