Can we really even say that fall semester has started until Arts Bash has happened? We didn’t think so either.

That’s why on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., the arts at the University of Utah are taking over the Marriott Library Plaza (and it’s going to be our biggest bash ever!). We’ll be serving up live performances on a massive stage, interactive art, free food, free T-shirts, free swag and all the info on how you can experience the arts on campus.

And it’s all to celebrate the U’s Arts Pass program.

Wait, you know what Arts Pass is, right? It’s the one-of-a-kind and award-winning program that makes it so you can use your UCard to get free or deeply discounted tickets to literally hundreds of arts experiences on campus each year. This includes dance performances, music concerts, plays, exhibitions, film screenings and more on the super cheap—and it even includes special student access to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, UtahPresents and Pioneer Theatre Company.

Here’s why the U makes the arts so accessible to students: Because more and more research is showing the positive impacts of the arts on education. The findings are significant: exposure to the arts is linked with better critical thinking skills, greater social tolerance, a greater likelihood of seeking out art and culture in the future and better workforce opportunities. Maybe that’s why we issue tens of thousands of tickets to students every year.

But, back to the Bash. First things first, pick up a passport from any of the booths, visit other booths to collect stamps, and when your passport is full, visit the Info booth to redeem it for a super soft bright red Arts Pass T-shirt that you can take to get your choice of design screen printed on it right in front of your eyes. Then you’ll grab some food and catch a couple of acts on stage.

You’ll be able to visit with folks from:

• Department of Art & Art History
• School of Dance
• Department of Film & Media Arts
• School of Music
• Department of Theatre
• CFA student leaders
• Arts Education
• Pioneer Theatre Company
• UtahPresents
• Utah Museum of Fine Arts
• Marriott Library’s Creativity & Innovation Services
• ASUU
• Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
• LGBT Resource Center
• Student Success Advocates
• Union Programming Council
• Utah Cultural Alliance
• Salt Lake Acting Company
• Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Plus, we’ll have a contest running where you can enter to win an amazing back-to-school bundle.

So, come. Experience. And start thinking differently.