The Lantern wrote Wexner program draws rising star musicians
Chad Rutan
Issue date: 4/14/08
Next@Wex is the brainchild of Charles Helm, director of performing arts at the Wexner. His idea finally took shape in 2000 through a generous endowment from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s invitation-only “Leading Presenting Institutions” program.
Helm said the goals are to bring bands to Columbus that are on the cusp of making it big, treat them as artists and provide high-quality performance spaces.
The program offers a large array of acts in venues that have first-class sound and production. Helm said that because Next@Wex is a university organization, it is important that the shows be all-age accessible.
“Next@Wex provides these musical artists an opportunity to play in the context of an arts center at Ohio State,” Helm said. “We treat them as artists, not just as a band, because that’s what they are, with the same care we provide theater or dance companies.”
ADVERTISEMENT