UNLV College of Fine Arts Dean Nancy J. Uscher, Clark County Commissioners Tick Segerblom and Ross Miller, and County Manager Kevin Schiller are pleased to announce a second season of the popular Arts in the Center Series — programming created by members of the college’s arts disciplines — that continues at The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

Arts in the Center will feature a varied array of music, visual arts, film and theatre events between Sept. 18 and June 4, all of which are free and open to the public (reservations may be required).

The season begins with a very special percussion concert "Experiential Awareness" at 7 p.m., Sept. 18. Experience a dynamic journey through various musical eras, styles, and cultures as we present music created entirely using percussion instruments. This 75-minute concert combines the raw energy of body percussion, the power of explosive drums, and the dulcet tones of keyboard percussion, showcasing the boundless sonic possibilities of percussion in a truly unique way. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments are available for those who RSVP.

Additional selections during its second season will be evenings of artist talks and exhibitions, a mariachi extravaganza, an evening of holiday music, the immersive theatre experience Parking Lot Plays, and a short film showcase.

Arts in the Center is a public demonstration of a partnership that has been forged between Clark County and UNLV’s College of Fine Arts. Its purpose is to expand the reach of arts programming created at UNLV while providing free quality arts programming to the community at large.

UNLV College of Fine Arts Dean Nancy Uscher noted, "The College of Fine Arts at UNLV is thrilled to present a second full season of events in our Arts in the Center series. It gives us great joy to share the arts with our community. The cultural revitalization of the Commercial Center with the participation of our students and faculty is a wonderful  project, and we are delighted to engage in this remarkable partnership."

Segerblom stated, “On the heels of a hugely successful inaugural season, I am very excited that we will be expanding this series of high-quality arts programming at Historic Commercial Center by doubling the offerings and featuring even more exciting events for the community to enjoy. Our goal is to continue the evolution of Commercial Center — an important piece of Las Vegas history — not just for presentation of the arts, but by building an Arts Innovation District that also fosters the creation of new and exciting works that have both commercial and non-commercial applications.”

Miller also added, “The County continues to work diligently toward the revitalization of Historic Commercial Center as a home for the creation and presentation of art, in whatever form that might take.  With great performance spots and the wonderful variety of existing and upcoming restaurants, this iconic area will once again be a treasured destination for all the people who live in the Las Vegas Valley.”

Damian Costa, owner of The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center, welcomes the expansion of new Arts in the Center programming. He commented, “We at The Composers Room were honored to host many of the arts programs that debuted during the inaugural season of this important partnership between Clark County and the UNLV College of Fine Arts, and we look forward to its expansion during the second year. The Composers Room continues to be a place where performers can spotlight the many varieties of music that aficionados love most, in an atmosphere recalling the iconic style and elegance of the Las Vegas of the past. Arts in the Center’s varied and compelling programming adds even more excitement and variety to our robust marketing calendar.”

The UNLV College of Fine Arts — currently with more than 2,700 enrollees — focuses on seven key disciplines, including theatre, dance, film, art, architecture, engineering and design, and music. It also offers on-site programming including professional presentations from world-renowned artists to concerts presented by faculty and students, lectures offered by distinguished artists, writers, critics and exhibitions of student work in galleries.

Among the programs slated for the upcoming Arts in the Center series are:

• Sept. 18 at The Composers Room — Percussion Concert "Experiental Awareness"
  Experience a dynamic journey through various musical eras, styles, and cultures as we present music created entirely using percussion instruments. This 75-minute concert combines the raw energy of body percussion, the power of explosive drums, and the dulcet tones of keyboard percussion, showcasing the boundless sonic possibilities of percussion in a truly unique way.
• October 2 at The Composers Room — Chasing the Morning Start: The Aesthetic and Philosophical (An Artist Talk)
• October 23 at The Composers Room — Bright Futures: Emerging UNLV Artists (Visual Arts)
• December 18 at The Composers Room — Holiday Music by Studio Scarlet, a Premiere Jazz Vocal Ensemble
• February 5 at The Composers Room — CFA CoLab: Multidisciplinary Performance
• February 19 at The Composers Room — Coloring Outside the Lines (Graduate Art Exhibition)
• March 5 at The Composers Room — Climate Plays (10-Minute Short Play Festival)
• April 12 in the County-Owned Commercial Center Parking Lot — Parking Lot Plays (10-Minute Outdoor Short Plays)
• April 30 in The Composers Room — New Musical Workshop
• May 5 in The Composers Room — Mariachi Extravaganza
• June 4 at The Composers Room — Heart of Cinema: Short Film Showcase

Capacity for events may be limited. Locations subject to change.

About the UNLV College of Fine Arts

The College of Fine Arts educates, empowers, and engages creative people to become visionary change-makers in the arts through acts of imagination. At UNLV we believe the arts are an essential good for society. We make education relevant and accessible through our programs and outreach. We create new knowledge in the arts. We celebrate independent thought and the power of bringing people together to foster creativity.