Wake The Arts—the Arts are alive at Wake Forest University.

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Wake The Arts

Wake the Arts is a movement to infuse the arts into every aspect of the Wake Forest experience. Through this shared connection we will elevate Pro Humanitate to develop Wake Forest graduates who are empathetic, curious, and interdisciplinary problem solvers. We believe that all knowledge becomes more impactful when combined with the power of expression.

No matter what field of study one chooses at Wake Forest, it will be enhanced through a culture of creativity that nurtures and celebrates our shared community.

See Virtual Booklet

Arts Seniors Spotlight

Chamber Choir Tour 2023

WAKEVILLE 2023

Debbie Allen named ‘Maya Angelou Artist-in-Residence’

NC Black Rep and Wake Forest announce winning playwrights

St. Cuthbert’s Way

Coming soon

Check back later for upcoming events in this category.

See full calendar

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An incredible evening last week with @wfumusic's Dr. Larry Weng at his sold-out concert at @carnegiehall. #WaketheArts

Wake the Arts is shining a spotlight on a few of our extraordinary graduates of 2023, and we're only scratching the surface. There are so many incredible people in the Class of 2023—we can only highlight a small handful to give you a sense of their breadth and caliber. Check out the link in our bio to see how these students embody the engaged liberal arts experience at Wake Forest and are destined for greatness.
#WakeTheArts

We’re so proud to celebrate the careers of Dr. Kevin Bowen @wfumusic and Professor David Finn @wfuart. Read about these remarkable colleagues in Scales who gave decades of passion and excellence to the Arts at Wake Forest (links in bio). Scales won’t be the same without their presence.

#WakeTheArts

Congratulations to the new @wffellows! Especially proud of Wake the Arts all-stars Gretchen Castelloe (@wfutheatre Dance), Roscoe Bell (@wfumusic), Madison Koontz (@wakechoirs), Dianna LaTerra (@wfumusic) and Maya Whitaker (@wfuart)!

#WakeTheArts

Taking in the sights and getting ready to sing—first concert of the tour is May 6

Catch the work of these brilliant @wfuart students before it’s gone!

🎨 2023 Student Art Exhibition @hanesgallery now through May 15

🧶 Lucy Chapman’s “Close-Knit” @hanesgallery through May 15 @lucychapman_art

🍎 MC Goff’s “Alien//Continuous” @startgallery through May 15 (Reception TONIGHT at 5:30) @mc_goff

📷 Tsing Liu’s “Before the Mystery Ends” will be @startgallery through the summer (Reception THURSDAY, MAY 11 at 4PM) @tsing_liu

#WaketheArts

@wakedanceco The curtain is closed, but the memories will last a lifetime! Congratulations to all of our graduating Seniors! Dance Co will miss you all shining on stage dearly.

#WakeTheArts

Congratulations to champion of the arts J. D. Wilson (‘69, P ‘01), recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is given to @wfualumni who embody the values and core principles of the University, and have demonstrated extraordinary services to #WFU, their field, humanity or society. This describes J. D. perfectly.
And congratulations to the other recipient this year—trailblazer Beth Norbrey Hopkins (‘73, P’12, P’15).

#WakeTheArts

This weekend with Wake the Arts (part two)!!! An epic finale to Spring semester.

Friday, April 21:
💃 Spring Student Choreographic Concert (Tedford Stage, 7:30pm)

Saturday, April 22:
👢A Wayward Year: Fashion Show (Tribble Courtyard, 2pm)
🎥 Riverrun Documentary Panel (Reynolds Place Theatre, 4pm)
💃 Spring Student Choreographic Concert (Tedford Stage, 7:30pm)

Sunday, April 23:
💃 Spring Student Choreographic Concert (Tedford Stage, 2pm)
🎵 WFU Wind Ensemble (Brendle Recital Hall, 3pm)

Monday, April 24:
🎨 Ecological Works: Video Art (Scales 102, 6pm)

Links in bio!
#WaketheArts

A wonderful gathering and pop-up exhibit featuring collaborations between writers and painters. @wfuenglish and @wfuart students created work at "The Intersection of Art & Poetry." Thank you to @zsrspecial for making this partnership possible.

#WakeTheArts

“As a university in the city with the country’s oldest arts council, art is in the DNA of Wake Forest. It’s long been a value of our leaders and students, as shown through Reece’s revolutionary idea to let students purchase art for the school. The Reece Collection will [continue to] reflect our times, reminding us of the life we’ve lived and that, through it all, we still have one.” —great journalism about WFU Art Collections @wfu_uac by @christa.dutton(‘24) in @wfuogb. Link in bio!

#WakeTheArts

This week with Wake the Arts (part one)!!! An epic finale to Spring semester.

Monday, April 17:
🎵 Alex Moukala: Video Game Music/Production (Zoom, 2pm)

Tuesday, April 18:
🎤 “The Intersection of Art & Poetry” (ZSR Special Collections, 3:30pm)
🎭 “Ghostmans” (Davis Chapel, 7pm)
🎵 WFU Jazz Ensemble (Brendle Recital Hall, 7:30pm)

Wednesday, April 19:
🎨 Art Conservation Lecture (Salem Hall 012, 4pm)
🎨 Tapestry Workshop with Meredith Mulhearn (’01) (Wakerspace, 5:30pm)

Thursday, April 20:
🎥 “Chicken Soup for the Soil” (Reynolds Place Theatre, 4pm)
🎨 Student Art Exhibition Opening Reception & Gala (Hanes Gallery, 5pm)
💃 Spring Student Choreographic Concert (Tedford Stage, 7:30pm)
🎵 “Side by Side & Star Wars” WFU Symphony Orchestra (Brendle Recital Hall, 7:30pm)

Links in bio!
#WaketheArts

We're not crying you're crying. Unbelievable moments with @kchenoweth and @ellieh5. #WakeTheArts

Work with esteemed artist and alumna Meredith Mulhearn (’01) to explore the intersections of consumerism, plastic waste, and art as you create your own tapestries out of plastic waste! Materials will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring their own plastic bags/food wrappers cut into strips 1”- 2” wide. Tapestries will be displayed in the @wfuwomenscenter next year!

Wednesday, April 19 | WakerSpace | 5:30 – 7 PM

REGISTER at the link in bio!

Hosted by the @sustainablewfu, #WakeTheArts, and @wakerspace @wfuis_official

Still glowing from @wakevilleaf ❤️ ✨ ❤️
More photos and videos at the link in bio!

📸 @wakeforestphoto and @stevemorrisonart
#WakeTheArts

This week with Wake the Arts!

Tuesday, April 11:
🎵 Student Chamber Concert (Brendle Recital Hall, 7:30-8:30pm)

Wednesday, April 12:
🎤 Face to Face: Kristin Chenoweth (LJVM Coliseum, 7:30-8:30pm)

Thursday, April 13:
🎨 Pizza and Painting: Deacons for Neurodiversity (Tribble Courtyard, 5pm)
🎭 Laugh Tracks Comedy (Ring Theatre, 8pm AND 10pm)

Friday, April 14:
🎤 Cedarbough T. Saeji: K-Pop Lecture (Zoom, 9am)
🎵 Chamber Choir: Spain & Portugal Tour Preview (Brendle Recital Hall, 7-8pm)
🎭 Laugh Tracks Comedy (Ring Theatre, 8:30pm)

Links in bio!
#WaketheArts

“Why do we give? It’s a fair question. But we’d prefer to think of it as, “Why Do We Give BACK?”

Quite simply, the @wfuniversity experience has influenced SO MUCH of our family’s trajectory, we feel like there is a certain indebtedness to Mother So Dear. We met at Wake, two of our children graduated from Wake, and now I teach each fall at Wake. There is a love for this place that cements a piece of who we are as a Wake Forest family. In fact, we occasionally are referred to as the NedviDEACS!

But why WAKE THE ARTS? It’s not just that three of the four of us have degrees in @wfutheatre. It’s not just the amount of time members of our family have spent in Scales or under the guidance of world class teachers, directors, and designers. It’s the knowledge that the ARTS are the difference-maker. It’s the ARTS that create empathy. It’s the ARTS that ground the human experience and the human condition. It’s the ARTS that give people voice and freedom of expression. It’s the ARTS that create a breadth in life that make all other disciplines richer, better, and stronger. And it’s the ARTS that push us to be creators, not just consumers.

From firsthand experience in the classrooms on the Reynolda Campus, I can attest to the power of watching students make connections to life lessons as they perform on a stage, or build in the @wakerspace, or study a painting at @curatereynolda. I have seen their eyes light up when they practice design thinking to solve business problems. I have seen them get a clearer understanding of a better way forward when they begin to think and create with the perspective of an artist. The ARTS have a power, richness, and depth that will make them better and round them out as people and as professionals. In our home and as a family, we know this to be true.

That’s why we give back. That’s why we give to WAKE THE ARTS.

And we hope you will, too.”

—Steve and Sue Nedvidek
@nedvideks will be co-teaching "Arts & Innovation" in the Fall with Professor Cindy Gendrich. #WakeTheArts

This week with Wake the Arts!

Monday, April 3:
🎤John McAuliffe Poetry Reading (Carswell 212, 6pm)

Tuesday, April 4:
🎵Gamelan Giri Murti & Chinese Ensemble (Brendle, 7:30pm)

Wednesday, April 5:
🎭 Silent Sky 7:30pm

Thursday, April 6:
🎨 [Sustain]ance Opening (stArt, 5pm)
🎵La Serata Musicale: A Night of Italian Song (Brendle, 7pm)
🎭 Silent Sky, 7:30pm

Friday, April 7:
🎭 Silent Sky, 7:30pm

Saturday, April 8:
🎤Chinese Ethnic Groups and Their Songs (Annenberg Forum, 10:30am)
🎵Peking Opera and Chinese Music Concert (Annenberg Forum, 7pm)
🎭 Silent Sky, 7:30pm

Links in bio!
#WaketheArts

WAKEVILLE PART 2! Today was an amazing celebration of the arts. Huge congratulations to all who planned the festival, and thank you to everyone who attended! We can’t wait for next year!!
#wakethearts

Wakeville is just getting better and better! It’s been an afternoon filled with music, laughter, and ALL the arts! Stay tuned for a complete Wakeville recap video coming soon!!
#wakethearts

Wake the Arts E-Letter

The Wake The Arts e-letter is filled with Arts highlights, innovation, and inspiration.