Annual University Arts Welcome Picnic showcases University art platforms

Students and community members filled the Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds Sunday, eager to enjoy performances and gain more knowledge on various art organizations. Consistently one of the Art Department’s largest events, the Annual University Arts Welcome Picnic features several organizations, student and local performances and free shirts, bags and miscellaneous items available to all.

Rob Dunnenberger, operations director and vice provost for the arts, said that while it can be difficult to pick which organizations can table, the event is vital.

“This is our staple to kick off the school year, present all the arts and what they have to offer at the University,” Dunnenberger said.

A wide range of student organizations hosted tables that stretched from one side of the sidewalk surrounding the Arts Grounds to the other, as over 15 groups handed out free merchandise and materials while giving people information on how to become more involved in the University’s arts scene.

HooGrass, a University Bluegrass club, began the night and set the tone of the picnic. Their laid-back and warm energy reflected the theme for the rest of the event, as there seemed to be an atmosphere of comfort and enjoyable chatter throughout the evening. A multitude of groups including a WXTJ radio DJ, different poetry readings, individual singers and even a large puppet, continued afterward as entertainment for the crowd.

Among these organizations were the Creative Writing Program table that wrote personal haikus and horoscopes, a U.Va. Arts Newsletter table that gave out shirts and tote bags for those who signed up on the arts email list, and the WTJU and WXTJ tables which both gave stickers and zines featuring information on their organizations. The WXTJ radio group also had a tent with free CDs and vinyls for anyone to take home with them while giving out shirts from their past events.

Third-year exchange student Mia Lin said that she was surprised at the amount of clubs available for students and the community to explore. Lin spoke about how it was a great opportunity to learn about the arts, especially musical groups, which were her favorite feature.

“It’s far beyond my expectations, especially when I came across a long line of different tables,” Lin said. “And then they just have a bunch of different activities related to music. You can produce your own music in their workshops.”

As the evening progressed, there were other performances such as the AKAdeMiX Dance Crew, singer Calista Nelson, the University Marching Band Small Group, and different individuals reading poems from the FLUX Poetry & Spoken Word organization. Camille Hou, senior artistic director for the AKAdeMiX group and fourth-year College student, said the dance crew has repeatedly performed for the annual event.

“Since my time here at U.Va., we've been here every single year,” Hou said. “It's been a great opportunity for us to just get involved with the U.Va. Arts community and also to be able to showcase ourselves to U.Va. and a community that we might not see or that might not see us as often.”

AKAdeMiX performed an energetic mix of “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” by Chappell Roan, “Six Feet Under” by reina and “GHOST.” by Armani White.

Following the AKAdeMiX dance crew came one of the creations from the Festival of the Moving Creature. The festival is another University Arts event that highlights the opportunities for student involvement, and for the past few years a puppet has appeared at the Arts Welcome Picnic for students and community members to see. The 2025 puppet was a creature with wings named Delia, which danced around the field and gave up-close looks for audience members.

Lin also commented on the availability of the Annual University Arts Welcome Picnic and encouraged students to come to any art event they can.

“Students at U.Va., you're so welcome to join any events you see like a large group of people gathering on the grass and chatting,” Lin said. “It's so fun, and you meet new people, maybe a new career is waiting for you.”

The University Marching Band Small Group also performed at the picnic, showcasing school pride through some of the University's songs. They also engaged with the audience members by encouraging chanting along with the music and made a grander entrance from the side by taking the audience by surprise.

The Annual Arts Welcome Picnic is a rare opportunity to see a vast array of art groups all present in one place, as groups typically have smaller internal events throughout the semester. Dunnenberger described how the event seems to grow larger every year and how the community is welcomed with open arms at these events.

“It's a great event that seems to get bigger and bigger every year to bring all these students to get some free stuff and learn about all the arts in U.Va.,” Dunnenberger said. “It's just spreading the word of the arts organizations, making sure the community and the Charlottesville community at large knows of all the great work that's happening here.”