Moravian College's new "Arts On the Move" program will provide tickets free of charge to Moravian students to attend selected concerts, films, museums, plays, art exhibits and dance performances throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Believed to be the only one of its kind offered by colleges, "the initiative is designed to encourage our students to go out into the local community and take advantage of the thriving arts scene in the Lehigh Valley," said Christopher Shorr, Moravian College director of theater and the program's co-director.

Arts On The Move offers a variety of performance and exhibit options, but also accepts recommendations. The program will offer pre-approved "Spotlight Events" through the year, highlighting upcoming events such as the film "Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation" Sept. 17 at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, Bethehem.

Students are invited to visit the Moravian HUB desk, which houses a binder full of brochures and informational content on different organizations and performance venues highlighted by Arts On The Move.

"Student can go through it like a menu and pick what they would like to see," said Shorr. If students are interested in an event or performance not already highlighted, they are welcome to seek approval for other local events. Arts On The Move will only provide tickets to events in the Lehigh Valley.

Requests will be considered, though there are restrictions, points out Shorr.

"Most things students want to see or experience, we approve and get them the tickets. The problem is that some community organizations have programs that may cross the 'Pop line,' and we will approve them on a case-by-case basis," Shorr noted.

"The Bolshoi Ballet at Zoellner Art Center is an obvious, 'yes,' for tickets. Air Supply at the Sands Casino? Absolutely not. We've talked about whether we would approve students seeing a performer like Bob Dylan, and we would because he is a significant American poet."

Once a student decides to attend an event, he or she completes a simple request form at the HUB desk, which will be forwarded for approval to the Arts On the Move directors, Shorr and Ann Claussen, director of the HUB and event management. Once approved, arrangements are made with the organization, and students can pick up their tickets at the venue's box office.

There are no limitations on how many times a student can obtain tickets, or visit to a particular location. Transportation and travel reimbursement are not provided.

Faculty members are encouraged to participate, and their ticket will also be provided if he or she is leading a student group.

The Arts On The Move program was created by the Moravian College Arts and Lectures Committee in an attempt to increase the student and community involvement in the arts. While the committee plans to continue to promote on-campus programming, it is excited to provide opportunities to expose students to arts in the community.

If the program, which has received ample support from area arts organizations, proves successful, program directors hope to expand it to other members of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges.

"The big picture is that we want to get our students out into the theaters, concert halls and museums," Shorr said. "Our program is about increasing the students' awareness of what's available."

Moravian College, a private, coeducational, liberal arts college, traces its founding to 1742 and is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college.