Enriching our culture
IRSC cultural offerings benefit both students and community
Indian River State College serves as a vital community resource that offers enrichment opportunities of all kinds for all ages. With performances, programs, and events that range from theater, to lectures on timely topics, to summer camps and activities for children, IRSC campuses welcome thousands of residents each year who enjoy all that the college offers.
Taking the lead role in more than 30 performances annually, IRSC students who major in theatre, dance or music demonstrate their talents in the McAlpin OnStage series, which fosters a comprehensive foundation for future educational and professional pursuits. Facilities utilized by the performing and visual arts programs — such as the Fee Dance Studio, art studio space, classrooms and rehearsal rooms — all emphasize the college’s commitment to the development of a well-rounded student.
Performing arts classes have been offered from the college’s earliest years — expanding into a truly comprehensive program in 1981 with the opening of the McAlpin Fine Arts Center. As IRSC marks 60 years, the 630-seat proscenium theater celebrates 40 seasons as a home for the arts and a cultural hub for the community.
Theater patrons can also enjoy an intimate and immersive experience at the Wynne Black Box Theatre — a flexible 100-seat theater that allows the audience to surround the stage. Shows at the Wynne range from original IRSC productions to beloved comedic favorites from Neil Simon.
Hallstrom Planetarium shows are live multimedia presentations that tell stories about the planets and stars where visitors view the heavens from the comfort of 71 reclining seats. The planetarium is also home to “Saturday Afternoon STEAM Talks” that facilitate discussions about science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The perennially popular “KID SPACE” program opens the heavens to children ages 4 to 12 to take them on scientific voyages of discovery.
The college offers a variety of fun, challenging and educational summer camps for primary, middle and high school students. Campers have the opportunity to work directly with coaches, faculty and staff to develop skills and explore their curiosities. Camps include athletic activities such as swimming, basketball and baseball. Students ages 12 to 17 can take part in Coding with Arduino Bootcamps hosted by LASER-TEC at IRSC and scheduled throughout the year.
The Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning at IRSC offers educational opportunities for men and women age 50 and older who are ready to explore shared topics of interest in a college atmosphere. Each year the program offers more than 80 courses in topics that include current events, history, health and cooking offered across all five IRSC campuses and select community sites.
In partnership with the IRSC Foundation and the Ray and Peg Hirvonen Charitable Foundation, The Fielden Institute also sponsors the Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings subject matter experts on current topics to the IRSC Vero Beach and Stuart campuses.
Home to the IRSC National Championship Swim Team, the Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex is also available for use by the public. To make use of the pool complex, community members can obtain a free IRSC Activity Card from the Student Affairs office to access the facility during hours available on the events calendar at irsc.edu.
Through all of these activities and more, IRSC has endeavored to improve quality of life and promote social interaction for our students and our neighbors. Members of the college community are invited to the IRSC 60th Anniversary Block Party & Open House on May 16 to sample many of these enriching experiences firsthand.
INTERESTED?
Performing Arts and Hallstrom Planetarium Shows
IRSC Box Office: 1.866.400.7529
Lifelong Learning Institute: 772.462.7880
Pool Hours: irsc.edu
