Mark your calendar. On Friday, April 25, the College of Design, Art & Performance at the University of South Florida is launching its inaugural SPOTLIGHT Festival – a bold celebration of creativity and talent that’s free and open to all. This isn’t just another campus event. It’s a statement. A living testament to the way art and design can shift perspectives and spark something deeper.
At the heart of the festival is the work itself. The energy, vision, and fire of USF’s students and faculty will take center stage. From striking visual art to boundary-pushing design, the festival unfolds like a creative mixtape – each act building on the last. The master of fine arts students’ thesis exhibition, Thank You In Advance, at the Contemporary Art Museum sets the tone with bold, contemporary works, and student-guided tours will offer an insider’s look at their creative process. Meanwhile, the School of Architecture and Community Design’s architecture models exhibit will showcase projects that seamlessly blend form and function with creative edge.
And that’s not all. The School of Music’s lineup will bring a range of sounds to the festival, with classical, commercial, and Caribbean performances showcasing both talent and technical mastery.
The festival will also give visitors a chance to see creative work in action. The School of Art & Art History will host a ceramics Raku firing demonstration alongside a display of student works, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic process. The student research poster competition and faculty research presentations will highlight the academic side of creative exploration, proving that art and research are more connected than you might think.
The School of Theatre & Dance will close the day with 9 to 5: The Musical – a hilarious, campy cult classic with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. It’s the perfect way to wrap up the night, because who doesn’t love Dolly?
Come for one or stay all day. Take in a research presentation, explore the master of fine arts student exhibition, catch a music performance, and end the evening with 9 to 5: The Musical. SPOTLIGHT is designed to make the arts approachable and effortless to enjoy. If you’ve ever wondered what a design, art and performance education looks like – this is it.
Creativity this big deserves a spotlight. And the College of Design, Art & Performance is ready to take center stage. For a complete list of events and more details, visit usf.edu/arts/events/spotlight.