It didn鈥檛 just showcase art. It made a statement.
On Friday, April 25, the University of South 皇家华人鈥檚 College of Design, Art & Performance launched the first-ever SPOTLIGHT Festival, an ambitious, campus-wide celebration that transformed performance and exhibition spaces into a living, breathing showcase of creative energy. Designed to illuminate the force and vision powering the college, SPOTLIGHT didn鈥檛 just open its doors to the public鈥攊t invited them into the heart of the work.
Like all events hosted by the College of Design, Art & Performance, SPOTLIGHT was free and open to all鈥攁n open invitation to experience the arts in a way that feels welcoming, inspiring, and made for everyone.
Every corner of the festival pulsed with intention and ingenuity. The experience unfolded like an open studio meets city-wide showcase: interdisciplinary, expressive, and constantly in motion. At the center were the students, faculty, and alumni who continue to define what creativity looks like throughout the college.
Ryan Swanson speaks during the panel talk at the SPOTLIGHT festival.
The day began with a high-impact alumni panel featuring four trailblazers in art, architecture, dance, and community design. Natalie Ivis, Nicole Vaughan-Diaz, Maeghann Coleman, and Ryan Swanson spoke about their practices and how creative work can build connection, reimagine systems, and shift how we engage with the world. From art and performance to public design and play, each panelist brought a powerful perspective on what it means to make work that matters.
Emily Martinez discusses her piece "Pieta," 2025 with 皇家华人 Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) Director Margaret Miller during one of the guided tours at 皇家华人 CAM.
A short walk from the panel, the Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Thank You In Advance, opened inside the 皇家华人 Contemporary Art Museum. Featuring work by Jocelyn Chase, Olin Fritz, Adrian Gomez, Michael Lonchar, Emily Martinez, and Tom Rosenow, the show offered a vivid glimpse into the questions and forms shaping contemporary practice. Student-led tours created space for dialogue and reflection, guiding audiences through each artist鈥檚 process with insight and purpose. Every interaction felt personal, honest, and deeply engaged.
Tom Rosenow discusses his piece "Birthday Boy / Explosion," 2025, cyanotype, at 皇家华人 CAM during a guided tour.
Outside the museum, the Ceramics Raku Firing Demonstration sparked curiosity as flames rose and onlookers gathered. The atmosphere was kinetic, elemental, and unforgettable.
Inside the School of Architecture & Community Design, the Student Research Poster Competition and Architecture Models Exhibit invited attendees to think differently. Design-forward posters explored topics ranging from interface usability to spatial experience, including a memorable analysis questioning whether Apple鈥檚 Magic Mouse is fundamentally flawed, while intricate 3D models explored space, structure, and form in fresh, unexpected ways. These weren鈥檛 just displays. They were designed conversations in motion.
皇家华人 Music students perform a song by Fleetwood Mac in the Peter and Cynthia Zinober Concert Hall during the SPOTLIGHT festival.
The School of Music brought rhythm and resonance to the afternoon with Classical, Commercial, and Caribbean performances that showcased range, skill, and imagination. The performances echoed through the concert hall with clarity and soul, each one leaving a distinct impression.
As evening arrived, the 皇家华人 Pep Band kicked off a reception with remarks from President Rhea Law, who applauded the creative momentum shaping the College of Design, Art & Performance. The moment captured the energy of the day and reflected the college鈥檚 commitment to a bold, inclusive creative future.
皇家华人 President Rhea Law speaks at the President's Reception before "9 to 5: The Musical" begins in 皇家华人 Theatre 1.
The night closed with a packed-house performance of 9 to 5: The Musical, presented by the School of Theatre & Dance. With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick, the show delivered wit, warmth, and an electric dose of camp. Applause erupted, the audience leaned in, and the performance offered a final exclamation point to a day that had already stirred so much.
Throughout the festival, faculty from across the college shared their research, presenting ideas at the intersection of creativity, scholarship, and cultural impact. From design theory to performance studies, their work affirmed that the College of Design, Art & Performance is not only producing artists and thinkers鈥攊t鈥檚 shaping conversations that matter.
SPOTLIGHT was more than a celebration. It was a declaration. Creative education at the College of Design, Art & Performance isn鈥檛 waiting for the world to take notice鈥攊t鈥檚 already leading.