SCAD VIRTUAL — The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presents Guests and Gusto, a new Zoom series programmed exclusively for SCAD students during the university’s virtual spring quarter 2020. The dynamic series features new weekly content that represents all of SCAD’s 40+ top-ranked degree programs through illuminating conversations, surprise drop-ins, and interactive games.
Due to safety and wellness precautions related to COVID-19, spring quarter classes are being held online for students at all SCAD locations. Guests and Gusto offers new educational and social experiences that encourage students to stay safe, hopeful, and passionate, while providing mentorship and engagement that will help them succeed in their creative professions. The initiative epitomizes the university’s commitment to leading the way into a new future for art and design in higher education.
“Our alumni frequently mention the assets and advantages that SCAD provides. We bring the greats to them while they’re students, and after graduation, alumni capitalize on our university’s well-established friendships. We provide the introductions, and students build their own relationships with these elite leaders during their time at the university and beyond,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “SCAD has invited our uber-extensive network of elite leaders in film, design, art, writing, and architecture to contribute to teaching and learning during the spring quarter. Guest educators join with our renowned faculty to give students insider tips relevant to all the professions we teach.”
The series launched March 30 with a video compilation from numerous actors and artists, including Aldis Hodge, Alan Cumming, and J. Alexander, offering positive messages of encouragement and creativity to the entire SCAD community. In addition to the video, the first week of Guests and Gusto programming includes presentations and conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic and New York Times best-selling author Jerry Saltz (
How to Be an Artist), celebrated mixed-media pop artist Ashley Longshore (
I Do Not Cook, I Do Not Clean, I Do Not Fly Commercial), Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producer/composer Tricky Stewart (“Umbrella” and “Single Ladies”), and resiliency expert Jenny Evans (
The Resiliency rEvolution).
Other creative and industry leaders, including costume designer Ane Crabtree (The Handmaid’s Tale), style icon Carson Kressley, actor and writer Tommy Dewey, Refinery29 founder Christene Barberich, director and writer Morgan Neville (
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?)
, and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner and SCAD grad Christopher John Rogers, are also confirmed to take part in the series throughout the 10-week academic quarter.
In addition to its ongoing creative engagement, Guests and Gusto will feature a wellness component called “Bee Well Fridays.” A virtual retool of the popular, informative Bee Well initiative, “Bee Well Fridays” will feature a different luminary from the health and wellness sector each week in support of the university’s commitment to comprehensive care for emotional, physical, and social health.
With programming like Guests and Gusto, SCAD is proud to usher in a better tomorrow — designed by SCAD students.