Each year in conjunction with the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival, the Dowagiac Union Schools administration hosts Fine Arts Night at Dowagiac Union High School.

This year is no exception.

Student artwork is displayed in the halls of the high school, and in the gym, elementary through high school choirs and bands perform to a packed house. Fine art scholarships are awarded at this time as well.

It is a great celebration of all of Dowagiac’s fine arts students, administrators say, who added they appreciate their partnership with the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival.

What will be different this year is the construction that is taking place in the southern end of the west parking lot at the high school. Each year, parking is a premium and this year it will be even more so, administrators said.

Patrons may have to park farther away than normal and walk a little farther, so people may have to plan ahead and adjust their arrival time accordingly, staff said.

Each year administrators are asked why they do not host Fine Arts Night at the middle school. The answer is space and seating, they said. There is more seating in the DUHS gym than the PAC and it is usually standing room only.

Also, the stage does not allow for all of the events to be set up at once creating a lot of “down time” as groups are taken off stage and a new group sets up.  Having it in the gym at the high school allows for the groups to all be set up at once but does not provide the seating necessary to accommodate the crowd that attends.

Over the next couple of years as the district works toward the completion of the construction projects at the high school, Chris Taylor Alumni Field, and the four elementary schools, there will be periods of adjustment and inconvenience. Administrators say they appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as they work to improve the district’s facilities.   

People are invited to enjoy the the art and music Thursday, as students and staff have worked extremely hard this year in the classroom, administrators said.