Bang Arts Festival, 1964-1967

This section contains materials related to the end of the Bang Arts Festival, which did not continue after the spring 1967 iteration.

Despite its popularity in Richmond and national recognition, the Bang Arts Festival did not continue in the 1967-1968 academic year. Funding for the festival was not renewed by the Student Activities Committee (SAC), who cited "poor financial management in the past" as reasoning for their refunding refusal (from the May 19, 1967 Proscript). At the time, School of Art faculty member Willard Pilchard believed that funding from the festival should come from the school and not SAC. A week later, Dean Burgart of the School of Art stated that though the Bang festival specifically would likely not continue, he did expect funding for a festival in the future (from the May 26, 1967 Proscript).

A student-led festival replaced Bang in May 1968, featuring a march to the James River to protest water pollution, the planting of a tree in a vacant lot, a screening of Richard Meyer films, an electronic music performance by Uncle Funkie's dance band, a light show by Chuck Wrenn, three theater performances from the Wee Theater Group directed by Fred Whitley, karate demonstrations by Ken Cooke, and more (from the May 10, 1968 Proscript).

Also included in this section is a 1968 letter from choreographer and performer Meredith Monk to Richard Carlyon inquiring about performing at the arts festival, upon recommendation of Yvonne Rainer.