The ACANSA Arts Festival has teamed up with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to bring a three-day celebration of the arts to UA Little Rock Sept. 22-24 as part of the annual festival. 

“We are very excited to partner with UA Little Rock this year, especially since the university is building a new fine arts center and putting a new focus on that aspect of education,” said Dillon Hupp, executive director of the ACANSA Arts Festival. 

This year’s festival will feature a Sept. 23 performance by New York-based Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which is known for its groundbreaking mix of methods, styles, and cultures.

“They are one of the most sought after dance performance groups in the country, and we are thrilled to bring them to central Arkansas,” Hupp said.

The festival will also feature a free performance by 9 Horses, a trio that combines the virtuosity of classical music with the immediacy of jazz and folk music.

Additional events include three art exhibitions, artist talks, and workshops.

UA Little Rock ACANSA activities will kick off with an artist lecture by Peri Schwartz at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, in Room 161 of the UA Little Rock Fine Arts Building.

Schwartz will also lead a two-day workshop on printing, “Discovering Mylar,” Sept. 23-24 in Fine Arts Building Room 232. Those interested in attending should email artworks@ualr.edu.

As part of the celebration, the artwork of Schwartz, Heidi Hogan, and Layet Johnson will be on display in the UA Little Rock Art Gallery located in the Fine Arts Building. The Art Gallery will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 with a 5 p.m. reception for the artists in Gallery 1, sponsored by Irene and George Davis and Kay and Bill Patton.

A complete schedule of events and ticket information can be found at acansa.org.

Festival highlights at UA Little Rock include:

• 9 Horses Concert: 6 p.m. Sept. 23, Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the UA Little Rock Fine Arts Building. Free admission.
• Photo Booth run by UA Little Rock art students: 6 p.m. Sept. 23, UA Little Rock Alumni Plaza in front of Ottenheimer Library.
• Complexions Contemporary Ballet: 8 p.m. Sept. 23, University Theater in the UA Little Rock Center for Performing Arts. Before the performance, enjoy coffee, cake, and piano music performed by Michael Heavner in the University Theatre lobby. General admission tickets are $35, while tickets are $15 for students and military personnel.