Visual & Performing Arts

Visuals are decorative and audio is absent.

Create. Explore. Interpret. Innovate.

Welcome future students, friends of the Arts, and the larger La Crosse community! Experience the award-winning exhibits, performances, and shows that thrive in the departments of Art, Music, & Theatre & Dance.

MapVisit us: Truman T. Lowe Center for the Arts, 333 North 16th Street.

Upcoming events

Starts 4 p.m. Fri, Sept. 18 Ger Xiong: Artist Talk for his exhibition "Hold on Tight"

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Sept. 18 Ger Xiong: Hold on Tight

5:30 to 7 p.m. Sun, Sept. 20 8th Annual Game Day in the Vineyard with the Screaming Eagles Marching Band

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, Oct. 15 Concert Band: Momentum

2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Fri, Oct. 16 Arizona Echoes with visiting composer Russell Platt

Multiple dates (6 upcoming) The Welkin

12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Sat, Oct. 17 14th Annual High School / Alumni Band Day with the Screaming Eagles Marching Band

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, Oct. 20 Jazz Combos Concert

5 to 7 p.m. Thu, Oct. 22 5th Annual Art Open House

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, Oct. 24 Symphony Orchestra With HS Honor Orchestra

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, Oct. 27 Jazz Concert

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Oct. 30 UWL Alumni Triennial Exhibition

Multiple dates (4 upcoming) Gruesome Playground Injuries

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, Nov. 5 Wind Ensemble ft. Viet Cuong: ArtsFest Advance! Artist in Residence

1 to 2 p.m. Sun, Nov. 15 Screaming Eagles Marching Band Revue

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, Dec. 3 Jazz Combos Concert

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Dec. 4 Fall Senior Art Student Exhibition

2 to 3 p.m. Sat, Dec. 5 Concert Band

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, Dec. 5 Symphony Orchestra

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wed, Dec. 9 SceneWorks An evening of opera and musical theatre

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, Dec. 11 Jazz Concert

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, Dec. 12 Wind Ensemble & Honor Bands

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 12 Treble Chorus

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Feb. 5, 2027 67th Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibition

2 to 3 p.m. Sat, Feb. 13, 2027 2027 Honors Recital

Multiple dates (4 upcoming) Art in Motion: A Concert of Dance

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fri, Feb. 26, 2027 39th Annual Big Band Cabaret & Dance Party Free dance lessons & cash bar

Multiple dates (3 upcoming) La Crosse New Music Festival

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, March 2, 2027 Jazz Combos Concert

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, March 5, 2027 Jeremy Chen: There is no silence ArtsFest Advance! Featured Artist

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, March 5, 2027 Concert Choir & Treble Chorus

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, March 6, 2027 Symphony Orchestra

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wed, March 10, 2027 Wind Ensemble

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, March 11, 2027 Symphonic Band

Multiple dates (5 upcoming) Flora and Ulysses

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, April 10, 2027 New Composition Recital

4 to 5 p.m. Sun, April 18, 2027 Chamber Music Concert

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, April 22, 2027 Jazz Combos Concert & Jam Session ArtsFest Signature Event

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, April 23, 2027 Spring Senior Art Student Exhibition

Multiple dates (7 upcoming) Anastasia: The Musical

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, April 24, 2027 Symphony Orchestra ArtsFest Signature Event

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wed, April 28, 2027 Treble Chorus

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, April 29, 2027 Jazz Concert

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, April 30, 2027 SceneWorks An evening of opera and musical theatre

2 to 3 p.m. Sun, May 2, 2027 Symphonic Band

4 to 5 p.m. Sun, May 2, 2027 Wind Ensemble

A letter from our director

“Annnnnd we’re off!”, as they say. Another incredible season of arts programming lies ahead for La Crosse and the wider Driftless region during the UWL School of Visual & Performing Arts’ 2026-27 season. Whether your interests are live music, gallery exhibitions, dance concerts or theatre productions, we’ve got you covered!

If you listen closely you may just hear the Screaming Eagle Marching Band in the distance, preparing for their 2026 show, “Out of the Shadows.” You can see them taking the field at each football home game this season, marching in the Oktoberfest Parade, or for something different, take a drive our to Elmaro for our the 8^th Annual Game Day at the Vineyard on September 20.

If gallery exhibitions are what you are looking for, don’t miss our first exhibition of the season, featuring the work of UWL’s very own Ger Xiong with his exhibition entitled "Hold on Tight." Xiong will present an artist talk at 4 p.m. on September 18, followed by the exhibition’s opening reception starting at 5 p.m. Reception and gallery are both free & open to the public.

More great news: we have a brand new parking ramp for patrons immediately adjacent to the Lowe Center for the Arts. Complimentary parking is available in the new “South Ramp” (15th & Vine) starting at 6:30pm for weekday evening performances, as well as for all weekend performances. Patrons for gallery exhibitions beginning at 5 p.m. may register in advance for free parking in the South Ramp by visiting uwlax.edu/vpa and clicking on the "Parking" button, or by registering your vehicle at the UWL Art Gallery front desk upon arrival.

We also have exciting news for our Theatre & Dance patrons! We have installed assistive listening technology in both Toland and Frederick Theatres. Patrons can now make use of our new Auracast Bluetooth system, either by checking out a receiver from the House Manager, or by streaming audio directly to your own compatible hearing aids, cochlear implants or headphones/earbuds. Inquire at the box office when you arrive for your performance! Tickets for all Theatre & Dance productions available online starting October 1^st – just click on the little “tickets” button to the left to make reservations.

Our fall schedule is in the mail! If you would like to receive a copy of your own, please send your mailing address to vpa@uwlax.edu. Get bonus behind-the-scenes content and interviews by joining our VPA digital newsletter clicking here.

Director of VPACheers!
Pete Rydberg