The UO Cultural Forum puts out events for all ages throughout the school year, including many that are easy on the budget. Last year, the Cultural Forum presented more than
150 events, 67 percent of which were free. Some of the most popular events from last year included a concert by Sting, a visit from Michael Moore and a performance by the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Cultural Forum, which is funded entirely with student fees and ticket revenue, tries to provide a variety of events to suit the diversity of students at the University.
“Our goal is to try to serve the entire student body at some point,” Cultural Forum program director Darrel Kau said.
This year’s Cultural Forum season will kick off with a big bang as Dave Chappelle performs at McArthur Court on Thursday. This event should be wildly entertaining, but is on the pricey side ($43.50 for general admission and $38.50 for students).
Another highlight of the fall lineup is Jason Mraz, playing at the Hult Center Nov. 10. Tickets are $27 for students.
There will also be free events, including Friday Night Flicks every Friday in PLC 180, beginning Oct. 7. Another free event is InterMingle, which takes place Friday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the EMU. Regional bands One Point Star, Klementyne, Sweater Club and alterEGO are all scheduled to perform.
The Cultural Forum also coordinates visual art exhibits. Two exhibits are planned for fall: a mixed media display from Russia called “Serbian Dreams” and the photography of local artist Carol Zoom Patterson.
Beyond the fall lineup, students can also count on annual events such as the annual Queer Film Festival in February and the Willamette Valley Folk Festival in May. The Harlem Globetrotters will also be returning this year, according to Kau.
“The events go from a large scale to a smaller scale, but the wealth of the experience is the same,” said Kau.
There are also many opportunities for student involvement, from ushering and ticket-taking to marketing and public relations, and volunteers receive free T-shirts. Anyone interested in volunteering should stop by the Cultural Forum office in the basement of the EMU or call 541-346-4373.