ABOUT US
Celebrating Creativity, Community, and Cultural Diversity
The Shirley Strum Kenny (SSK) Student Arts Festival is one of Stony Brook University’s most cherished spring traditions. The event’s namesake, former University President Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny, envisioned a campus that championed the arts. In her honor, SSK annually transforms our campus into a vibrant showcase of student creativity, cultural expression, and artistic excellence over the course of a month-long celebration.
Our Mission
The SSK Student Arts Festival exists to:
- Celebrate Student Talent: Provide a platform where Stony Brook students can share their artistic abilities across all disciplines, from visual arts and music to dance, theater, and creative writing.
- Foster Cultural Diversity:
- Build Community: Bring together students, faculty, staff, and the wider Long Island community in shared appreciation of creativity and artistic expression.
- Inspire Creative Discovery:
A Living Legacy
The festival honors the legacy of President Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny, who served Stony Brook University from 1994 to 2009. Her deep commitment to the arts and humanities helped establish Stony Brook as not only a research powerhouse but also a place where creativity and intellectual inquiry flourish side by side. The SSK Student Arts Festival embodies her belief that the arts are essential to a complete education and a vibrant campus life.
Made possible through the generous support of the SSK Student Arts Festival Endowment Fund, the festival continues to grow each year, drawing larger audiences and showcasing an ever-expanding array of artistic talent.