The University of Georgia is set to hold its 14th annual Spotlight on the Arts festival in November, featuring more than 40 events and exhibitions across campus. The festival will highlight the visual, literary, and performing arts, with activities open to the university community and the public.
Key events during the monthlong celebration include the fifth annual Dodd Market, the Annual Holiday Concert by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, a UGA Theatre production of “Evil Dead: The Musical,” and a concert by the Branford Marsalis Quartet. Other activities will feature student choreography from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ department of dance, as well as poetry readings from noted poets.
“Spotlight on the Arts is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the creative and scholarly work of faculty and students at the University of Georgia,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “The arts and humanities enrich our campus, encourage critical thinking and promote social connections. I encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university to join this exciting celebration.”
The festival will include free or discounted admission for students to many events. A full schedule is available at arts.uga.edu.
On November 5, student performers will take to an outdoor stage at Tate Plaza as part of Student Spotlight. The Georgia Museum of Art will host Family Day on November 8, with hands-on activities inspired by Indigenous traditions and an exhibition by Inuit artist asinnajaq.
Students will also have an opportunity to present their research in a live competition, the 4 Minutes, 33 Seconds Contest, on November 17. Throughout the festival, ongoing exhibitions will be hosted at venues including the Georgia Museum of Art and Lamar Dodd School of Art.
The official design for this year’s Spotlight on the Arts was created by UGA art student Mazzy Beyer, who won the annual Student Design Competition. Her work will appear on T-shirts and giveaways during the festival.
Elizabeth Weeks, interim vice provost for academic affairs and chair of the UGA Arts Council, commented on the preparations for the event: “Members of the Arts Council and schools, colleges and units across campus are eager to show the world the depth and breadth of their creative work. Coordinating a festival of this magnitude takes much preparation on the part of the council members and units. I appreciate their hard work and invite the campus community to celebrate the arts during the festival and throughout the year.”
The UGA Arts Council organizes Spotlight on the Arts each year with representation from various university departments involved in arts and humanities programming.
Further information about arts events can be found through the university’s Arts Council website. In March 2026, UGA plans to hold its fourth annual Humanities Festival.
