About Us

MISSION

To present performing and media arts that engage, energize, and transform the diverse cultural life of the University and San Diego.

VISION

To develop more empathetic students and community members that are better prepared to engage in the world around them through their participation in high quality artistic programs that broaden thinking and awareness, deepen understanding, and encourage new dialogues across UC San Diego and the community.

artpower showing

Welcome to the
2024–25 ArtPower Season

We are delighted to share ArtPower at UC San Diego’s fall  lineup for our 21st season. With the significant expansion in programming over the past year, this season, we will announce performances and events by quarter. This first quarter is just a taste of what’s in store for audiences this coming year. Our commitment to showcasing global talent and nurturing cultural exchange remains unwavering, as we present a diverse array of world-class performances this fall. 

The performing arts possess a unique power to transcend language, offering a window into diverse perspectives and foster profound connections. This season’s carefully curated lineup features diverse voices we hope will resonate deeply with audiences, nurture meaningful relationships, and build community. 

Our Speaker Series features influential voices like renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi, award-winning author Ocean Vuong, and insightful social commentator Fran Lebowitz. Additionally, storytelling maestro Ira Glass of This American Life fame will share his wisdom and inspiration with our community.

Alongside these thought-provoking discussions, our fall lineup boasts captivating performances by Grammy-winning singer Aoife O’Donovan, vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, jazz artist Nduduzo Makhathini, and the dynamic CONTRA-TIEMPO dance theatre group. From soulful melodies to electrifying rhythms, each performance promises an unforgettable experience.

Audiences can celebrate the autumn season with a diverse array of events for all ages at the Epstein Family Amphitheater  including a Halloween-themed performance by Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats, a Dia de los Muertos celebration with Las Cafeteras, and “Not So Silent Night” with Choir! Choir! Choir!  We find it only fitting to culminate our first quarter of programming with an event where our audience will be  invited to share their own voices and join together in song. 

We’re thrilled to be offering a flexible season pass model for ticketing this year so you can pick and choose the shows that are best for you. The more shows you see—the more you save with mix and match package discounts  starting at just three shows. 

Join us as we embark on a season filled with inspiration, connection, and celebration.

Colleen Kollar Smith
Executive Director

Liz Bradshaw
Associate Director of Artistic Planning and Outreach

Albert Agbayani
Assistant Director of Artistic Planning and Outreach

A NOTE FROM THE CHANCELLOR

Since its inception, UC San Diego has nurtured a spirit of curiosity, creative problem solving, and diverse and inclusive collaboration to meet the needs of its campus and regional community. This ethos has created a university evolving and transformed — a destination for globally ranked education, leading edge research, nationally recognized healthcare and world-class arts and culture. Our new performance venues and exhibit spaces, dynamic program offerings curated by ArtPower, and increased connectivity with the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley have expanded opportunities for deeper community connections and inspired artistic exploration. The result? Lively, engaging and exciting cultural offerings that showcase the very best of our dynamic, multicultural region.

Our innovative arts and culture programming offer something for everyone. We invite you to join us soon to enjoy dance and musical performances at the Epstein Family Amphitheater, witness global music artists and up-and-coming jazz musicians at The Loft, or experience world-class chamber music and innovative artists through ArtPower’s programming. Wherever your curiosity leads you, we look forward to welcoming you to campus soon. Thank you for your continuous support of ArtPower and UC San Diego.

 

Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor, UC San Diego

khosla

STAFF

Colleen Kollar Smith, Executive Director, Campus Performances and Events Office

Elizabeth Bradshaw, Associate Director of Artistic Planning and Outreach
ebradshaw@ucsd.edu

Albert Agbayani, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning and Outreach
aagbayani@ucsd.edu

Joanna Christian, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
joanna@ucsd.edu

Jennifer Mancano, Events & Performing Arts Business Manager
jmancano@ucsd.edu

Kathryn Sturch, Production Manager
ksturch@ucsd.edu

Alyssa Villaseñor, Marketing Manager
alvillasenor@ucsd.edu

ArtPower supports the academic and career development of UC San Diego students through a variety of student assistant positions in programming, event management, marketing, production, and community outreach. For more information, email artpower@ucsd.edu.

audience

TICKET SALES: 858-246-3600
GENERAL INQUIRIES: ARTPOWER@UCSD.EDU

For Marketing/Press Inquiries:
joanna@ucsd.edu / 858.230.0943

For Development Inquiries:
artpower@ucsd.edu

 

MAILING ADDRESS

ArtPower at UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0029
La Jolla, CA 92093-0029

price center

In Solidarity

Statement from Student Life:

We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and are committed to transformative action. We recognize that, for too long, Black students, staff, and faculty have been disproportionately impacted on our campus through a system perpetuated by white principles and values. We also recognize the disparate impact the Coronavirus has had on communities of color as well as the pain and suffering so deeply felt within Black communities. Our humanity is constantly diminished through the multiple injustices done to ourselves and each other. We believe that now, as much as at any time in our nation’s history, we have a chance for lasting, real change.

We assume that responsibility.

Collectively, we have an opportunity to advance systemic equity.

To Black students: The Black experience on our campus is unacceptable. We see you, we care about you, we prioritize your well-being, and we are committed to improving your experience.

To Black staff: We see you and acknowledge you have often been expected to operate at full capacity in a system that implicitly places expectations on you to comply with inaccurate modalities. You have also been held responsible to be the voice, represent, and do the work that we all should be doing to support the Black community.

While we have done good work advancing some diversity and inclusivity efforts, we can do more.

In Student Life we will:

  • Assess and evaluate all of our services and programs to ensure the Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) student experience is centered in all our efforts.
  • Reduce the minimum number of principal members required for student organization registration from four to three principal members. This will reduce barriers to student organization registration for smaller groups, provide additional support for culturally- based organizations, and help to establish a consistent presence of historically Black National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) fraternities and sororities on campus.
  • Host additional community dialogues and iLead leadership development workshops on topics of race, social justice, and allyship in the Center for Student Involvement (CSI).
  • Offer an Equity-Minded Leadership seminar and ART of Inclusive Communication training for all student organization principal members in CSI.
  • Initiate an Antiracism Workgroup among University Centers staff and student employees to research, learn, and implement strategies within the student union to actively work against racism.
  • Continue to assess, promote awareness and education of Basic Needs student services that actively center Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) to increase equitable access to food, housing, and financial wellness resources by breaking down historically oppressive systemic barriers.
  • Commit to bringing forward voices which represent the BIPOC experiences on our stages. We will bring these artists into direct contact with our student body so that they can share their experiences with UC San Diego students.
  • Support student leaders in the creation of a Minority Caucus in Associated Students to increase the representation of Black students in Student Government and campus spaces.
  • Support student leaders in crafting and distributing a resource guide for how students and staff can advocate for anti-racist legislation.
  • Support student leaders in ensuring Black voices are included in committees and conversations at UC San Diego and systemwide.
  • Create a committee focused on the continued personal/professional development of Student Life staff on topics related to privilege, anti-racism, and allyship.
  • Intentionally challenge those with white skin privilege to acknowledge inherent racism and embody inclusive and equitable practices, language, and understanding.
  • Encourage individuals who feel they have been disrespected or mistreated to seek help or guidance (Student Life Human Resources, AVC-Student Life)
  • Build awareness and address unconscious bias and encourage every employee to review, question, and analyze their own personal potential biases and assumptions.
  • Mix-up work teams by inviting others to conversations in order to include various perspectives and viewpoints.
  • Bi-annually assess our staff profiles and ensure our recruitment efforts represent our student and community populations.
  • Continue confronting racial bias in hiring and training hiring managers to root out racial bias in hiring and recruiting practices. .

This is not an exhaustive list, we commit to these actions as well as identify additional efforts to improve the experience of Black, Indigenous People of Color on our campus.

In Community,
Heather Belk, Director, Associated Students Administration
Doug Carlone, Director, Student Life Business Office
Patricia Mahaffey, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Life
Alicia Magallanes, Director, Basic Needs Center
Jordan Peimer, Executive Director, ArtPower
Jon Carlos Senour, Director, Student Legal Services
Anthony Tran, Director, University Events Office
Emily Trask, Executive Director, Center for Student Involvement
Sharon Van Bruggen, Executive Director, University Centers