BUCKHANNON, West Virginia –  West Virginia Wesleyan College is excited to announce the return of West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts for summer 2024-2026. Dates for Summer 2024 are June 23-July 13. The College previously hosted GSA from 2014-2016.

West Virginia Wesleyan College has a tremendous commitment to creative and performing arts.  This fall, over 45 creative artists enrolled at West Virginia Wesleyan College, contributing to the largest new student class since 2017.  

Dr. James Moore, West Virginia Wesleyan College’s 20th president, came to the College in 2006 as Director of Jazz Ensembles where he built one of the most vibrant collegiate jazz programs in the region and was heavily involved with GSA’s prior launch at WVWC.

Moore said, “As an artist-led institution, we at WVWC know full well the value of GSA and the impact it has on the development of tomorrow’s artists. We were honored to host three highly successful GSAs between 2014-2016. We can’t wait to have more of these students back on campus and show them how much we ‘get’ the journey they’re on.”

The 2024 Governor’s School for the Arts is bringing back digital media as a major focus as students are showing more of an interest in this evolving media. Students work intensively within their disciplines, but also spend time in interdisciplinary study with other forms. 

Governor’s School for the Arts will be headed by Dean Thomas Schoffler who is chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance and an associate professor at WVWC.

Schoffler said, “As a professional theater maker and a teacher, I am thrilled to facilitate the GSA experience for young West Virginia artists because I know how vital that connection to other artists can be. Former GSA attendees cite that being part of our intensive arts community allows them to grow and hone their craft in ways they never expected, while also forging ‘forever friendships’ with fellow artists of multiple disciplines.”

Current sophomores can apply soon at https://govschools.wv.gov/. The deadline is March 1. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2024 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan eighth in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 50 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing, and clinical mental health counseling; 20 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.