Arts & Design Stories & News

UNI art students are working on a metal sculpture in the Public Art Incubator located at UNI.

UNI’s Public Art Incubator leaves its mark across Iowa

In a studio tucked inside the University of Northern Iowa’s Kamerick Art Building, summer is anything but quiet. Instead of empty classrooms, sparks are flying and sculptures are taking shape as students work alongside faculty on public art projects that will soon become permanent installations across Iowa. This summer, one of the biggest projects celebrates the Iowa State Fair.
UNI students Breyer Ellison, Muhammad Khan Niazi and Reiter Patzner earned the gold national advertising award.

UNI students win Gold national advertising award

A group of UNI students came home with the competition’s highest honors at the National American Advertising Awards, the advertising industry’s largest competition, which attracts more than 25,000 entries each year from both industry professionals and students.
As You Like It

TheatreUNI and Crooked Path Classics present William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the brand-new Northern Iowa Shakespeare Festival

This summer, TheatreUNI and Crooked Path Classics are teaming up to launch the Northern Iowa Shakespeare Festival.
Anissa working on a fragment of Grant Woods' drawing

UNI student helps preserve hidden Grant Wood history for upcoming documentary

Not many college students get the chance to work with a historic piece of art created by an internationally-renowned artist – but for University of Northern Iowa student Anissa Droessler, that rare opportunity became a reality. Droessler, a UNI Art Education major, recently contributed to a documentary project centered on Grant Wood’s World War I memorial windows, located in the Cedar Rapids Veterans Memorial Building.
Gallagher Bluedorn Block Party

Dates announced for free Gallagher Bluedorn Block Party series

The Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center has announced the 2026 schedule for its free summer Block Party series, with the University of Northern Iowa Sesquicentennial Celebration as the platinum sponsor of the series.
Anne Lefter

Anne Lefter named executive director of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

The University of Northern Iowa is pleased to welcome Anne Lefter as the new executive director of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
BFA exhibit at UNI

UNI Gallery of Art celebrates BFA Thesis Exhibition and Women’s & Gender Studies milestone

The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art will present the Spring 2026 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Group Thesis Exhibition from Friday, May 1 through Friday, May 15.
"Witch" promo image

TheatreUNI presents “Witch” by Jen Silverman

For its final production of the 2025-2026 season, TheatreUNI will present Jen Silverman’s dark comedy “Witch.”
2026 Juried Student Art Exhibition

UNI Gallery of Art presents 2026 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition

The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art and the UNI Department of Art & Graphic Design are proud to jointly present the 2026 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, scheduled to run from March 23 through April 16, 2026.
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

TheatreUNI presents “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812”

For its first production of 2026, TheatreUNI will present “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” by Dave Malloy.