UC Denver Live! attracts star artists

In 2002, faculty from the College of Arts and Media met with UC Denver leadership in order to create entertaining and artistic opportunities for the entire campus. The organization UC Denver Live! grew out of this meeting.

Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs and current UCD Live! committee chair Joann Brennan said the group has a commitment to balancing education and entertainment.

Being entirely funded by the campus-wide cultural arts fee, the group has brought many talents to campus, including well-known artists like filmmaker Spike Lee and musician Chuck D.

Seeing herself as part of the more academic side, Brennan said that education and the arts can go hand in hand.

"We want to enrich our campus through exploring and presenting ideas and issues in an entertaining way," she said. "We want to expand the dialogue."

Brennan said that UCD Live! can "expand the dialogue" by bringing important issues and relevant topics to students in a creative and entertaining way.

The events are intended to connect to what is important to students, both in and outside of the classroom. Brennan said the group answers one fundamental question when planning events: "How exactly does what we do connect to how students are thinking about the world today?"

Students are involved as well. Members of Student Life sit on the UCD Live! committee to help plan events. Many of the events, like the Q&A sessions, are designed to encourage student involvement.

Recently, the group has acquired the help of the UCD Student Government Association to develop a Japanese past and present mini film festival.

Brennan also intends to showcase more mixed-medium artists. The group is currently planning to bring poet C.D. Wright and photographer Deborah Luster to campus.

Overall, Brennan said UCD Live! is an important aspect of the campus community since it brings a diverse array of educationally and culturally valuable events to the Auraria campus.

"It's a terrific opportunity for our campus to see amazing events," said Brennan, "to create something wonderful."