The University of Utah held its 14th annual Arts Bash on Sept. 2, marking the beginning of the 2026-27 season for the College of Fine Arts. The event served to promote campus art programs, new facilities, and the Arts Pass program, which provides students with free or discounted access to various arts experiences.
Performances and Programming
The celebration featured live performances from several campus entities, including the School of Music, the Pioneer Theatre Company, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and UtahPresents. The event also showcased student works from the Department of School of Dance and the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre Program.
In addition to musical and theatrical performances, the event included presentations from the Arts-in-Health Innovation Lab, specifically featuring Creative Arts Therapies Mindful Movement and Breathing and Group Drumming. The celebration was hosted by emcees Colby Carpenter and Caleb Martin and included various student and faculty presentations from across the College of Fine Arts departments.
New Campus Cinema
A major highlight of the celebration was the announcement of the upcoming opening of the Kent and Martha DiFiore cinema on Oct. 1. The new campus facility is intended to serve as more than a movie venue, as organizers noted the space will also be utilized for holding classes.
During the event, the Department of Film and Media Arts utilized a large LED display to show student films live on the plaza. Marina Gomberg, the director of communications and marketing for the College of Fine Arts, stated that the ability to show films even in the sunshine was a significant addition to the festivities.
Student Access and Growth
The Arts Bash also focused on educating students about the Arts Pass, a program that allows students to use their UCard to access exhibitions, performances, concerts, screenings, and virtual events at little to no cost. The pass provides access to student and faculty productions as well as professional arts organizations in residence at the university, such as UtahPresents, Pioneer Theatre Company, and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
College of Fine Arts Dean John W. Scheib expressed enthusiasm regarding the growth of student engagement with the arts. Scheib noted that student attendance at university arts events reached its second-highest level in the institution's recorded history last year. Scheib described the arts as an "oasis of offerings" that provides everything from academic study and research to healing, aesthetics, and joy.
Event Engagement and Scope
The event was designed as a "passport to the arts," where attendees could visit various booths on Library Plaza to collect stamps. Participants who completed their passports were eligible to redeem them for items such as t-shirts and swag, and a chance to win a prize pack containing an iPad 11-Inch 11th Gen, a Utah Student Experience water bottle, and various items from the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and UtahPresents.
The contest associated with the event was scheduled to end at midnight on Sept. 9, 2026. The College of Fine Arts has emphasized its commitment to expanding the arts footprint on campus, which includes managing five academic departments: the Department of Art & Art History, the School of Dance, the Department of Film & Media Arts, the School of Music, and the Department of Theatre.
Leadership and Vision
Dean John W. Scheib, who has led the College of Fine Arts since July 2017, oversees a community of more than 2,000 students and 300 faculty and staff. Under his leadership, the college has implemented a five-year strategic plan and launched a capital fundraising campaign exceeding $35 million to renovate facilities and increase the university's arts footprint to twelve dedicated buildings across campus.
Prior to his role at the University of Utah, Scheib served as the Director of the School of Music at the University of Kentucky and held various administrative and faculty positions at Ball State University. He currently serves on the NASM Commission on Accreditation and the ICFAD Board of Directors.
