Events & Programs
View all upcoming live concerts, literature/poetry readings,
exhibition openings, and more below.
Email Programs Coordinator to propose an event at the Hearst Center.
Nature Quest, in collaboration with the CFPL, goes through May 2026! More info!​
Red House Studios: Located next door to the Hearst Center, this facility offers studio space to artists. We announce open lease opportunities on this site and our social media.
Upcoming
All events listed below are free, unless otherwise noted requiring pre registration via Civic Rec.
AUGUST
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic at 7 p.m. and featured author at 7:30 p.m. Visit finalthursdaypress.com for virtual links.
The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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August 28: Dave Hoing and Roger Hileman Dave and Roger, authors of Shun the Heaven: An Antebellum Mystery, presents a reading with selected musical guests performing songs from the novel’s musical adaptation
SEPTEMBER
OUTDOOR CONCERT WITH THE AVEY GROUWS DUO
Thursday, September 4 at 6:00 p.m.
BYO chair, a beverage and enjoy an outdoor evening with The Avey Grouws Duo. With Jeni Grouws on vocals and Chris Avey on guitar, their vibe blends blues, roots, rock and soul.
MIDDAY MELODIES
Second Fridays at noon
Enjoy classics performed by the UNI School of Music Department students and faculty.
September 12: Matthew Andreini directs percussion students
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RUTH SUCKOW CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m.
Celebrate the 1925 publication of Ruth Suckow’s novel, Odyssey of a Nice Girl. A panel of 4 women of 4 different generations will share what “a nice girl” meant when they were teenagers or young women in the 1950s, 1970s, 1990s, and now. New York Times bestselling writer Lyz Lewill gives a 30-minute Keynote Address on the novel at 1:30 p.m.
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HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic at 7 p.m. and featured author at 7:30 p.m. Visit finalthursdaypress.com for virtual links.
Celebrate 25 years of words, voices, and community with the Final Thursday Reading Series! This long-running program offers a welcoming space for writers at all levels, and the evening begins with an open mic that invites new and emerging voices to share their work. Whether you’re reading for the first time or returning to the mic, it’s your chance to be heard.
The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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September 25: Monica Roe, a young adult novelist whose work focuses on rural experience. Her novels include Air, The Wilderness Ridge series, and Thaw. Support for this event comes from the Ila Hemm Visiting Author Program.
OCTOBER
OUTDOOR CONCERT WITH FORREST MCCURRAN
Thursday, October 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Forrest McCurran returns to the Cedar Valley from where the foothills of the Ozarks meets the Big Muddy. McCurran wields the magic of lyricism to cast a light on the many intricacies of everyday life set against vignettes of Middle America.
HEARST FILM SCENE
Screenings and panels for cinephiles, film buffs, and anyone interested in movies
PANEL DISCUSSION: THE ART OF DARKNESS
Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a panel discussion exploring the enduring allure of darkness in art and culture. Throughout history, artists have tapped into themes of the morbid, melancholic, and macabre—creating works that haunt, captivate, and challenge. From nightmares and mortality to monsters, devils, and moral decay, these unsettling subjects reveal deep truths about the human condition. As part of this special event, Mae Latta Hall displays a curated exhibition of the darkest selections from the Hearst’s Permanent Collection—a rare look at the works that dwell in the shadows of artistic expression. Come ready to examine the uncomfortable, question the mysterious, and discover how darkness can illuminate.
FILM SCREENING: THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI WITH LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Caligari is a 1920 German silent horror film, directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. It follows an insane hypnotist (Werner Krauss) who uses a sleepwalker (Conrad Veidt) to commit murders. The film features a jarring visual style, with sharp-pointed forms, oblique and curving lines, structures and landscapes that lean and twist in unusual angles, and shadows and streaks of light painted directly onto the sets. This screening features a live soundtrack rendered in real-time by the music group DATASTREAM featuring Sandy Nordahl and Scot Schwestka.
MIDDAY MELODIES
Second Fridays at noon
Enjoy classics performed by the UNI School of Music Department students and faculty.
October 10: Brett Copeland directs tuba and euphonium students
RED HERRING THEATRE PRESENTS: CONSCIENCE
Tuesday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Written by Joe Pietro; Directed by Raechel Sittig-Esser; Sponsored by Jones Law Firm, Mike and Rita Waggoner, and the Friends of the Hearst. Synopsis: Based on the true-life confrontation between Margaret Chase Smith and Joseph McCarthy during their service in the United States Senate. She was the first woman senator from Maine and the first to stand up to McCarthy’s anti-communist hysteria. This story portrays a remarkable woman who stood up for what was right and refused to back down.​
MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL
Friday, October 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
The Hearst Center, in collaboration with UNI’s Office of International Engagement, invites you to experience the beauty and tradition of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival—a cherished cultural celebration marking the harvest season and the full moon. Enjoy hands-on artmaking as we paint glowing lanterns and craft traditional moon cakes, sample delicious seasonal treats, and gather in the spirit of community and creativity. All ages are welcome to join in this festive fusion of culture, art, and flavor!​
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic at 7 p.m. and featured author at 7:30 p.m. Visit finalthursdaypress.com for virtual links.
Celebrate 25 years of words, voices, and community with the Final Thursday Reading Series! This long-running program offers a welcoming space for writers at all levels, and the evening begins with an open mic that invites new and emerging voices to share their work. Whether you’re reading for the first time or returning to the mic, it’s your chance to be heard.
The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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October 30: Ted Morrissey, Brady Harrison, and Grant Tracey are co-hosts of A Lesson Before Writing, a monthly podcast on writing, publishing, and teaching fiction. This preHalloween event is a live recording of the podcast with a special focus on Horror and Gothic fiction.
NOVEMBER
CLASSICAL CONCERT PRESENTED BY IOWA CHAMBER MUSIC COLLECTIVE
Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m.
Experience an unforgettable afternoon of masterful music as the Iowa Chamber Music Collective brings passion and precision to the Hearst Center stage. Journey from the lush beauty of the late Romantic era to the bold voices of contemporary composers in this powerful performance. Featured works by Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich,
Richard Strauss, and rising composer Gustavo Sanchez will be brought to life by an exceptional ensemble of local musicians: Vakhtang Kodanashvili, piano; Daniel Kaplunas, violin; Liudmila Lebedeva, cello; and Ranee Lei & Harrison Sheckler, piano.
BOOK TALK WITH JAMES KENYON
Tuesday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Author James Kenyon discusses his book The Immigrant Next Door, Meadowlark Press, 2024. In this collection of thirty-one interviews and accounts of immigrants from all over the world, they share their exhilarating, excruciating, joyous, and invariably inspiring journeys. From survivors of World War II to young professionals who have
achieved success in opportunities offered by the American Dream, the historical and cultural contributions of this book are a celebration of the preservation and industry of the American spirit.
MIDDAY MELODIES
Second Fridays at noon
Enjoy classics performed by the UNI School of Music Department students and faculty.
November 14: An Opera Ensemble directed by Dr. Hendrix-Case
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic at 7 p.m. and featured author at 7:30 p.m. Visit finalthursdaypress.com for virtual links.
Celebrate 25 years of words, voices, and community with the Final Thursday Reading Series! This long-running program offers a welcoming space for writers at all levels, and the evening begins with an open mic that invites new and emerging voices to share their work. Whether you’re reading for the first time or returning to the mic, it’s your chance to be heard.
The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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November 20 (one week early due to Thanksgiving): Adrianne Finlay & Rachel Morgan are accomplished writers as well as the proprietors of Semisweet Soaps, an organization that sells handmade soap locally to raise money for type 1 diabetes research. This special “Sudsquicentennial” event features artisan soaps combined with
short literary pieces.
DECEMBER
A CLARINET HOLIDAY CONCERT
Sunday, December 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Ring in the season with the joyful sounds of the UNI Clarinet Ensemble, performing a delightful selection of holiday favorites at the Hearst Center! Under the direction of Dr. Amanda McCandless, this talented group of musicians will fill Mae Latta Hall with warmth, cheer, and clarinet harmonies sure to lift your spirits.