Student Gallery: Arts, Technology, & Black Life
Student Gallery: Arts, Technology, & Black Life presents creative and experimental work by University of Maryland students supported by AADHum Microgrants and Vital Signs Mini-Grants. The exhibition spans digital media, visual art, performance, archives, interactive experiences, and other forms, examining Black life, culture, creativity, and technology. Visitors can encounter works in progress and completed projects, meet the students who created them, and explore projects in the MITH and NarraSpaceXR research spaces.
AADHum supports undergraduate and graduate students across the University System of Maryland with grants of up to $500 for projects connecting Black study, art, technology, and scholarship. Vital Signs: Creative Arts for Black Lives Mini-Grants, presented by The Clarice and campus partners, awards $500–$1,000 to UMD student artists and organizations developing projects about Black life and vitality, with recipients also eligible to work with local artist advisors.
The gallery is part of NextNOW Fest, UMD’s annual, multi-day festival of performances and other experiences by artists from the university and around the country. The festival is open to the general public and is part of UMD’s Arts for All initiative.
When: Monday, September 14, 2026
Showtimes: 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Venue: Hornbake Library, Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities, Room 0301, University of Maryland
Admission: General admission
Event format: Student gallery and exhibition featuring digital media, visual art, performance, archives, interactive experiences, and related creative work
Livestream: No
Registration: The page provides a “Register for NextNOW Fest” option.
Ages: Not specified
Run time: Not specified
Accessibility: Available services include wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or by request at least six weeks in advance.
Festival support: NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, with additional support from Terps After Dark, UMD’s Arts for All initiative, and UMD Student Entertainment Events.