Friday, Apr 04, 2025 • Cristal Gonzalez : contact

The University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Liberal Arts will commemorate the University’s 130th anniversary during its annual Festival of Ideas, a vibrant celebration of UTA’s legacy and vision for the future.

The free event will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Texas Hall and is open to the public.

A spring tradition since 2005, the Festival of Ideas showcases the College of Liberal Arts’ dynamic artistic community and commitment to creative expression.

Sergio Espinosa, the associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and John Wayman, associate director of choral activities, collaborated to create a program themed around the spirit of UTA, community, leadership and the empowerment of dreams, heart and soul. Dr. Espinosa, who also serves as a professor in the Department of Music, said pairing the Festival of Ideas with the 130th anniversary celebration was a natural fit.

“The really exciting part of all of this is that we have all these great entities here at UTA, but they don’t often have the opportunities to come together and perform on the same stage,” Dr. Wayman said. “All these pieces will come together—the music, the poetry, the acting—to enhance, complement and celebrate each other.”

Related: Alumnus Mustaque Ahmed thinks UT Arlington has ideas the whole world should hear. So he’s helping build a megaphone

The evening’s program will feature eclectic performances by the UTA University Singers accompanied by student poets, actors, dancers, instrumentalists and ensembles. The UTA Drum Line, UTA Mav Brass and the UTA Jass Orchestra will also be taking the stage.

Established through a generous donation by UTA alumnus Mustaque Ahmed (’81 BS, Economics), the Festival of Ideas has grown into a significant endowment that supports innovative programming within the College of Liberal Arts. Over the years, the festival has provided a platform for highlighting the breadth and complexity of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Through thought-provoking performances and presentations, the event continues to engage the community in meaningful dialogue and encourage the exploration of new and varied experiences.

“What we really want the audience to feel during the Festival of Ideas is pride and excitement to be part of the UTA community,” Wayman said. “I’d really like people to see all the ways UTA has influence here on campus and across our larger community.”

As UTA celebrates its 130th anniversary throughout 2025, the Festival of Ideas offers a unique way to capture the spirit of this milestone event.

Learn more about the Festival of Ideas.