Spring Showcase 2025: Call for Submissions Now Open

ACAPA is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for the Spring Showcase 2025, the college's annual all-department exhibition and performance series. This year's showcase will run April 18–26, 2025 at the Hargrove Pavilion on the Eastbridge campus. All currently enrolled ACAPA students in good academic standing are eligible to submit work across all five departments.

The Spring Showcase is ACAPA's largest annual student-centered event, drawing audiences from across the Eastbridge community, alumni, and prospective students. Since its founding as the "Spring Exhibition" in 1952—just five years after the college's establishment—the showcase has grown into a nine-day multi-disciplinary festival celebrating student achievement across music, theatre, visual arts, dance, and film & media arts.

Who May Submit

All currently enrolled ACAPA undergraduate and graduate students may submit work to their primary department. Students enrolled in interdisciplinary concentrations may submit to one department of their choosing, or may submit a single cross-departmental project through the Interdisciplinary Track (see below). Faculty may not submit work to the student showcase; faculty exhibitions are organized separately through the Faculty Exhibition Series.

Students must be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) and must have registered for the current spring semester. Graduating seniors are especially encouraged to submit. Seniors whose submissions are accepted will be recognized during the closing reception.

Submission Guidelines by Department

Music Department of Music

• Solo or small ensemble performances (up to 6 performers): maximum 12 minutes per set.
• Large ensemble performances: maximum 20 minutes. Requires department faculty co-sign on submission form.
• Compositions: submit score (PDF, standard notation) and a demo recording (MP3 or WAV, minimum 128kbps). Live premiere preference given to works composed this academic year.
• Electroacoustic and experimental works: submit stereo or multi-channel audio file plus written program note (200–400 words). Specify any spatial audio requirements.
• All performing students must confirm venue availability with the Music Department office before submitting.

Theatre Department of Theatre Arts

• One-act plays and scenes: maximum 25 minutes. Student-directed works preferred; co-direction with a faculty member is permitted.
• Original scripts: include full script (PDF) with submission. Works must be original and may not have been previously produced at ACAPA.
• Devised/experimental theatre: include a written description of the work (300–600 words), a cast list, and a brief rehearsal schedule.
• Monologue performances: maximum 8 minutes. Solo performance work is accepted from all levels.
• Technical requirements (lighting, sound, set) must be submitted separately via the Technical Requirements Form no later than March 21.

Visual Arts Department of Visual Arts

• 2D work (painting, drawing, printmaking, photography): up to 3 pieces per student. Each work must be ready to hang (framed or gallery-mounted).
• 3D work (sculpture, ceramics, installation): up to 2 pieces. Students are responsible for all installation hardware. Specify floor space or pedestal requirements on the submission form.
• Digital art and new media: submit as high-resolution file (minimum 300 dpi for print, or video at 1080p minimum). Specify if work requires a display screen—a limited number of monitors are available on a first-come basis.
• Work must have been created during the 2024–2025 academic year.
• Portfolio submissions for seniors: seniors may submit a cohesive portfolio of up to 8 works for the dedicated Senior Thesis Gallery in Hargrove West Wing.

Dance Department of Dance

• Solo and group choreography: solos up to 5 minutes; group works up to 12 minutes (max 10 performers).
• All styles welcome: ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, experimental movement, and interdisciplinary forms.
• Submit a written description of the work (150–300 words), intended music/sound design, and any special staging or flooring requirements.
• Student choreographers must be present for all tech rehearsals (April 7–11 window).
• Works using music must include proof of licensing or confirm use of original/royalty-free music on the submission form.

Film & Media Department of Film & Media Arts

• Short films and video works: maximum 20 minutes. Submit as H.264 or ProRes file via the Showcase Portal. DCP submission accepted for works intended for main-screen screening.
• Interactive and installation-based work: include a written description, tech setup requirements, and estimated audience interaction time.
• Animation: all forms accepted (2D, 3D, stop-motion). Maximum 10 minutes.
• Documentary works: maximum 25 minutes. Include a brief synopsis and a note on subject consent if filming identifiable individuals.
• Screening schedule is determined after acceptance; the department will contact accepted students by March 17.

Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary Track

New for Spring 2025: students working across departmental boundaries may submit to the Interdisciplinary Track. Works in this track are reviewed by a cross-departmental committee. Accepted works will be featured in a dedicated Convergence slot on April 22 and will be exhibited in the Hargrove Atrium. Contact showcase@acapa.edu for consultation before submitting interdisciplinary work.

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How to Submit

1. Log in to the Student Showcase Portal using your ACAPA student credentials.
2. Select your department and the type of work you are submitting.
3. Complete all required fields in the submission form, including title, description, duration/dimensions, and any technical requirements.
4. Upload all required files (audio, video, images, scripts, scores) in the formats specified above.
5. Review your submission summary and click Submit. You will receive an automated confirmation email within 15 minutes.
6. If you do not receive a confirmation email, contact showcase@acapa.edu before the deadline—do not assume your submission was received.

The Showcase Portal will accept submissions beginning January 30, 2025 and will close automatically at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 1, 2025. No extensions will be granted. Portal technical support is available Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET via it-help@acapa.edu.

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Showcase Schedule: April 18–26, 2025

All events take place at the Hargrove Pavilion unless otherwise noted. The Hargrove Pavilion includes the 480-seat Main Stage, the 90-seat Studio Black Box, the East Gallery, the West Wing Senior Thesis Gallery, and the Atrium.

Date	Time	Event	Venue
Fri., Apr. 18	7:00 p.m.	Opening Night Gala & Reception — Keynote remarks by Dean Patricia Holbrook; opening of the Visual Arts galleries; preview performances by Music and Dance	Main Stage & Atrium
Sat., Apr. 19	2:00 p.m.	Film & Media Screening Block A (shorts, animation, documentary)	Main Stage
Sat., Apr. 19	7:30 p.m.	Music Concert Night 1 — Solo and chamber performances	Main Stage
Sun., Apr. 20	1:00 p.m.	Dance Matinee — Contemporary & experimental movement works	Main Stage
Sun., Apr. 20	5:00 p.m.	Theatre One-Acts Block A	Studio Black Box
Mon., Apr. 21	All day	Visual Arts Gallery open to public (East Gallery & West Wing)	East Gallery / West Wing
Tue., Apr. 22	3:00 p.m.	Convergence — Interdisciplinary Track showcase	Atrium & Black Box
Tue., Apr. 22	7:30 p.m.	Music Concert Night 2 — Composition premieres & electroacoustic works	Main Stage
Wed., Apr. 23	7:00 p.m.	Theatre One-Acts Block B & Original Scripts	Studio Black Box
Thu., Apr. 24	2:00 p.m.	Film & Media Screening Block B (interactive installations open)	Main Stage & Atrium
Thu., Apr. 24	7:30 p.m.	Dance Evening — Repertory & senior choreography works	Main Stage
Fri., Apr. 25	7:30 p.m.	Music Concert Night 3 — Large ensembles & senior recitals	Main Stage
Sat., Apr. 26	2:00 p.m.	Theatre Closing Night — Selected works & senior monologues	Studio Black Box
Sat., Apr. 26	5:00 p.m.	Closing Reception & Student Awards Ceremony — All-department; light refreshments; announcement of Jurors' Choice Awards and the Hargrove Prize	Atrium

Gallery hours (Visual Arts): Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 12 p.m.–5 p.m. Admission to all events is free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Seating for Main Stage evening performances is general admission; doors open 30 minutes before showtime. See the full events calendar »

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The Hargrove Prize

Each year, the Hargrove Prize is awarded to one outstanding student work across all departments, as selected by the Spring Showcase Jury. The prize carries a $750 award funded by the Hargrove Family Endowment, established in 1989 in memory of ACAPA founding benefactor Edmund R. Hargrove. All accepted submissions are automatically considered for the Hargrove Prize; no separate application is required. Learn more about the Hargrove Prize and past recipients »

Additional Jurors' Choice Awards are given in each of the five departments. These carry certificates of distinction and are noted on the student's official ACAPA transcript.

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Past Showcase Highlights

The Spring Showcase has been a cornerstone of ACAPA student life for over seven decades. A selection of memorable moments from recent years:

• Spring 2024: The premiere of Still Water, a devised theatre piece by the graduating senior cohort of the Theatre Arts department, received a standing ovation at the closing night performance. The work went on to be featured at the regional New England Student Theatre Festival in May 2024.
• Spring 2024: Film & Media student Priya Nambiar's short documentary The Forgetting Season was accepted to the Vermont Independent Film Festival, following its Showcase premiere. Nambiar received the Hargrove Prize for 2024.
• Spring 2023: The Interdisciplinary Track debuted in a pilot format with four cross-departmental projects. The track's inaugural work, a sound-and-sculpture installation by Music and Visual Arts students, was later acquired by the Eastbridge Arts Center for its permanent collection.
• Spring 2023: Music Department submissions reached an all-time record of 47 individual works, prompting expansion of the showcase to include a third concert evening— a format now standard in the program.
• Spring 2022: The first fully in-person showcase following two years of hybrid and remote programming attracted an estimated 1,200 cumulative attendees over nine days, the highest attendance in the event's history at that time.
• Spring 2019: Dance student Marcus Webb's solo work Meridian was cited by the Showcase Jury as one of the most technically accomplished student dance submissions in the event's history. Webb later joined the faculty of the ACAPA Dance Department as an adjunct instructor.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit to more than one department?

No. Each student may submit to one department only, unless submitting through the Interdisciplinary Track (which counts as a separate, single submission). Students with a double concentration should contact the Showcase Coordinator at showcase@acapa.edu to discuss options before submitting.

Can I submit work that was created in a previous semester?

Work must have been created primarily during the 2024–2025 academic year (fall or spring semester). Work completed prior to the fall 2024 semester is not eligible. If you are unsure whether your work qualifies, contact your department representative.

Is there a submission fee?

No. Submission to the Spring Showcase is free for all currently enrolled ACAPA students.

What happens if my submission is not accepted?

All submitters receive notification by March 14. Students whose work is not accepted are encouraged to attend the showcase as audience members and to submit to the fall Open Studios event. Feedback from the review committee is available upon request through your department office.

Are guests allowed?

Yes. All showcase events are free and open to the public. Students may invite family, friends, and community members. There is no pre-registration required for general admission events.

I have a technical question about the submission portal.

Contact ACAPA IT Support at it-help@acapa.edu, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. For questions specific to the showcase, contact showcase@acapa.edu.

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Contacts

Department	Showcase Representative	Email
Music	Prof. Diane Ellery	d.ellery@acapa.edu
Theatre Arts	Prof. Samuel Ouedraogo	s.ouedraogo@acapa.edu
Visual Arts	Prof. Ling Chou	l.chou@acapa.edu
Dance	Prof. Nadia Ferreira	n.ferreira@acapa.edu
Film & Media Arts	Prof. James Okafor	j.okafor@acapa.edu
General / Interdisciplinary	Showcase Coordinator	showcase@acapa.edu

This announcement was issued by the ACAPA Office of Student Programs. For corrections or questions regarding this article, contact news@acapa.edu.