Social Consciousness
-

Why math and musical prodigy Tom Lehrer was so well-suited for young UC Santa Cruz
The uncomfortably famous satirical songwriter taught as a Cowell College fellow from 1972 to 2001
-

Professor Sharon Daniel collaborates with Georgetown University in innovative social justice program
Student documentaries on wrongfully incarcerated individuals raise awareness on criminal justice reform
-

Empowering transfer students: UC Santa Cruz’s Humanities Division prepares undergraduates for the future
Transferring between universities can be stressful and disorienting, but at UC Santa Cruz, the Humanities Division works hard to ensure that transfer students are empowered, supported, and ready to make an impact.
-

Celebrating Earth Day and our campus sustainability efforts
Our campus is making remarkable progress on our sustainability and resilience goals, which is worth highlighting as we celebrate Earth Day, which holds special meaning at UC Santa Cruz.
-

Artist talk scrutinizes history of Yellowface
Performer and author Phil Chan breaks down Asian representation in ballet and opera
-

Sir Isaac Julien’s dreamworld comes alive at the de Young Museum in San Francisco
Featuring 10 major video installations made between 1999 and 2022, alongside several early single-channel films including his iconic Looking for Langston (1989), this exhibition is the first comprehensive survey of Julien’s work in a museum setting and his first retrospective in the United States.
-

Artist Talk provides a deep dive into dance as rebellion
Many have seen the newest mural on campus, Danza a la Rebeldía (Dance as Rebellion), but now is the chance to learn more about it.
-

Jose Ramirez is helping one UC at a time
The University of California, Santa Cruz Arts Division is putting its mission into action with Art Matters, an upcoming event in Los Angeles that underscores the transformative power of the arts. The evening will bring together a dynamic mix of alumni, faculty, and supporters, including acclaimed Chicano artist José Ramírez.
-

Opera performance highlights Spanish music and Chicanx culture
Lecturer in Music Sheila Willey is bringing Spanish-language opera to the stage. The upcoming Opera and Zarzuela Scenes performance on March 13, 2025 at the Music Center Recital Hall on campus, will bring a wider cultural look at the artform from several Spanish-speaking countries.
-

The Institute of Arts and Science curates two revolutionary exhibitions
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is starting the new year with two imaginative and heartfelt exhibitions exploring liberation and justice. EDELO and Our Bedrock, both of which run from Jan. 31 – April 20
-

John Jota Leaños selected as new Interim Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the UC Santa Cruz Arts Division
The University of California, Santa Cruz brought on a new Interim Assistant Dean of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for the Arts Division. John Jota Leaños, a professor of Film and Digital Media (FDM) and Guggenheim Fellow, is a Mexican/Italian-American and Chumash-award winning interdisciplinary artist, documentarian, animator, and social art practitioner whose work engages the intersections…
-

New exhibition explores Afrofuturism through a look at the past
The newest exhibition at the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery explores African history and Afrofuturism through the art of current PhD candidate Aaron Samuel Mulenga. Ukupupuka: An Exploration of Transcendence integrates Mulenga’s doctoral dissertation research on World War I porters called TengaTenga with the concept of the Afronaut to explore concepts of mobility, transcendence and divinity.