UNLV Art Walk Celebrates and the Courage to Try Something New Oct. 23
With “Rebel Gold” as its theme, the ninth annual celebration invites the community to experience art across disciplines while highlighting the creative energy of UNLV students, faculty and Southern Nevada artists.
By Debbie Hall
Creativity thrives when people are willing to experiment, cross boundaries and share their ideas with others. That spirit will take center stage when the UNLV College of Fine Arts presents the ninth annual UNLV Art Walk from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Transforming the university’s academic mall into an expansive celebration of artistic expression, the free event invites the community to experience creativity in its many forms, from visual art and live music to dance, theater, film and interactive projects.
This year’s theme, “Rebel Gold,” celebrates the creative spirit of the UNLV arts community and recognizes the 50th anniversary of the university’s Department of Dance. But the event is about more than commemorating a milestone. It is an opportunity to see how ideas take shape, how disciplines inspire one another and how artists connect with audiences in unexpected ways.
For Nancy J. Uscher, dean of the UNLV College of Fine Arts and presidential professor of music, Art Walk reflects a creative community that continues to expand its vision and embrace new possibilities.
“What’s new this year is a natural evolution over these years, moving toward our 10th anniversary next year,” Uscher said. “I see more projects, more student involvement, more interdisciplinary areas, more adventurousness and more qualified risk-taking — people trying new things.”
That willingness to experiment is central to the event’s appeal. Rather than confining creativity to galleries, concert halls or traditional performance spaces, Art Walk brings the arts together in one place, encouraging visitors to move between disciplines and discover connections they might not otherwise encounter.
The evening will feature exhibitions, live performances, film projections, hands-on activities and demonstrations, along with opportunities to enjoy food tastings from local restaurants, a beer garden and wine tastings. The Donna Beam Gallery and the university’s Performing Arts Center will be among the destinations, while the entertainment engineering and design program will showcase work that demonstrates how technology and artistic imagination can work together.
For visitors, the experience is designed to be participatory. Interactive art projects and craft activities invite people of all ages to become makers themselves, blurring the line between audience and artist.
“We want people to feel they’re absolutely a part of everything, not only as observers, but as art makers,” Uscher said.
That philosophy reflects a broader understanding of creativity as something that grows through exploration and shared experiences. A dance performance might inspire a new appreciation for movement, a visual exhibition might spark a conversation, and an interactive project might encourage someone to try a creative activity for the first time.
The “Rebel Gold” theme also captures the optimism surrounding UNLV’s arts programs. Gold represents the Department of Dance’s 50th anniversary while symbolizing the energy and ambition of a college continually developing new opportunities for students. Ham Hall’s 50th anniversary will be recognized during the 10th annual Art Walk in 2027.
“We’re so proud of the university. We’re so proud of the College of Fine Arts. Our students are doing so well,” Uscher said.
One of this year’s special highlights brings the art of songwriting into the spotlight. Allison Clarke, winner of the third annual Pamela Oland Phillips Excellence in the Art of Writing Lyrics Award, will visit campus for a mini-residency that includes meeting with students and discussing her work.
Established through the generosity of noted lyricist and College of Fine Arts supporter Pamela Oland Phillips, the annual competition attracts national and international entries. The winner receives a $5,000 honorarium and an opportunity to share professional experience with the UNLV community.
Jennifer Bellor, a member of UNLV’s composition faculty, will interview Clarke at 6 p.m. in the Barrick Museum area auditorium. The conversation is expected to include examples of Clarke’s songs and lyrics, offering a closer look at the creative process behind transforming words into expressive musical storytelling.
The residency underscores one of Art Walk’s most important purposes: giving students access to working artists and opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. By encountering different approaches to creative work, students can broaden their perspectives and imagine new directions for their own artistic journeys.
Art Walk also encourages creativity through connection. Students, faculty, staff, community members and visitors share the same spaces, allowing the university’s artistic work to become part of a larger cultural conversation. Uscher sees that exchange as essential to the event’s mission.
“We’re inclusive,” she said. “We want to serve the community and we want to serve the university. And anything that has to do with the arts, we want to be part of this Art Walk.”
Accessibility is another important part of that vision. Admission and parking are free, and the food offerings throughout the event are complimentary. With performances and exhibitions spread across campus, visitors can create their own paths through the evening, following their interests or discovering something entirely unexpected.
For Uscher, the most meaningful moments may come when students share their work and realize that their ideas have a place beyond the university.
“I think one of the most important things to me is that students feel that they matter,” she said. “When they are proud to present their work, the students get to experience what it’s like to share with the community. It’s a very important learning experience.”
That exchange between creators and audiences is what makes Art Walk more than a showcase. It is a reminder that creativity flourishes when people have the freedom to experiment, the opportunity to collaborate and a community willing to engage with what they make.
As the event approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, its continued evolution reflects the College of Fine Arts’ commitment to artistic discovery and community engagement.
“We want everyone just to have a glorious good time,” Uscher said, encouraging visitors to enjoy the evening while learning about the arts and the people who bring them to life.
The ninth annual UNLV Art Walk takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, on the UNLV campus. Admission and parking are free. For details and updates, visit unlv.edu/finearts/art-walk.
Comments