The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81, a photography exhibition on display from January 26 through May 22. In 1976, American photographer Mary Ellen Mark and sociologist Karen Folger Jacobs spent thirty-six days living in the Oregon State Hospital, where they photographed the residents of Ward 81, the hospital’s all-female, high-security psychiatric unit. Their unprecedented access allowed them to create a deeply nuanced portrayal of women navigating psychiatric care in the mid-1970s. Mary Ellen Mark: Ward 81 brings together Mark’s photographs, Jacobs’s newly uncovered audio recordings, and rare archival materials, offering an intimate and expanded view of this landmark documentary project.
The Intermedia and Digital Arts Master’s Program presents despite // bất chấp: The 2026 Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Thesis Exhibition. On view from April 1 through 18 at the Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, the exhibition features work by graduating students Taylor Goad, Nia Hampton, Bao Nguyen, and Lynn Nguyen.
In celebration of a historic UMBC undergraduate publication and the university’s Arts+ initiative, the Bartleby 50+ exhibition presents a retrospective of works from the undergraduate creative arts journal, published since 1972. Bartleby remains a vital part of our campus community as a voice for undergraduate student creativity, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art.
Baltimore’s creative heart beats stronger than ever as we gather for Art Rysing 2026: Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation — a citywide celebration of art, equity, and community healing through creative expression. Building on the legacy of previous Arts Rysing gatherings as a creative response to the murder of Freddie Gray in 2015, this year’s 11th convening expands its reach and impact, bringing together youth arts organizations, cultural leaders, educators, and community visionaries who use art as a catalyst for justice, belonging, and renewal.
The U.S. Army Blues, a component of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” will perform a free concert at UMBC in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month. This special event will feature the 2025 Collegiate and High School solo competition winners from the Army Blues Young Artist Competition, alongside Naptown Jazz Kids, the premier jazz organization for young people in Annapolis.
Journey with the acclaimed Inscape Chamber Orchestra as they explore Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Richard Strauss’s Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, and Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring soloist Airi Yoshioka.
The Social Sciences Forum presents the annual Eckert Lecture on Health & Inequality, featuring Hanna Garth, assistant professor of anthropology at Princeton University, who will speak on “Food Justice Undone: Lessons for Building a Better Movement.”
Join us on Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 23 for UMBC BookFest ‘26, a celebration of writers, readers, makers, and advocates. Programs feature an outdoor market dedicated to bookishness, an evening focused on One Maryland, One Book, and a discussion on the dangers of censorship.
Join us for UMBC’s annual Brass Bash, this year featuring Brass for Uncommon Times, a brass and percussion ensemble including top players from across the region, directed by Brian Kaufman, associate professor of music. The Brass Bash will also feature international tuba soloist Velvet Brown, critically acclaimed percussionist Fran Vielma, and Latin Grammy-winning drummer Daniel Prim. Additionally, award winning film composer Greg Nicolett will be present for the Maryland premiere of his multimedia work Forbidden to Face the Natural Light.
The Soldiers’ Chorus, the vocal complement of The United States Army Field Band of Washington, D.C., performs vocal works by Bellini, Bizet, Danielpour, Delibes, Donizetti, Handel, Massenet, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Strauss, and Verdi.
Don’t miss out on future events!
