Students, staff, faculty, and their friends and family are invited to drop in for the Wexner Center for the Arts free, informal welcome back to campus!
There is always something to experience at the Wex, and everyone is welcome to participate. Join music, gallery experiences with educators, hands-on art making, and a screening of short films from the most recent Sundance Film Festival—just a taste of what they offer year-round. Hang out and relax with some free snacks and beverages. Stop by the Learning and Public Programs department’s welcome table to learn about the day’s offerings, enter a giveaway for books and swag, and hear more about what else the Wex offers throughout the year.
The Wex is the place to encounter the art and issues of our time in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Stop by and see what we are all about.
Program schedule
DJ Satele Live
Outside on College Ave | 4 PM
Kick off the celebration with live music from DJ Satele outside of the Wex.
Drop-In Gallery Experiences
Galleries | 4–7 PM
Learn more about our fall exhibitions featuring Nanette Carter, Eric N. Mack, Mimi Ọnụọha, and Veronica Ryan from Wex educators. The galleries stay open until 7 PM.
Art-Making Studio: Fashion a Hand Fan
Heirloom Café | 4–6 PM
Stay cool and join us in the café to make a personalized handheld fan to take home using collaged materials including fabrics, magazines, lettering, paint, and markers.
ZAZ Performance Preview
Performance Space | 5 PM
Get a sneak peek of ZAZ, a performative archive of stories honoring the resilience of Hurricane Katrina survivors, ahead of its world premiere at the Wex in September! SOLE Defined performers embody the oral histories and recorded experiences of survivors through dance, song, narration, and immersive technology.
Spoken Word Readings
Galleries | 6 PM
Enjoy spoken word from graduate students in Ohio State’s creative writing MFA program as they read from their work in the Wex’s Reading Room.
2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour
Film/Video Theater | 7 PM
Free for Ohio State students with ticket (visit the front desk or wexarts.org)
Considered the premier showcase for short films spanning fiction, documentary, and animation from around the world, the Sundance Film Festival shorts program has jumpstarted the careers of now-prominent filmmakers for close to 40 years. Films include Alex Heller’s Debaters (2024), Montana Mann’s Azi (2024), and more! See this year’s full lineup and learn about each film on the Sundance website. (102 mins., DCP).
Know before you go
- Where to park: We recommend parking in Arps Garage or Ohio Union North Garage to avoid special event parking fees and ensure your validation sticker ($5 parking for the public and free parking for members) applies. Learn more about parking.