Visual & Performing Arts
Visuals are decorative and audio is absent.
Create. Explore. Interpret. Innovate.
Welcome future students, friends of the Arts, and the larger La Crosse community! Experience the award-winning exhibits, performances, and shows that thrive in the departments of Art, Music, & Theatre & Dance.
MapVisit us: Truman T. Lowe Center for the Arts, 333 North 16th Street.
Upcoming events
Starts 5 p.m. Fri, March 7
65th All-Student Juried Art Exhibition
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fri, March 28
Nikki Lynette: Film Screening & Talkback
ArtsFest Advance! Featured Artist
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wed, April 2
Scott Gellatly: Artist Presentation
ArtsFest Advance! Featured Artist
Multiple dates (3 upcoming)
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
4 to 5 p.m. Sat, April 5
Music Composition Area Recital
4 to 5 p.m. Sat, April 12
Chamber Music Concert
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thu, April 24
ArtsFest Opening Reception
Let them eat cake! (And drink coffee)
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, April 24
Treble Chorus
ArtsFest 2025 Signature Event
Starts 5 p.m. Fri, April 25
Senior Art Major Exhibition
ArtsFest 2025 Signature Event
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, April 25
UWL Choral Union
Spring Concert
Multiple dates (7 upcoming)
Cabaret
2 to 3 p.m. Sat, April 26
UWL Symphony Orchestra Concert
ArtsFest 2025 Signature Event
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sat, April 26
UWL Jazz Concert
ArtsFest 2025 Signature Event
Noon to 12:45 p.m. Mon, April 28
Artist Talks: Senior Art Major Exhibition
Session 1
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, April 29
Jazz Combo Concert
...and Jam Session!
Noon to 12:45 p.m. Wed, April 30
Artist Talks: Senior Art Major Exhibition
Session 2
2 to 3 p.m. Sat, May 3
UWL Symphonic Band Concert
4 to 5 p.m. Sat, May 3
Wind Ensemble Concert
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, May 6
Austin Studio Limits: Music Scenes from the Stage
Partner productions
A letter from our director
Dear Friends,
Don’t miss our next two ArtsFest Advance! guest artists: musician, playwright, and mental health activist Nikki Lynette’s short film “Happy Songs about Unhappy Things,” with talkback to follow on Friday March 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Movie Theatre; and landscape artist Scott Gellatly’s public presentation and reception on Wednesday April 2 at 4:30 p.m. in Annett Recital Hall for. Visit the ArtsFest homepage for complete guest artist information.
Tickets are also going fast for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, our Theatre for Youth offering this season as well as for Kander & Ebb’s award-winning musical Cabaret, Theatre & Dance’s season closer. For reservations click on the “tickets” button on this page.
You also have until April 17 to catch the exhibits that appear in the 65th Annual All Student Juried Art Exhibition. It is one of the most whimsical and joy-filled exhibitions I have seen since arriving at UWL last year.
If you would like to keep up to date with all the goings-on with UWL Visual & Performing Arts, please sign up for our digital newsletter by clicking here.
Director of VPACheers!
Pete Rydberg
A spotlight on talent
UWL Theatre students shine at 2025 American College Theatre Festival. Read here.
HUBI Kits
Support Theatre & Dance with HUBI Kits! Learn more here.
Reconnecting with Campus
Upcoming arts, theatre, and music events for the holiday season and beyond. Read here.
Honoring Tradition
UWL Art Department secures grant to promote Indigenous art, cultural literacy. Read here.
Encore performance announced
UWL theatre production selected for Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Read here.
Cover Stories
ArtsFest Advance!
The “ArtsFest Advance!” series is part of UWL’s annual ArtsFest celebration, a multi-day event that showcases the creativity and talent of students, faculty, and staff in the visual and performing arts. This year, the series will feature three incredible artists throughout the spring semester. The series culminates in the full ArtsFest weekend, taking place from April 24 through April 27, 2025.
Project Grants
