April is for the Arts at UAB— an inside look at the departments making it happen
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Written by: Ashton Ray
At UAB, April is for the Arts, and they want to make the arts for you, too. The College of Arts and Sciences is spending the month applauding student creativity through a variety of events across campus. Here is an inside look at the five departments bringing the arts to life at UAB.
From theatre and music to visual arts and film, UAB’s students and faculty have something for everyone.
Department of Theatre
For over 50 years, the UAB Department of Theatre has produced hundreds of dynamic performances. Each year, the award-winning department offers at least five main shows—ranging from classics to rock musicals to new works—and its four touring companies bring high-quality performances to venues across the state.
The Department of Theatre is putting on Into the Woods, where “The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make.”
- When: Wednesday, April 12-Saturday, April 15, 7:30PM | Sunday, April 16, 2PM
- Where: Alys Stephens Center, Sirote Theatre, 1200 10th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205
- Cost: $15-$20 general | $6 students | $10 UAB employees & senior citizens
- Get tickets: Call the Alys Stephens Center Box Office at 205.975.2787
Department of Music
UAB’s Department of Music offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs and is home to numerous student and faculty ensembles, all of which perform a combined 60+ concerts each academic year. The department also hosts world-renowned guest artists and reaches middle and high school students in the community through Honor Bands, Honor Choirs, and summer camps.
Watch one of their ensembles perform here, or check out one of the many events the Department of Music is hosting this month, like a Wind Symphony and Symphony Band Concert that will highlight “traditional wind band masterworks and cutting-edge contemporary settings.”
- When: Tuesday, April 18 | 7PM
- Where: Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall, 1200 10th Avenue S, Birmingham, AL 35205
- Cost: Free
Learn more about UAB’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Department of Art and Art History
Birmingham is one of the largest cultural centers in the state of Alabama, so contemporary art, major cultural institutions, and internships are readily available to Department of Art and Art History students at UAB. Another unique quality about the program is its close relationship with the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA); not every university has a major contemporary art museum on campus, and it’s a unique experience for students to be afforded the opportunity to show their work in a museum setting.
The Department of Art and Art History’s 2023 BFA Exhibition will spotlight ten graduating UAB students.
- When: Friday, April 7-Saturday, April 29 | Noon-5PM
- Closing Reception: Friday, April 28, 6-8PM
Where: Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA), 1221 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205 - Cost: Free
Media Studies Program
The Department of History is home to the Media Studies Program, an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with solid grounding in the history, theory, and practice of media. The curriculum emphasizes a commitment to create digital media that is responsibly sourced and reflects the range of experiences of our diverse society, and it includes courses in digital storytelling, documentary film, and more. Several Media Studies students have shown their work at Sidewalk Film Festival and many of the films are available via Vimeo.
View one of the Media Studies productions here, or go see one of their events in-person when they premier UAB Digital City Screening at the McWane Science Center.
- When: Thursday, April 27, 7:00PM to 8:30PM
- Where: McWane Science Center IMAX Theatre, 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Cost: Free + open to the public | Free parking available in the McWane deck (validation may be required)
Department of English
The UAB English department features award-winning faculty who pride themselves on helping students write with creativity, depth, and precision. The department is also home to two nationally distributed literary arts journals: Nelle, which features work by female authors, and the award-winning Birmingham Poetry Review, now in its 50th year.
The Department of English hosted Poetry on the Patio for their April is for the Arts event. This gave students a platform to share their poetry with an audience.
Check out the entire April for the Arts calendar here. You can also check out UAB’s College of Arts and Sciences’ website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the know.
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