The University of Georgia will celebrate the visual, performing and literary arts on campus during the monthlong Spotlight on the Arts festival in November.
Now in its 11th year, the festival will feature dozens of events and exhibitions including performances by the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir at the Performing Arts Center. Other highlights include University Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” a tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis by the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, concerts by several student and faculty groups from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, and exhibitions at the Lamar Dodd School of Art and the College of Environment and Design.
“Spotlight on the Arts serves as a showcase for the University of Georgia’s longstanding excellence in the arts and humanities,” said S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “The arts and humanities enrich the learning environment at UGA, and the festival highlights the abundance and diversity of programming and scholarship on our campus.”
Many events are free or discounted for students, and all are welcome. Details and a complete schedule for Spotlight on the Arts 2022 is available at arts.uga.edu.
This year’s festival begins with the Student Spotlight event on Nov. 1. Student groups will perform on the outdoor stage at Tate Plaza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scheduled acts include Classic City Jazz, Improv Athens, the UGA Ballroom Performance Group and the UGA Women’s Glee Club.
The Georgia Museum of Art will host the annual Spotlight on the Arts Family Day on Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the university’s Performing and Visual Arts Complex. The free event will include performances, hands-on activities, demonstrations and workshops designed specifically for children and families.
Student research in the arts and humanities will take center stage at the annual 4 Minutes, 33 Seconds competition on Nov. 16 from 4-6 p.m. at the Athenaeum, the university’s contemporary art space at 287 W. Broad St. The event is an homage to John Cage’s landmark composition 4’33” and provides an opportunity for students to win prizes and share their creative inquiry with peers, faculty, administrators and alumni throughout the university community.
Spotlight on the Arts is coordinated by the UGA Arts Council, a group representing the performing, visual and literary arts, as well as interdisciplinary academic units on campus.
“Arts Council members have put a great deal of work into planning this year’s festival, and we’re incredibly excited to celebrate the creativity of our students, faculty and visiting artists and scholars with the entire community,” said Usha R. Rodrigues, the university’s interim vice provost for academic affairs and chair of the UGA Arts Council. “I hope Spotlight on the Arts inspires people to strengthen their engagement with the arts and humanities, not only in November, but also throughout the year.”
Members of the UGA Arts Council include representatives from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, College of Environment and Design, creative writing program, department of dance, department of theatre and film studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Georgia Museum of Art, The Georgia Review, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Ideas for Creative Exploration, Lamar Dodd School of Art, Mary Frances Early College of Education, Performing Arts Center, UGA Press, UGA Libraries and Willson Center.