Cal State San Bernardino will celebrate a legacy of artistic innovation this fall with a series of cultural events presented by the Theatre Arts Department and the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA). Highlights include the opening of the production “Rhinoceros”by Eugène Ionesco on Nov. 14, a RAFFMA pop-up exhibition and community event on Nov. 8, and ongoing displays of the Barnes Art Collection and Egyptian artifacts in the Theatre Arts Department lobby.

Tickets for “Rhinoceros” go on sale Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. and can be purchased on campus or online from the CSUSB Theatre Arts Box Office.

The RAFFMA exhibition “Art Burst: A 3 Exhibition Pop-Up” will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Curated by CSUSB professor and costume designer Andre Harrington, the project incorporates African artifacts from RAFFMA’s permanent collection to explore themes of cultural inspiration, responsibility and the African Diaspora.

These programs reflect a vision first established in 1965, when Ronald Barnes came to CSUSB to launch the university’s theatre program. His efforts set the foundation for a department that would unite performance, visual arts and cultural education in ways that continue to shape the university today.

"We wanted the community to get the idea that this college was a place where there would be good theatre," Barnes said. "As part of the culture of this city, this county, this area, that this theatre would provide that."

Since RAFFMA’s opening in 1996, the museum has played a central role in this vision, creating unexpected opportunities for students to encounter world-class art while preparing for performances. From the Ancient Egyptian Collection — one of the largest of its kind in the western United States — to the Barnes Collection acquired during Barnes’ global travels, the collaboration provides a dynamic and immersive environment for artistic exploration.

Together, Theatre Arts and RAFFMA are offering the Inland Empire community more than entertainment: they are delivering educational, cultural and creative experiences that expand beyond traditional classroom settings.

For more information, contact raffma@csusb.edu or theatrearts@csusb.edu.