U of L Vibe Fest to showcase faces of Fine Arts

By Lethbridge Herald on April 11, 2025.

Heather Davis-Fisch , dean of faculty of fine arts, says Vibe Fest is set to showcase work from students, staff, faculty and alumni from Art, Drama, Music and New Media departments. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The University of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts has launched its inaugural Vibe Fest to bring the four departments within the faculty together to showcase their work to the Lethbridge community tonight. 

The Faculty of Fine Arts hosts the Art, Drama, Music and New Media Departments. Vibe Fest will showcase work from students, staff, faculty and alumni of all four departments. 

Heather Davis-Fisch, dean of faculty of fine arts, told media Friday afternoon that Vibe Fest was the result of community, staff and students’ feedback about their ability to share their work with the public and the public’s access to the faculty. 

“When I first started the position (July 2023), I started to get to know the members of the art community outside of the university, and one of the things I kept hearing variations of, was that our students don’t feel connected to the art scene of the city as much as they would like to,” said Davis-Fisch. 

She added that she also heard the community felt like they didn’t have much access to the faculty of fine arts. 

“So, Vibe Fest was created based on that,” she said. “Wanting to make the university welcoming to the community and also, we wanted to give our students an opportunity to feel that their work was being seen, recognized and celebrated.”

She said this was important to them as the graduating class has gone through a lot, including a pandemic and labour disruption. 

Vibe Fest will be a one-night only event where people from the community will gain access to spaces in the faculty of fine arts that they otherwise do not have access to, so they can enjoy the various works of art on display. 

“All of the floors of the University’s centre for the arts, all of our spaces are taken over with art. It’s also an opportunity to open a lot of the doors to spaces that the public doesn’t usually get to see,” said Davis-Fisch. 

She said the open-door part of the event allows visitors to not only see the art on display, but also the behind the scenes and see where all of the work is getting done. 

Vibe Fest attendees can explore the University Centre for the Arts’ learning and creative facilities that are often hidden from public view like studios, exhibition spaces, digital cinema suites, workshops, recording studios and more.

“It is also a great opportunity for the public to see what we actually do here in our big concrete building. I think sometimes the community doesn’t know the range of the things that students are able to do here with the FA degree,” said Davis-Fisch. 

Baz Skinner, faculty of fine arts events manager, said those wanting to attend Vibe Fest are encouraged to register but is not required and there is no cost to attend. 

“The check-in spaces are on any of the main entrances of the theatre, either on level nine level six or level four. We will have staff that are part of the chancellor’s crew in bright purple t-shirts guiding people,” said Skinner. 

She explained that to show attendees where the various art pieces are located, they created a passport to encourage people to “travel around” and collect stamps. And at the end they can enter into a draw. 

“There is going to be a lot food and entertainment throughout the arts building. There are elevators on the fourth level and accessible parking is available,” said Skinner. 

Vibe Fest runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts. 

Learn more about Vibe Fest by visiting https://www.ulethbridge.ca/fine-arts/vibe-fest