A thriving arts and culture scene is crucial to a student’s success in their educational programs; the success of fine arts students directly influences the communities in which they grow and express creativity in.
The Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge is a centre for arts in the community, setting up students to become the arts leaders of tomorrow, further influencing generations of creative professionals. Alumni from our Fine Arts programs have gone on to achieve national and international success and contribute significantly to the advancement of arts and culture in many areas.
It is in this spirit of accomplishment that we recognize the upcoming Fine Arts Signature Events and Performance Season. This includes the 2024/25 Drama Alumni Mainstage Season, which invites several notable alumni back to ULethbridge to direct and assist on four sensational, award-winning productions, as well as many exciting collaborative music concerts and exhibitions in both art and new media. A key component of our Signature Events are students, faculty, staff and alumni creating dynamic partnerships and bringing their creative skills and passion onstage and offstage in a variety of roles.
Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dr. Heather Davis-Fisch, says the Fine Arts Signature Events are an exciting way to engage with local arts communities and support Fine Arts students.
“Our Signature Events showcase the talent that is cultivated within the Faculty of Fine Arts and position our Faculty as a centre for arts in the community. We are dedicated to supporting student, faculty and alumni success and ensuring our students have access to high-quality classroom and experiential learning opportunities,” says Davis-Fisch.
“Signature Events provide our students important opportunities to refine their creative skills in supportive environments and boost their learning outcomes, ensuring that once they graduate, they are better equipped to find success in their careers.”
An especially exciting aspect of our Signature Events this year is a focus on the Drama Alumni Season. By inviting some of our successful alumni back to campus to work with and mentor students, the Faculty of Fine Arts is ensuring students have a myriad of opportunities to engage in experiential learning and build on the skills they learn in the classroom.
Jamie Dunsdon (BFA - Dramatic Arts ’06) says she is excited to be returning to her old stomping grounds to direct Paradise Lost this coming season alongside her fellow alumni.
“ULethbridge is where I found my passion and where I began to build my skills as a director, so it will be a genuine delight to return a couple decades later to bring this piece to life with the next generation of artists,” Dunsdon says. “I owe so much to the professors and staff at ULethbridge, and I hope I can pay it forward to the students who will build Paradise Lost with me."
The Faculty of Fine Arts is a hub for creative research, education and exploration. Shaping the future of the arts in southern Alberta and beyond, the Faculty offers students a comprehensive education with world-class instruction and experiential learning opportunities, positioning its graduates as change-makers and future leaders in the local, national and global arts communities.
The success of Fine Arts students is significantly shaped by the experiential learning opportunities they can participate in, including a myriad of performances, exhibitions and concerts, allowing them to refine their professional skills and expand their creative repertoires through Fine Arts Signature Events.
The Faculty of Fine Arts Signature Events are annual events and performances that showcase student, faculty and alumni talent at the highest level. Ranging from our renowned drama Mainstage season to exciting ensemble concerts and thought-provoking student exhibitions, our Signature Performance and Events Series invite the Lethbridge and southern Alberta communities to join us in recognizing and celebrating all things fine arts.
We are delighted to culminate our series of events with the Faculty of Fine Arts Vibe Festival on April 12. Community members are invited to attend this free festival, which will feature several exhibitions and performances, a student market and tours of the world-class spaces in the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Our exciting lineup of events are:
Fall 2024
- alterNatives Mainstage production—Oct. 7-11
- In Tongues Mainstage production—Nov. 4-8
- In Tongues Alumni Appreciation Night—Nov. 6
- U of L Singers concert—Nov. 7
- Global Drums concert—Nov. 29
- Collaborative Ensemble concert—Dec. 3
- Wind Orchestra concert—Dec. 4
- Jazz Ensemble concert—Dec. 7
Winter 2025
- Paradise Lost Mainstage production—Feb. 10-14
- AI, Avatars & Aliens: A Speculative Cabaret Mainstage production—March 13-15
- U of L Singers concert—March 22
- Wind Orchestra concert—March 26
- Composition concert—March 28
- Jazz Ensemble concert—March 29
- Collaborative Ensemble concert—April 1
- Global drums concert—April 4-5
- Fine Arts Vibe Festival—April 12
Tickets for the Fine Arts Signature Events are available online and at the University Box Office. We are pleased to offer special ticket pricing for ULethbridge alumni, children and seniors, while ULethbridge students can enjoy a complimentary ticket to each event.