CHASSE Announces October Events
The College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE) at UA Little Rock has announced its October events for fall 2025. A full calendar for the semester is available on the college’s website.
A Reading with UA Little Rock alumnus Jared Lemus — Visiting Writers Series & Equinox Launch Reception
The English program will host the Fall 2025 semester’s Visiting Writers Series Lecture, which is free and open to the public, on Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. Author Jared Lemus will share insights into his craft in Gallery 1 in the Fine Arts Building.
Jared Lemus is the author of the short story collection, “Guatemalan Rhapsody,” published with Ecco-HarperCollins on March 4. His debut novel is forthcoming with Ecco-HarperCollins. Lemus’s work has appeared in the Atlantic, Story, the Pinch, and the Kenyon Review, among others. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently the Kenan Visiting Writer at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Equinox, UA Little Rock’s undergraduate literary magazine is celebrating the release of its newest issue! Join us for a student reading and party at 3pm, following the Jared Lemus lecture in Gallery 1 in the Fine Arts Building.
Evenings with History — “Spooky Season: Monsters in History”
To kick off the 2025-26 Evenings with History lecture series, four faculty members will explore how cultures have imagined monsters and what those stories reveal at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Arkansas Historic Museum (200 E. Third St.) in Little Rock. The speakers include
- Michael Heil: Undead in medieval England
- Katrina Yeaw: Jinn in the Islamic world
- Hannah Anderson: The Jersey Devil and early American politics
- Yi Ren: The fox spirit in late imperial China
Light refreshments will be served at 7 p.m., and the lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Ottenheimer Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public.
More details regarding the Evenings with History series, as well as detailed descriptions of the lectures, can be found on the Department of History’s website. For additional information, contact Dr. Michael Heil at [email protected].
Wind and Chamber Ensemble Concert
Dr. Nickolas Doshier, the director of music education at UA Little Rock, will lead the October Wind and Chamber Ensemble Concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St, Little Rock. The concert is free and open to the public.
Lauren DiCioccio — “Soft Skills”
An exhibition by artist Lauren DiCioccio will open Oct. 16 in the Windgate Center of Art and Design. The exhibit, “Lauren DiCioccio: Soft Skills,” will feature DiCioccio’s fiber work and small abstract sculptures. Her work will be on display in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery through Dec. 8.
The UA Little Rock Art Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed on holidays. The Windgate Center of Art and Design is located at 5617 W. 28th St., Little Rock. For more information, email Gallery Director Brian Young at [email protected] or call 501-916-5117.
2025 Student Competitive Exhibition
UA Little Rock’s School of Art and Design is hosting its 2025 Annual Student Competitive, a juried exhibition open to any student enrolled in a School of Art and Design studio course.
The annual student show runs Oct. 20–Nov. 7 in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design. An awards show and reception is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 7.
The Annual Student Competitive will feature work in drawing, painting, printmaking, graphic design, photography, illustration, textiles, metals, sculpture, ceramics, and furniture. Kevin Cole will serve as the juror/curator for the show.
The UA Little Rock Art Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed on holidays. The Windgate Center of Art and Design is located at 5617 W. 28th St., Little Rock. For more information, email Gallery Director Brian Young at [email protected] or call 501-916-5117.
NPR Tiny Desk Contest: Arkansas Showcase 2025
Little Rock Public Radio, in collaboration with Arkansas NPR affiliate stations KUAF and KASU, will host the third annual NPR Tiny Desk Contest: Arkansas Showcase on Saturday, Oct. 18, at The Hall, 721 W. 9th St., Little Rock.
Doors open at 5 p.m., while the show begins at 6 p.m. This vibrant event shines a spotlight on emerging local musicians, featuring the top three Arkansas entrants selected from NPR’s national Tiny Desk Contest.
More than 50 artists from across the state submitted performances for consideration, representing genres from folk to hip-hop. This year’s showcase will feature Sarah Lily of Bella Vista, Mildenhall of Fayetteville, and Maestro3000 of Jonesboro.
“Each year, it’s inspiring to see more musicians entering the contest and raising the bar with their songwriting, musicianship, and unique voices,” said Grace Zafasi, director of development at Little Rock Public Radio. “Arkansas has an incredible depth of talent, and if you love music and are looking to discover your next favorite artist, Tiny Desk is the perfect place to find them.”
The Arkansas Showcase expands opportunities for musicians and communities alike, forging connections between artists, fans, public media, and civic stakeholders. This event continues to grow as Little Rock Public Radio strengthens its commitment to elevating local talent.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Applied Communication Leadership Lecture Series with Nathan Jeffers, CARTI
UA Little Rock welcomes its very own alumnus Nathan Jeffers for the Department of Applied Communication’s Fall 2025 Leadership Lecture, “More Than a Message: Building Culture Through Brand & Ethics.”
Jeffers is the director of marketing and public relations for CARTI, a not-for-profit multidisciplinary cancer care provider with 18 locations across the state and the state’s first cancer-focused surgery center. Before joining CARTI, he oversaw marketing and business development for a Central Arkansas-based specialty hospital.
He will explore how brand identity, ethical leadership, and organizational culture are deeply connected. When words and actions align, organizations build lasting trust and clarity, both internally and externally. Drawing on practical leadership insights and real-world examples, this session examines how values-based communication, recognition systems, and ethical consistency can shape a stronger, more unified culture. Attendees will leave with questions to reflect on, and strategies to help ensure that what their organization says is genuinely lived every day.
The presentations, which are free and open to the public, highlight research and work done by faculty and alumni in the areas of communication, management, and leadership. The presentation will be held on Zoom from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 21.
To sign up to attend the presentation, visit this website. For more information, contact the Department of Applied Communication at 501-916-3158.
Theatre Production — “Peter and the Starcatcher”
UA Little Rock Theatre will present its season opener, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Oct. 22-26 in University Theater, Center for Performing Arts.
This swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan, the-boy-who-wouldn’t-grow-up, is rich in stage magic, off-the-wall humor and touching sincerity as it takes us on a voyage to an island where dreams are born and time is never planned. In this imaginative play with music, actors transform into sailors, pirates, mollusks and more through ensemble storytelling. Winner of Five 2012 Tony Awards.
Evening performances are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22-24; matinees are 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25-26. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets may be reserved here.
Choirs Concert — “Solace: Music for Choir and Cello”
Join the UA Little Rock Choirs for an evening of harmony and reflection as they present Solace, a concert exploring the profound beauty of nature and the human spirit.
This unique program blends the rich textures of choral music with the soulful sounds of the cello, featuring a special collaboration with guest artist Joanna Klett on cello.
This concert will take place Oct. 27 at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. The event is free and open to the public. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
For additional information regarding the above events, contact Dr. Lorissa Mason at [email protected].