Froshie guide: York arts clubs

So you’re in business. Or commerce. Or science.
Maybe you’re even in art, but you want to go extracurricular.Tough shit, right? WRONG.
Keeping up with academic work is draining and sometimes students need an outlet in order to deal with the stress. While some students may find comfort in sports teams, cultural groups or pop culture clubs, those can be pretty fucking boring/banal/not necessarily a new way to expand your horizons.
So go find some solace in the fine arts. If you are new to York and are looking to expand your artistic side, here are some clubs and events that are worth checking out. Some are for non-BFA majors, others are more inclusive.
CASA
Known for their myriad events in the Centre for Film and Theatre, the Creative Arts Students Association is the representative body for the fine arts faculty at York. Sound pithy and exclusive? It’s not pithy. Or exclusive. They are actually fabulously inclusive, and they will feed you. For free. If that’s not a reason to go, nothing is. CASA runs a weekly free coffee house every Tuesday from 11:30 – 1:30 p.m., where all members of the York community are welcomed to mingle with other students share their interests in the arts.
Dance Students Association
(DSA)
Do you feel like Baby? Did somebody put you in the corner? Well, this organization’s gonna be your DSwAyze. The DSA’s goal is to create a place where there is communication and support between both students and faculty. When you are a member of the DSA, you are never alone. The organization prides itself on promoting fellow dance students’ independent creative dance projects.
Digital Media Student
Association (DMSA)
If you had to explain to your parents that your degree had some sort of value and was indeed a real thing, the DMSA is the perfect organization to be involved with.By organizing workshops, social events, study groups, and meetings, the DMSA is the place to experience all that the digital art culture encompasses, including new media art, interactive art, and computational systems. This association provides academic, social, and career support to both digital media majors and non-digital media majors.
Music Students Association
(MSAYU)
This is self-explanatory. Really. What’s that? You still want more detail? Are you even reading this? Fine. Being part of the MSAYU allows students to form professional relationships with other students in the music field – which is essential for any student who desires to have career in music.
Theatre Students Association
(TSA)
Although no one will admit it was only formed to keep theatre students away from the rest of us, the TSA is an excellent association, offering services and activities for theatre students to be involved in. In addition, many opportunities are available for York’s theatre students, specifically because of Theatre @ York, a theatre production company. York’s theatre department encourages and showcases the performance, directing, and production talents of York’s students through both contemporary and classic plays.
Visual Arts Student Association
(VASA)
If you are are introver-I mean, artist, VASA is an organization that not only gets students in touch with the art life within York, but also the art life outside of York. Specific perks of being a VASA member are that the organization plans group exhibits, art sales, workshops, so that students are immersed in all things art at York.
Also, an exciting place to visit is the Art Gallery of York, located in Accolade East. The gallery’s exhibitions are creatively and intellectually driven by the public – having a gallery right at the tips of our fingers in the York community is an exciting opportunity that is not to be passed up. And the art is actually, y’know, good.
Whether or not you’re a fi ne arts student, you’ll find that York has an immense amount of clubs that will pique your interests.
It’s just up to you to find them, but they’re there. Many of these groups have an immense web presence and constant updates, be it via York’s site, Facebook, or Tumblr, and these are just a sample of what the community offers.
The campus is sprawling, but the arts are infinite.
Camellia De Castro and Josanne Gunness
Contributors