Arts News

Tamir Kalifa has been named the recipient of the 2026 McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage, awarded by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Kalifa, who is currently based in Berlin, is a visual journalist, writer and musician with 15 years of global experience.

UGA Presents continues its 2025-26 season with Ballets Jazz Montréal performing “Dance Me: The Music of Leonard Cohen” on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at The Classic Center Theatre. “Dance Me: The Music of Leonard Cohen” is an evocative full-length contemporary dance work inspired by the life and legacy of Montréal poet, artist and songwriter Leonard Cohen.

As part of its 30th anniversary season, UGA Presents will host acclaimed musician Rhiannon Giddens on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Hodgson Concert Hall. A two-time Grammy Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient, Giddens has built a singular and influential career by expanding the possibilities of folk music.

University of Georgia poet and scholar Ed Pavlić was named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow, a prestigious honor for professionals working across the arts, humanities and sciences. Pavlić is a Distinguished Research Professor of English and African American Studies in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Twelve­ University of Georgia faculty members will reimagine historical pieces into active-learning opportunities for students as part of UGA’s Special Collections Faculty Teaching Fellows program, now in its 11th year on campus.

A newly signed read-and-publish agreement with publisher Taylor & Francis brings the list of open access publishing opportunities at UGA to more than 9,000 journal titles across 14 scholarly publishers.

UGA Presents hosts the Athens debut of Grammy-winning jazz singer and composer Cécile McLorin Salvant at Hodgson Concert Hall on April 17 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, part of the UGA Presents 30th anniversary season, is supported by Sally Haushalter.

UGA Presents continues its 30th anniversary season with internationally acclaimed organist Anna Lapwood on April 19 at 7 p.m.  at  Athens First United Methodist Church.

UGA faculty are invited to apply for seed grants that can fund humanities research projects that engage with the tools and resources available through the UGA Special Collections Libraries or Creative Engagement Wing at the Miller Learning Center. The UGA Libraries’ Fairchild-Holcomb Awards for Innovation in the Humanities will fund two awards up to $5,000 each.

Johanna Royo is passionate about music and expanding self-concepts through music instruction. As the music education program coordinator in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ Hugh Hodgson School of Music, she oversees the undergraduate, master’s level and doctoral music education programs.