Welcome to the Arts First-Year Bucket List—a fun, low-pressure journey made just for first-year students. It’s all about getting out there, trying new things, feeling at home in the Arts community, and starting your next chapter at university. This is your chance to make your first year truly unforgettable.
Think of it as your guide to discovering cool events, hidden gems on campus, and ways to connect with new people. It’s not just a list, it’s a way to start your UBC Arts story.
Check out our list of prizes and sponsors
Thanks to the generosity and support from campus and community sponsors, first-year students have the chance to win over $1,500 worth of amazing prizes.
UBC Bookstore
$100 Gift Card
UBC's one-stop shop for campus essentials – from textbooks to Thunderbird and UBC merch, from art supplies to passport photos and much more.
Cultivara Tree Tours - Expedition Lift Tour
2 Tickets (Value: $200)
This experience offers all the wonder and perspective of our Expedition climbs, made accessible for anyone who prefers not to use manual climbing equipment,may have a tight schedule or have physical limitations.
Museum of Anthropology
Indigenous Design awi’nagwis (Land) T-shirt (Value: $40)
Make a statement with this shirt by Kwakwaka’wakw, Dzawada’enuxw, Namgis, Métis and European artist, Michayla King. Her design features a cityscape in contrasting earth tones, which represent a sophisticated approach to the ever-relevant issue of all people’s connection with land.
Tea Time with Dean Clare
Value: Priceless
You (and a friend!) can join Dean Clare Haru Crowston for a special and intimate conversation over coffee, tea, and treats. This is your chance to ask questions, share what's on your mind, and have a real conversation in a relaxed setting.
UBC Athletics & Recreation: Personal training
Two sessions (Value: $142)
Whether you are new to fitness, looking for a specialized program, or an experienced athlete, UBC Rec's friendly and personable trainers can help you reach your full potential – whatever your goals might be!
UBC Athletics & Recreation: Fitness passes
Two passes (Value: $120)
UBC Recreation’s fitness memberships offer access to the ARC & Rec North Fitness Centres where you’ll discover opportunities to add group fitness activities such as spin, yoga, and Pilates.
Great Dane Coffee
Two $25 Gift Cards
Great Dane Coffee was started in 2012 by mother and son combo, Toni and Andrew. Andrew, an alumni of UBC, missed the energy of the campus. When they found the space, they immediately fell in love with the beautiful patio, cozy atmosphere, big windows, and off-the-beaten-track feel.
UBC Food Services
Three $25 Gift Cards
Serve yourself deliciousness at a variety of cafés, eateries, and markets on campus including Hero/Harvest Coffee & Market, Da Bao, Open Kitchen, and more!
LOAFE Café
$25 Gift Card
With warm welcomes at two UBC locations at UBC Alumni Centre & Sauder School, LOAFE Café features student staff, locally roasted coffee, fresh baked goods, gourmet sandwiches and fresh salads – and loads of outdoor seating.
Wildlight Kitchen + Bar
$50 Gift Card
A celebration of West Coast culture and cuisine, Wildlight Kitchen + Bar is a MICHELIN® Guide Recommended selection. Wildlight is located in UBC's Lelem Village just minutes from campus.
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Two tickets (Value: $60-$138)
Singer-songwriter and Juno Award winning artist Dominique Fils-Aimé is a rising star in the Canadian music scene. Born and raised in Montreal to Haitian parents, Fils-Aimé’s music is infused with the history of Black music in North America. She weaves jazz, gospel, soul, and R&B into a sound that is uniquely her own.
UBC Old Auditorium: Candide operetta
Two tickets (Value: $30-$100) for February 5-8, 2026
Candide is a brilliant satire about humankind’s capacity for mindless optimism, set to a dazzling score by famed West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein. There isn’t a dull moment in this fantastical and fast-moving comic operetta – come along for the ride! Featuring our student UBC Opera Ensemble with members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Frederic Wood Theatre: Pyper
Two tickets (Value: $22) for March 11-28, 2026
Ten cyborg-AI teens try to build a time capsule to prove they exist in case they’re “retired” before graduation. Tracing their origins back to a mysterious piper in the town of Hamelin and an old puppet maker who discovers a talking block of wood, these algorithmic adolescents search for meaning in an ever-accelerating world of rapid obsolescence and hyperconnectivity. The Breakfast Club meets The Terminator in this angsty sci-fi odyssey about youth, identity, and what it means to be human in a digital-dependent world. This play is directed by Leona Morris.
UBC Old Auditorium: Giulio Cesare opera
Two tickets (Value: $30-$100) for April 9-12, 2026
Giulio Cesare tells the epic story of the meeting between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, painting a surprisingly intimate, human portrait of love, jealousy, revenge and desire. This is a show that would be as at home on Broadway as in an opera house, an operatic smash-hit that takes no prisoners. Featuring our student UBC Opera Ensemble with members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Browns Crafthouse
$40 Gift Card
Crafthouse is more than a restaurant—it’s our home and our community. As a proudly Canadian, locally owned and operated company, we’re committed to delivering quality, and true Canadian hospitality in everything we do.
Blue Chip Cookies
$25 Gift Card
A campus favourite. At Blue Chip we serve a wide selection of coffees, teas, baked goods, sandwiches, vegan, and gluten-free treats. We serve Spirit Bear coffee, specialty barista drinks and cold drinks.
What is the Arts First-Year Bucket List? 📝
The Arts First-Year Bucket List is a path to your next chapter—from visiting the Museum of Anthropology or cheering at a Thunderbirds game to attending a career development workshop or exploring Nitobe Garden—helping you discover all that UBC Arts and the broader campus have to offer.
Complete at least three experiences each term, share your experience, and you’ll have a chance to win some exciting prizes!
How it works 🎯
1. Explore the list of experiences below
2. Attend events or visit featured spaces
3. Take photos of yourself solo or with a group at the event
4. Submit your photos to this form at any time for a chance to win our early bird prizes:
- Entries received before October 31 will be eligible to win one of 10 $10 giftcards to Browns.
- Entries received before November 30 will be eligible to win gift cards to Blue Chip, Loafe, or Great Dane.
5. Did you attend more than three experiences? Submit your photos before December 5 to be entered for a grand prize draw.
What you can experience 🎟️
From ongoing campus classics to unique programming that will help you explore new interests, your Arts First-Year Bucket List is your guide to exciting events and workshops.
While only the experiences listed below count toward your Bucket List, there are a wide-range of campus events and activities that we encourage you to check out too.
Campus classics 🏛️
The must-do, iconic UBC experiences that are offered on an ongoing basis.
Cultural Interpreter Tours and Artist Demos
Thursdays to Saturdays | Select times | Museum of Anthropology at UBC
UBC Students Free (UBC ID required)
MOA’s new Cultural Interpreters Program features daily tours led by guides from diverse First Nations and cultural backgrounds. Learn about the collection from an Indigenous perspective and enjoy drop-in art demos like carving and beading.
Abbas Akhavan: One Hundred Years
September 5 to December 7, 2025 | Tue-Fri: 10 AM-5 PM, Weekends: 12-5 PM | Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Free
The Belkin is UBC’s bold, contemporary art gallery—home to over 5,000 works and one of BC’s largest public art collections. Admission is free, and the exhibits are anything but ordinary.
Chung and Lind Gallery
Tuesdays to Saturdays | 10 AM-5 PM | Level 2, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
Free
Explore rare maps, letters, photos, and artifacts from two unique collections—highlighting Chinese immigration in early BC and the journeys of a Klondike gold rush prospector.
Beaty Nocturnal
Every third Thursday of the month | 5-8:30 PM | Beaty Biodiversity Museum
UBC Students Free
Stay late at the museum with Nocturnal, happening monthly until 8:30 pm. Each night features a unique theme—check the events calendar to see what’s coming up.
Do it for the plot 🎭
These events bring the vibe from live music to performances in beautiful venues.
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play
November 19 - December 6, 2025 | 7:30-9 PM | Frederic Wood Theatre
Student tickets: $13
What if your favourite Simpsons episode became legend? In a world without electricity, survivors retell “Cape Feare” by campfire in Mr. Burns, a post-electric play—a darkly funny show about pop culture and memory.
UBC Opera: Die Zauberflöte - The Magic Flute
November 28-29, 2025 | 7:30-10 PM | The Old Auditorium
Student tickets: $15
Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte is a magical adventure where Prince Tamino, aided by a magic flute, seeks to rescue Pamina and discovers that true love and wisdom shine brightest.
Concert at the Belkin: Abbas Akhavan: One Hundred Years
December 3, 2025 | 2-2:50 PM | Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Free
At this intimate midday concert our student ensemble, the UBC Contemporary Players, will perform original music compositions inspired by the Belkin Gallery’s current exhibition.
Big brain energy 🧠
Experiences that spark curiosity, help your career, and encourage community-building.
Outdoor Art Tours: Decolonization Tour
Ongoing | Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Free (Registration required)
The Outdoor Art Collection across UBC’s Vancouver campus tells stories about its history and evolving connection to art and place. Check our website for upcoming guided tours or book a private tour (up to 3 hours) for groups of 10+.
In a Different Light
Daily (closed Mondays after Oct 15) | 10 AM-5 PM (until 9 PM on Thurs) | Museum of Anthropology at UBC
UBC Students Free (UBC ID required)
In a Different Light showcases over 110 historical Indigenous artworks, many returning to BC for the first time. Beyond art or artifacts, this exhibition uses storytelling and voices from First Nations artists to explore their meaning today and connections to land.
Finals Prep with the Arts Peer Academic Coaches
November 19-26, 2025 | 4-5 PM | Compass Hub, Level 3, Brock Commons South
Free
Join Arts Peer Academic Coaches for real talk on tackling your first university exams. Hear tips from upper-year students, then get one-on-one help to build a study plan that works for you.
✨ Bonus: Attendees get an exam care package!
Gaming: The surprising field of psychology
November 20-27, 2025 | 4-5 PM | Compass Hub, Level 3, Brock Commons South
Free
When you think psychology, you probably imagine therapy—but that’s just a small part. Psychology also plays a big role in gaming! Discover how game developers use psychology to create games that are challenging, intuitive, and fun.
Touch grass 🌱
All about feeling good, finding balance, and enjoying the outdoors.
UBC Botanical Garden Tree Climbing Tours
Open daily until mid-October | 4-5 PM | UBC Botanical Garden
Ticket prices vary
Ready to see trees differently? Join a Cultivara Tree Tour at UBC’s Botanical Garden for a beautiful adventure and connect with a community passionate about forests. Choose from Tree Canopy Introduction, Canopy Expedition, or Sunset Expeditions!
UBC Farmers Market
Saturdays until November 29, 2025| 10 AM-2 PM | UBC Farm
Free
UBC Farm’s 24 hectares were started by students in 2001. Visit the multi-vendor farmers’ market for local produce, meats, baked goods, drinks, crafts, and live music—all fresh from the farm and beyond.
Explore the MOA Grounds
Open daily | Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Free
Explore an inspiring blend of art, culture, and nature at the museum’s outdoor collection of First Nations sculptures, totem poles, and carvings. Located on Musqueam territory, the grounds offer stunning views of the Salish Sea and Coast Mountains.
Wreck Beach
Open to the public | 6572 NW Marine Drive
Free
Getting to Vancouver’s famous clothing-optional Wreck Beach takes a bit of a workout—follow Trail 6 at the west end of University Boulevard. Enjoy stunning nature and respect others’ privacy. Vendors often sell snacks, but bringing your own supplies is a smart move.
Built different 📣
Experiences that bring out your competitive edge and university spirit.
Recreation North Running Track
Ongoing | 7 AM-9 PM | AMS Nest Plaza
Free
Recreation Centre North (Rec North) is a 101,000 sq. ft. activity space supporting fitness, physical activity, and recreation. With a four-floor fitness centre, an elevated 200m track, three gymnasiums, wood and rubber-floored studios, Rec North is UBC’s new home for recreation.
Lowkey vibing 😌
For mellow moments, solo adventures, and little to few crowds.
Wednesday Noon Hours
Most Wednesdays| 12-1 PM | Roy Barnett Recital Hall, UBC School of Music
Free
These weekly concerts feature musical performances by UBC faculty, alumni, students, and renowned guest artists.
NUXALK STRONG: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun
Daily (closed Mondays after Oct 15) | 10 AM-5 PM (until 9 PM on Thurs) | Museum of Anthropology at UBC
UBC Students Free (UBC ID required)
This first-of-its-kind exhibition is dedicated to showcasing the rich culture and worldview of the Nuxalk Nation, an Indigenous community that has lived and stewarded land on the central coast of BC for more than 14,000 years. On until January 5.
Outdoor Screenings at the Belkin
Ongoing | 9 AM-9 PM | Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Free
Take a quick art break with the Belkin’s outdoor screen on Main Mall—featuring short, rotating media works from the collection and new commissions. Catch video, sound, animation, and live-cast performance in this informal cinema lounge.
Hang out at the Arts Student Centre
Ongoing | Monday to Friday: 8 AM-9 PM, Weekend: 9 AM-5 PM | 1860 East Mall
Free
The Arts Student Centre has four study rooms available to book (two 8‑person rooms and two 4‑person rooms)—perfect for focus, group projects, or solo downtime.
Enter the draw to win a grand prize 🏆
Complete at least three Arts First-Year Bucket List experiences and make sure you take photos of yourself (solo or with a group) at the event! Using our form below, submit what you captured for your chance to win fun prizes—think limited edition merch, gift cards, and more!
