If you thought October at UBC Arts was just midterms and rain, think again! Catch world-renowned performers, join thought-provoking conversations, grab some free snacks while you craft and connect with the Arts community, and enjoy Halloween happenings all month long. Trust us, you’ll want to scroll down. 👀
Exhibition: Indigenous Symbols and Signifiers 👣
Until October 9 | Monday–Friday, 12:00–4:00 PM | Hatch Art Gallery, AMS Nest
Free
Discover artworks by six Indigenous UBC students, each exploring cultural symbols that reflect their identities, histories, and traditional teachings. From beadwork and Formline Design to pictographs, native plants, and ceremonial language, these pieces honour heritage, family, and the resilience of Indigenous Nations across the country. Presented by the Faculty of Arts and the First Nations House of Learning.
ARTIVISM: Monsters and Other(ed) Bodies
Throughout October | Various times and locations
Free
Embrace the monster within at ARTIVISM, UBC’s annual festival of resistance and creativity. Through performances, workshops, and community projects, queer, racialized, and displaced creators reclaim monstrosity as a source of power and solidarity, daring us to imagine revolutionary futures.
Career Fair Prep for Arts Students
October 6 | 4:00–5:00 PM | The Compass: Arts Student Engagement Hub (Brock Commons South, Room 3001)
Free
Heading to UBC Career Days? Learn how to introduce yourself with confidence, ask thoughtful questions, and show the value of your Arts degree. This session will help you make the most of your time at the Fair and leave a lasting impression.
100 Years of the Old Auditorium
October 14 or 15 | 7:00 PM | Old Auditorium
Tickets: $20–35
Celebrate the centennial of UBC’s Old Auditorium with an evening of music, laughter, and history. Enjoy anniversary cake and refreshments while hearing stories from performers past and present, with the UBC Opera Ensemble joined by alumni returning to the stage where it all began.
What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next 👣
October 15 | 4:00–5:00 PM | The Compass: Arts Student Engagement Hub (Brock Commons South, Room 3001)
Free
This interactive session is just for first-year Arts students (a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with peers) while picking up early strategies for managing coursework, time, and stress. Academic Advisors will be there with tips and support to help you feel more grounded in your UBC journey.
Ali Sethi 👣
October 19 | 7–9:30 PM | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Student tickets: $70
Ali Sethi skyrocketed to fame with “Pasoori,” surpassing 1 billion streams and landing on Time Magazine’s “100 Next” list. A master vocalist, he blends traditional qawwali and ghazals with modern sounds, using music to challenge ideas of gender, sexuality, and belonging.
Dish with the Dean
October 23 | 12:00–1:00 PM | The Compass: Arts Student Engagement Hub (Brock Commons South, Room 3001)
Free
Arts students! Here’s your chance to share your thoughts about your Arts experience in an informal conversation with Dean Clare Haru Crowston. Come by for good discussion, meet other Arts students, and enjoy free pizza and drinks. 🍕
True North: What’s Next for Canada–US Relations?
October 23 | 12:15–1:00 PM | Online
Free, registration required
With Canada caught in an economic tug-of-war with the United States, where do we go from here? Hear from UBC experts, including Arts professors Dr. Michael Devereux (Vancouver School of Economics) and Dr. Terri Givens (Political Science), as they explore how shifting strategies will shape immigration, trade, and sustainability in the years ahead. Moderated by CBC’s Dan Burritt (BA’04).
Arooj Aftab 👣
October 25 | 7:30 PM | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Student tickets: $30
Declared “the coolest rock star in the world right now” by UNCUT, Arooj Aftab is a Grammy-winning, seven-time nominated artist known for her striking blend of jazz, pop, blues, folk, and Urdu poetry.
Arts Multilingual Week 👣
October 27–31 | Select times | Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
Free
Celebrate the beauty of multilingualism with a week of activities that highlight the many languages spoken at UBC. From culture to connection, experience the rich tapestry of voices and traditions that make our community unique.
UBC Global Horror Film Festival
October 27–31 | Evenings | The Norm Theatre
Free
Get your spooky season fix at UBC’s annual Horror Film Festival, co-hosted by the Pop Culture Cluster and UBC Film Society. From cult classics to international chillers, each screening comes with free popcorn, Halloween candy, and lively discussions with UBC scholars about the themes lurking beneath the scares.
Craft and Connect
October 29 | 4:00–5:00 PM | The Compass: Arts Student Engagement Hub (Brock Commons South, Room 3001)
Free
Take a break with friendship bracelets, DIY fidgets, and free snacks while connecting with other students. This drop-in session is also a chance to learn about free campus wellness resources in a fun, relaxed setting.
Interview with a Drag Vampire
October 30 | 6:30–9:30 PM | Koerner’s Pub
Free
Vincent Price. Elvira. Count Cupid? Join UBC Drag’s vampire drag king for a campy evening of Halloween fun that’s part spooky storytelling, part performance spectacle. Think TEDx meets The Addams Family, with guest performers rounding out the night.
