During this weekend's Arts First festivities, the University is showcasing the efforts of Harvard's 45 official arts organizations--which range from the improv groups On Thin Ice to the University Choir.

But today is an unusual one for these groups, because it involves not only the support of the Office for the Arts (OFA)--a constant and highly regarded patron of undergraduate arts--but also administrators from around the University.

on lesser weekends, student arts groups receive little public support from College administrators, according to their leaders.

"Things like Arts First do make a difference, and the behind-the-scenes support the administration gives, says Jeanme Kim 95, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra (HRO). "But for the most part, student organizations have to fend for themselves."

HRO, the largest orchestra on campus, gets no funding form the administration, kim says. But it does get a grant form the Sanders Theatre support fund, which provides rehearsal space for the 100 member group.

And the orchestra was also one of 50 student organization to receive a grant form the office for the Arts,which went to fund the premiere of an originalstudent composition.

But when it comes to administrative support,Kim says it's not money that matters.

"What I would like to see is not necessarilymore financial support, but more public support,"she says. "I guess it would be nice if we would beable to count on administration to come seeperformances."

Many performing groups, including HRO, sendfree tickets for all of their events to members ofthe administration. Rarely, students say, arethose tickets used.

"We don't really expect them to come to everyconcert, simply because we have four concerts ayear because we have four concerts a year and theadministration is obviously very busy," Kim says.But she says a more visible administrativepresence would have a positive effect on the artscommunity at Harvard.

"I think those are the sort of effects thatyou're not going to see concretely. It's more ageneral morale effect," Kim says. "if studentshave the feeling that officials have no interest,it tends to make people think that the Universityis not supporting the arts as much as it could."

Jazz Band

The Harvard Jazz Band gets grants fromOFA to fund its Learning from Performers seriesand Artists in Residence program, "but that's theonly support we see," says John A. Capello'95-'96, manager of the group's band.

Like Kim, Capello is pleased with OFA's supportfor student groups.

"We love the office For the Arts because theydo everything so well," Capello says.

But he also says the administration couldprovide the jazz band with more direct financialsupport.