POTSDAM -- The arts will come alive at SUNY Potsdam from April 29 to May 8, through the fifth annual Lougheed-Kofoed Festival of the Arts. The community is welcome to experience a variety of free cross-disciplinary art experiences at the 2016 LoKo Festival.

Within the span of just a few days, attendees can go from learning photography techniques with world-renowned photographer Douglas Beasley in Ives Park, to partying at Tuxedo Tailgating before the big Crane School of Music concert, to learning how to create creatures using found objects from master puppet maker David Lane.

Take in a retrospective of scenes from Stephen Sondheim's most influential musicals produced and presented by talented SUNY Potsdam students, and follow it up the next night with a poetry reading by the acclaimed Puerto Rican poet Martín Espada. Attend a performance of "Forbidden Planet," a musical comedy mash-up with a sci-fi version of "The Tempest" and the cult film classic of the title, set to rock 'n roll classics.

These are just a few of the many events on the LoKo calendar this year, with a diverse array of offerings to ensure there is something for everyone. All events are free.

Maestro Duain Wolfe will conduct the Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra in a concert befitting the College's 200th anniversary, featuring guest artists, epic works and a world premiere. The performance will be offered on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.

"Being 'LoKo' for the arts means that we are passionate about the culture of creativity on our campus, and that we embrace the diversity of expression that is embodied here at SUNY Potsdam," President Kristin G. Esterberg said. "We are so thankful to the Lougheeds for making this incredible festival possible, both for our campus and the entire North Country community."

The North Country's most comprehensive arts festival, the LoKo Festival includes a wide array of events, including author readings, theatre productions, multimedia presentations, art openings, special exhibitions, public lectures, masterclasses and concerts.

Kathryn (Kofoed) '54 and Donald Lougheed, Hon. '54, founded the Lougheed-Kofoed Festival of the Arts in 2012, to bring the campus festival tradition back to Kathy's alma mater.

North Country Public Radio is the media sponsor for the 2016 Lougheed-Kofoed Festival of the Arts at SUNY Potsdam.

To see the schedule of events, visit www.potsdam.edu/loko. Printed schedules are also available on campus. To keep up with the latest, visit www.facebook.com/lokofestival. Several events will stream live online, at www.potsdam.edu/academics/crane/streaming.

All festival long there will be art in the quad. See dancing, painting and performances on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:50 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. The exhibit The Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art Alumni and “I AM” will be displayed in the Gibson Gallery. The exhibit The Maya Yucatan – Sabbatical 2015 by Mark Huff will be on display in the Hosmer Gallery.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, April 29

• Photography presentation with Tesfa Alexander; 1 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 202; “I AM photo project” highlights the self-defined identities of black men around the country.

• Voice masterclass with Christopher Feigum; 1 p.m.; Snell Theater; select voice students from Crane will receive instruction from the renowned opera singer.

• Pure ink poetry workshop; 2 p.m.; Black Box Theater; explore writing and performance potential.

• Faure’s Requiem presentation; 3 p.m.; Wakefield Recital Hall; hear historic performances of Faure’s Requiem by the Crane Chorus, 1938-1966; presented by Gary Galo.

• Photography presentation with Douglas Beasley; 3:30 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 202; lecture focuses on aesthetic and conceptual approaches to creativity.

• Opening reception: Bachelor of Fine Arts, art alumni and “I AM” exhibit; 5 p.m.; Gibson Gallery in Brainerd Hall; features work of fine arts students and accomplished SUNY Potsdam alumni.

• Senior choreography concert; 7:30 p.m.; Dance Theater – PAC; features work of graduating dance majors: Vianela Benitez, Mollie Bonnier, Fatima Simmons, Laura Smock, Toni-Ann Triolo and Zoe Walders.

Saturday, April 30

• Photo shoot with Douglas Beasley; Ives Park (rain location is PAC lobby); 9 a.m.- noon; learn photo techniques; digital cameras encouraged.

• North Country School’s Peace Poetry Contest; 10 a.m.; Dunn Theater; local K-12 students read their peace poetry contest entries.

• Pure ink poetry workshop; 2 p.m.; Black Box Theater; explore writing and performance potential.

• Senior choreography concert; 2 p.m.; Dance Theater – PAC; features work of graduating dance majors: Vianela Benitez, Mollie Bonnier, Fatima Simmons, Laura Smock, Toni-Ann Triolo and Zoe Walders.

• Tuxedo Tailgating; 5 p.m.; Hosmer parking lot 9, adjacent to Barrington Drive; bring snacks to enjoy while tailgating before the concert; food, beer and wine available for purchase; no outside alcohol permitted.

• Pre-concert lecture by Dr. Nelly Case; 6:30 p.m.; Wakefield Recital Hall; Faure’s Requiem: analysis and local history, a summary of the work and its prominence in the history of Crane.

• Faure’s Requiem concert; 7:30 p.m.; Hosmer Hall; Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music; Gary Fry Awake, Celestial Air!; Bruckner Psalm 150; Franck Psalm 150; Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra; Duane Wolfe, conductor; Fei Ma, soprano; Christopher Feigum, baritone; free ticket required at CPS box office or 267-2277.

• Senior choreography concert; 9 p.m.; Dance Theater – PAC; features work of graduating dance majors: Vianela Benitez, Mollie Bonnier, Fatima Simmons, Laura Smock, Toni-Ann Triolo and Zoe Walders.

Sunday, May 1

• Photography workshop with Douglas Beasley; 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 203; photographic film development and darkroom printing demos; review and critique work created during Saturday’s workshop.

• Pure Ink poetry slam; 2 p.m.; Black Box Theater – PAC; experience fun, humor, storytelling, eclectic styles during live performance.

• “The World as Writing Prompt” workshop with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg; 4 p.m.; Knowles Conference Center; discover new writing approaches, ideas and inspiration from the earth, sky, eco-community and your own peripheral vision.

• Spoken Word performance; 7:30 p.m.; Black Box Theater – PAC; original works by SUNY Potsdam performance poets.

• Burlington Taiko Group performance; 7:30 p.m.; Hosmer Hall; Taiko involved voice, music and movement; group has 25 years experience performing.

Monday, May 2

• Writers Series reading; 10 a.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; Caryn Merriam-Goldberg reads from her books “Chasing Weather,” poetry; “The Sky Begins at Your Feet,” memoir; and “The Divorce Girl,” fiction.

• Taiko drumming workshop; 11 a.m.; Hosmer Hall; taiko involved voice, music and movement; beginners level workshop focuses on basic notes and movement of one taiko piece.

• The Writer’s Craft presentation with V.V. Ganeshananthan; noon; Fireside Lounge, BSU; Reported Imagination: research and creative work.

• Puppet workshop with David Lane; 2 p.m.; Design Studio – PAC; create simple “creatures” and consider notions of ambulation, focus, fixed point and vocalization.

• Writer’s Series reading; 2 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; V.V. Ganeshananthan; to read from her novel “Hippocrates.”

• “Material, Process and Relationship presentation with Heather LaForce; 4 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; discussion about the literal materials and subject matter that influence her work, the process, and her relationship to the materials and subjects.

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative Writing showcase; 5 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; readings from graduating BFA seniors Dan Cretaro, Ellen Ricks and Marcus Wolk.

• Dance Writing workshop with Kuukua Yomeekpe; 6 p.m.; Dance Theater – PAC; ages 15 and up; West African dance rhythms and movement as a means of entering writing from a different angle; dress comfortably, bring a notebook and be fragrance-free.

• Pioneers of Negro Vaudeville: A Rabbit’s Foote Company; 7:30 p.m.; Black Box Theater – PAC; musical reenactment of 19th century negro minstrel show highlighting the hardships of being a black entertainer during the ear while showcasing the popular dances and songs of the time.

Tuesday, May 3

• The Writer’s Craft presentation with Valerie Wetlaufer; 10 a.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; documentary poetics: incorporating research and historical documents in poetry.

• Puppet workshop with David Lane; 2 p.m.; Design Studio – PAC; intro to tandem manipulation by creating paper and tape puppets which require multiple performers to animate.

• Artists to End Poverty workshop; 3 p.m.; Black Box Theater – PAC; ASTEPS connects performing and visual artists to underserved youth; focus on best practices and approaches to teaching the arts in a wide spectrum of settings.

• Writer’s Series reading; 4 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; Valerie Wetlaufer reads from her book “Call Me by My Other Name.”

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing showcase; 5 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; readings by graduating BFA seniors Sarah Bean, Rosanna Boswell and Melissa Phelan.

“Inner View” Projects in Dialogue presentation with Caroline Ramersdorfer; a sculptor with studios in upstate NY and Austria, her work has gained an international following with permanent installations around the world.

• “Putting it Together, Exploring the Music of Stephen Sondheim; 7:30 p.m.; Dunn Theater; a look into the life and works of Sondheim as a cast and orchestra performs some of his most influential works including “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods.”

Wednesday, May 4

• The Writer’s Craft presentation with Joanna Luloff; 10 a.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; “Write Away From What You Know;” explore how to make the familiar strange.

• Puppet workshop with David Lane; 2 p.m.; Design Studio – PAC; focus on breath and relationship to action, and notions of break and impulse.

• Printmaking demonstration with Nate Infante; 2 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 204.

• Artists to End Poverty workshop and performance; 3 p.m.; Blackbox Theater – PAC; ASTEPS connects performing and visual artists to underserved youth; explore the intersection of culture, community, creativity and how art is used for cross cultural encounters.

• Writer’s Series reading; 4 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; Joanna Luloff to read from “The Beach at Galle Road.”

• Festival of Light; dusk, Academic Quad illuminated sculptures wearable art and interactive displays created by students light up the quad at night; rain date May 5.

• “Putting it Together, Exploring the Music of Stephen Sondheim; 7:30 p.m.; Dunn Theater; a look into the life and works of Sondheim as a cast and orchestra performs some of his most influential works including “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods.”

Thursday, May 5

• The Writer’s Craft presentation with Matthew Vollmer; 10 a.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; “Expanding and Dissolving Genre:” Considering Forms of Representation.

• The Craft of Poetry with Martin Espada; 12:30 p.m.; Flagg Hall 238; Espada shares what inspires him to write poetry and the connection between justice and poetry in society.

• Puppet workshop with David Lane; 2 p.m.; Design Studio – PAC; props and simple set pieces will be added along with a deeper investigation into action and intention.

• “Everything is Intentional” presentation with Torrance Fish; 4 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 202; fish is an artist, educator and museum professional. He will present his unexpected path through the art world, lessons learned and the work is has inspired.

• Writers Series reading, 4 p.m.; Fireside Lounge, BSU; Matthew Vollmer reads from his book “Gateway to Paradise.”

• “Delightful, Delicious, Disgusting” presentation with Mia Brownell; 6 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 202; Brownell shares how she uses the conventions of the painted food still life as a means to comment on contemporary issues surrounding food.

• Poetry reading with Martin Espada; 6 p.m.; Kellas Hall 105; he will read from previous books and his most recent “Vivas to Those Who Have Failed.”

• Latin Ensemble performance; 7:30 p.m.; Snell Theater; dancing to the rhythms of Latin American classics and the new acid mambo sounds.

• “Forbidden Planet” by Bob Carlton performance; 7:30 p.m.; Proscenium Theater – PAC; blast off on a routine flight and crash into the planet D’Illyria where a sci-fi version of “The Temptest” and the film cult classic “Forbidden Planet” are set to rock n’ roll classics. A musical comedy with a sinister scientist, roller skating robot and an uncontrollable monster.

Friday, May 6

• Writer’s Series reading; noon; Fireside Lounge, BSU; Tony Leuzzi reads poems from “The Burning Door” and new poems from the forthcoming book “Meditation Archipelago.”

• Puppet workshop and presentation with David Lane; 2 p.m.; Design Studio – PAC; devised work from both the workshop sessions with be presented at the end of the workshop; audience members welcome.

• The Writer’s Craft presentation with Tony Leuzzi; 2 p.m.; Fireside Lounge; “The Art of the Literary Conversations with American Poets.”

• Habitorium presentation with Martin Kruck; 6 p.m.; Brainerd Hall 202; Kruck discussed his approach to photography and printmaking and his study of constructed spaces as post-naturalistic environments.

• “Forbidden Plant” presentation by Bob Carlton; 7:30 p.m.; Proscenium Theater – PAC; a musical comedy based on “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare and the film cult classic “The Forbidden Planet.”

Saturday, May 7

• Stage makeup workshop; 10 a.m.; PAC; learn how to use airbrush guns, stencils, and other supplies to complete a makeup design. Family friendly event.

• “Voices of Victory” performance; 7:30 p.m.; Dunn Theater; on campus gospel choir performs songs of praise.

• “Forbidden Planet” performance by Bob Carlton; 7:30 p.m.; Proscenium Theater – PAC; a musical comedy based on “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare and the film cult classic “The Forbidden Planet.”

Sunday, May 8

• “Forbidden Planet” performance by Bob Carlton; 2 p.m.; Proscenium Theater – PAC; a musical comedy based on “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare and the film cult classic “The Forbidden Planet.”

• “Sister Outsider” performance; 5 p.m.; Black Box Theater – PAC; through spoken word this duo of World Poetry Slam Champions connects personal stories to a diverse range of social and political issues, particularly around race, gender, sexuality and how those tie into being an “other.”

• “Color in Motion” performance; 7:30 p.m.; Dunn Theater; a performance of cultural diversity and expression incorporating singing, dancing, acting and poetry.

• Faure Requiem; Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music; Gary Fry Awake, Celestial Airs!; Bruckner Psalm 150; Franck Psalm 150; 8:30 p.m.; Carnegie Hall, NYC; tickets required, www.carnegiehall.org; live video stream at www.potsdam.edu/academics/crane/streaming.