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Overview of the Festival

The Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Office of the President, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Performing Arts Series, Campus Involvement Center, School of Music, School of Dance, School of Visual Arts + Design, School of Films, and International Students Union, Center for International Studies, African Studies Program, Arts for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and other departments are pleased to host the 6th Global Arts Festival at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University.

This year's festival is unique since we will be celebrating 20 years of Global Arts at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University. The schedule of events includes an International Conference on Spectrums of Creativity: Exploring Global Performing and Visual Arts, taking place from March 17-19, with the Keynote Speaker being Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts of Ghana: art exhibitions, international films, masterclasses, workshops and free afternoon and evening concerts.

Activities associated with this festival introduce our students to various ways of conceptualizing the arts, potentially opening new avenues for creativity, expression, and aesthetic appreciation. The goal is to present a variety of musical sounds and dance movements from around the world, thereby expanding students' creative experiences and helping them understand that many areas of the world have music and dance as sophisticated as their own, leaving them feeling informed and enlightened.

In addition, we aim to celebrate the various cultures of our students and the global composition of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University. The festival provides a platform to create more opportunities for intercultural understanding, performance, and appreciation of the performing arts, thereby celebrating the uniqueness and diversity of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University, making everyone feel included and valued.

The highlight of this year's festival is the 14th World Music and Dance Concert, a culmination of our celebration of global arts, scheduled on March 19, 2026, at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. This concert will feature a diverse range of performances, including the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University Steel Band, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University African Ensemble, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University Bella Voce, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Percussion Studio and Club, with special guests, Zelma Badu-Younge, Eric Fountain, Azaguno, Inc. several Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University and West Virginia University African Ensemble and Steel Band Alums and other International Guests.

The Global Festival Arts Festival at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University was established in 2019 by Professor Paschal Yao Younge and Prof. Emerita Badu-Younge as an expansion of the World Music and Dance Festival and Concerts, which were organized through the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts from 2011 to 2018. The first Global Festival Arts Festival organized in 2019 was supported by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Center for International Studies, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Performing Arts Series, Multicultural Programs, Campus Involvement Center, School of Music, School of Dance, School of Interdisciplinary Arts, School of Visual Arts and Design, Scripps College of Communication, School of Films, School of Theatre, and Arts for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. Unfortunately, the Second Festival, initially scheduled for 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we resumed in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

14th World Music and Dance Concert

Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium

Concert Details

Keynote Speaker: Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie

(Mp) Minister For Tourism, Culture And Creative Arts & Member Of Parliament For Ketu South, Volta Region Of Ghana

More Information

Main Events

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Afternoon Concert
12:00–1:30 PM
Baker University Center Theatre

International Fashion Show
7:00–9:00 PM
Baker University Center Theatre

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Afternoon Concert
12:00–1:30 PM
Baker University Center Theatre

Evening Concert: 
OHIO Faculty & Friends: Music of South America
7:00–9:00 PM
Baker University Center Theatre

Thursday, March 19, 2026

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie 
10:00–11:30 AM
Baker University Center Theatre

Afternoon Concert
12:00–1:30 PM
Baker University Center Theatre

A Taste of International Snacks
6:30–7:15 PM
Templeton Alumni Memorial Auditorium Foyer

14th World Music and Dance Concert
7:30 PM
Templeton Alumni Memorial Auditorium

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC EXCEPT THE 14th WORLD MUSIC AND DANCE CONCERT

Key Highlights from the 2025 Global Arts Festival