River Campus resources for student creativity 

SEMO’s River Campus provides an array of essential resources that aim to support both academic and creative development. These resources include rehearsal studios, performance spaces and production facilities designed for the arts disciplines.

The campus features several performance spaces for students, including the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall, which seats 950 guests, the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre, which seats 200, the musical theater performance studio and a dance studio.

SEMO’s River Campus, home to the Holland College of Arts and Media, is dedicated to helping art, dance, music and theater majors thrive during and after college. Dean of the Holland College of Arts and Media Rhonda Weller-Stilson said that the campus has implemented resources to meet students’ varying needs.

“For example, we realized that at night and on weekends, the art students had no color printer. So we purchased and placed in the Arts Resource Center a color printer of a larger scale that would address the needs of art students. Another is that our theater and dance students are always looking at and needing access to scripts, and most of them were in Kent Library, so that collection has been brought over to the Arts Resource Center. That’s just two examples of how we’ve identified specific student needs,” Weller-Stilson said.

SEMO’s website states that the Arts Resource Center is a small library located on the River Campus that gives students access to various resources they may need for their classes.

“The Arts Resource Center (ARC) is a small library located at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. The ARC provides access to specialized collections supporting the departments of Art and Design, Music, and Theater and Dance, and serves as a liaison to Kent Library. The ARC is equipped with computers, a printer, scanners, comfortable seating, and a friendly staff who will assist with all your research needs,” the website states.

Weller-Stilson also noted that the campus provides resources for mental and physical health. These resources include the Chart Clinic, which offers students in the arts a place to go for physical injuries, alignment issues, and more.

“We have something called the Chart Clinic, and that is a clinic that is geared towards students in the arts. This is typically for more physical issues, like they’ve sprained an ankle, or their alignment is off, and they’re not doing something right. The whole idea is that an athletic trainer is there to be able to help them get over the injury and get back to class,” Weller-Stilson said.

With three professional performance venues, three professional galleries, and hundreds of performances throughout the semester, River Campus is the hub for all things art.

These diverse resources play a vital role in shaping the academic and creative journeys of its students.

Whether through access to specialized facilities, technology for research, or opportunities for mentorship and collaboration, these resources aim to equip students with the skills and experiences necessary to thrive.