April 9, 2024

As this month’s celebration of the arts in Columbus demonstrates, Columbus State University is a significant contributor to the area’s arts and culture scene.

Encompassing more than 70 events in 30 days, ArtsFest is designed to encourage Columbus residents to engage with the arts by attending designated events produced by organizations comprising the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance and featuring the work of hundreds of Columbus artists and creative professionals. These events include theatrical shows, indoor and outdoor concerts, dance performances, arts exhibitions, educational programming, and more. The will include College of the Arts departments and several of the university’s outreach centers. Among those scheduled events are:

• Concerts and recitals by Schwob School of Music students and faculty throughout April.
• Educational events hosted by the Coca-Cola Space Science Center and Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center.
• The 3rd Annual Cougar Film Festival on Wednesday, April 17, presented by the Department of Communication.
• Art exhibitions throughout April at the Department of the Art’s Corn Center and The Bo Bartlett Center.
• Performances of “Trouble in the Mind” from April 12-20, presented by the Department of Theatre & Dance.
• The Department of Theatre & Dance’s Spring Swing annual Dance Minor scholarship fundraiser on Saturday, April 27.

The area’s focus on the arts will culminate on Saturday, April 20 in Uptown Columbus with the inaugural ArtsFest Block Party on the grounds of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. The free festival, scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon, will include live music, family-friendly activities, a selection of local arts organizations with information about upcoming programming, a pop-up exhibition featuring the work of Columbus artists, a selection of plein air painters, an instrument petting zoo for children, a self-guided tour of Columbus art galleries, and more.

In conjunction with the festivities, Columbus Mayor B.H. "Skip" Henderson has designated April as "Arts & Culture Month" in the city.

“Arts and culture are a vital part of any community,” Henderson said when issuing the proclamation. “Here in Columbus, we recognize and celebrate the value of the arts. To build a sense of place within our community, it is significantly important that art—in some form—is a part of our daily lives.” 

The community benefits from nearly 400 annual performances produced by and featuring the talents of the students and faculty in the university’s Department of Theatre & Dance and Schwob School of Music. These not only spotlight student and faculty talent but also include incredible performance spaces like the Schwob School of Music’s Legacy Hall and the Department of Theatre & Dance’s Riverside Theatre. They are part of Columbus State’s contributions to undergirding the community’s tourism industry. According to VisitColumbusGA, that amounts to nearly 2 million visitors to the region annually and an economic impact of more than $381 million in annual tourism revenue.

“While 'Arts & Culture Month' is a perfect time to celebrate the work of our local arts organizations, educators and artists, the reality is Columbus’ arts and culture programming initiatives are this robust year round,” said Carrie Beth Wallace, arts liaison to the Mayor’s Office, founder of "The Columbusite" and a 2009 Columbus State alumna. “We are fortunate to live in a community where the arts are making such a profound impact on the quality of life for residents every day. The arts are an active part of [our] economic development, and 'Arts & Culture Month' is a wonderful way to continue telling this important part of Columbus’ story."

More information about ArtsFest—including an expanding calendar of events throughout April—is available from The Columbusite's website. Details about university-sponsored events are available from Columbus State’s online events calendar.

Media contacts:
The Columbusite: Carrie Beth Wallace, Founder and Editor-in-chief, 478-972-9004, thecolumbusite1828@gmail.com
Columbus State University: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu