Western Carolina University will hold its inaugural Open DepARTment Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Fine and Performing Arts Center on the WCU campus.

“We’re trying to open the center up to the public so people can see art classes in session and the art department at work,” said Erin Tapley, associate professor of art education at Western. “We want the building to be accessible and to be community friendly.”

The event is especially designed to be of interest to Western North Carolina art educators and their students.

“The art department is unique because it has lots of things to show people,” said Richard Tichich, art department chairman at Western. “We have studios dedicated to things such as sculpture and ceramics. Rather than having the public hear about our program and art, we’ll show them. It is a chance for anyone to feel free to come tour the building and department as well as ask the artists questions.”

All of the events will be held in the Fine and Performing Arts Center and are free to the public.

• Slide lecture by the Guerilla Girls!, a group of women artists fighting discrimination in politics, from New York City, Room 130, 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Seating limited to the first 200 attendees.

• Fiber arts and Harvey Littleton glass shows, Fine Art Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Coffee and doughnut reception, Fine Art Museum, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

• Lunch for high school art teachers, Room 158, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Viewings and hands-on activities will be held throughout the day in media including interior design, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, graphics, photography, painting and drawing.

High school and community college students also are encouraged to bring their portfolios to be reviewed by Western faculty.

For more information contact Erin Tapley by phone at 828.227.3598 or by e-mail at etapley@wcu.edu.