Twenty-six royal treasures of the Kingdom of Dahomey are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin, the present-day Republic of Benin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were plundered by French colonial troops in 1892. But what attitude to adopt to these ancestors’ homecoming in a country that had to forge ahead in their absence? While the soul of the artifacts is freed, debate rages among students of the University of Abomey-Calavi.   Get TicketsThis is a free but ticketed event. Tickets will be available for pick-up at the ticket office one hour prior to the performance. To guarantee your seat, please pick up your tickets at least 15 minutes prior to the show. In the event of a sell-out, unclaimed tickets will be used to seat patrons waiting on standby. Originally published at nanovic.nd.edu.

Learn more and register here Signs of the Times: Interdisciplinary Responses to Religious Nationalism March 20-22, 2025   This 2025 CST conference will remember the 60th anniversary of two significant Vatican II texts, Gaudium et spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) and Dignitatis humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom). Released on the final day of Vatican II, these texts together invited serious consideration of the role of the church and other religious communities in relation to the state. This year’s CST conference takes up Vatican II’s invitation to discern “the signs of the times” and to attend to the roles of church and state within civil society with a view toward the common good. These central CST themes warrant further exploration as Christian and other forms of religious nationalism represent a significant sign of the current time in particular national and international contexts. This interdisciplinary conference invites historical, constructive, and comparative approaches as we consider the ecumenical, interfaith, and transdisciplinary challenges of religious nationalism. For example, what is the history of Christian nationalism in the United States and how is it related to similar movements in other parts of the world? What are the scriptural and theological resources available to analyze these expressions of Christian and national identity? To what degree and under what forms are the academy and the Christian churches complicit with the history and recent expressions of white Christian nationalism? What are the possible connections between the reemergence of various forms of religious nationalism with economic changes, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation? How has the rise of these political ideologies been facilitated by changes in laws and institutional structures? What are the implications of Christian and other forms of religious nationalism for the relationship of religious bodies and the state in civil society? What are the pedagogical challenges across the disciplines in addressing the significance of Christian and religious nationalism? Normatively, what options for constructive engagement and responses emerge from our shared consideration of these questions?

The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History & Design is proud to present its annual MFA thesis exhibition, highlighting the culminating work of four graduate students set to earn their Master of Fine Arts degrees in May 2025. This highly anticipated exhibition will be displayed in two groups, each offering a distinct and engaging artistic experience. The first exhibition will run from February 28 to March 20 at the AAHD Galleries (214/216 Riley Hall), featuring the thought-provoking works of Thomas Callahan and Emma Ryan. An opening reception will be held on Friday, February 28, from 5 to 7 pm, providing an opportunity to meet the artists and experience their work firsthand. The second exhibition will showcase the exceptional pieces of Norah Amstutz and Griffin Liu, on display from April 3 to April 16 at the AAHD Galleries. The opening reception for this group will take place on Friday, April 4, from 5 to 7 pm. This annual exhibition is a celebration of creativity, dedication, and artistic vision, offering visitors a glimpse into the future of contemporary art. We invite you to join us in supporting these talented emerging artists and experiencing their extraordinary work. Originally published at artdept.nd.edu.

Please join the Department of Art, Art History, and Design for a highly anticipated open studio event hosted by the  MFA graduate students. Attendees can view and engage with the students' works, which represent the culmination of their artistic journeys. We look forward to welcoming you and showcasing the incredible talent of our MFA graduate students. The walkthrough critic is Rudy Shepherd, professor of art, Wake Forest University. Schedule of events: 9:00 am–10:00 am Lecture by Rudy Shepherd - 200 Riley Hall 10:30 am–12:30 pm - Second Year MFAsFranceska Alvarado, Painting – 315 RileyOlivia Koziel, Photo – 210 RileyHeidi Dargle, VCD – 1st Floor Installation RoomLucy Schultz, ID – 201 RileyLily Dorian, Sculpture– 110 Riley 2:00 pm–4:00 pm - First Year MFAsClaire Murphy, Painting – 315 RileySara Abdolmotallebi, VCD - 1st Floor Installation RoomEmma Brooks, VCD – 201 RileyGrace Gao, Photo – 210 RileyAlejandro Mejia Andrade, Ceramics – 1st Floor Hallway Gallery All studio and design classes are canceled in celebration of Department Day/MFA Walkthroughs. Free and open to the public. --- *Passport to the Arts Event Originally published at artdept.nd.edu.

This exhibit commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (1939-45) using primarily European visual sources recently acquired by Rare Books & Special Collections. It showcases more than 40 works on paper, including posters, maps, propaganda ephemera, and illustrated books, as well as photographs and first-hand accounts. The exhibit explores themes of Nazi racial ideology, the Holocaust, children in war, resistance, liberation, and memories of war. By examining images created for personal use and for state-sponsored propaganda, the exhibit presents a visual narrative of the war’s profound impact on individuals and societies, offering deeper insight into how this war was experienced and remembered. This exhibit is curated by Natasha Lyandres, Curator, Rare Books & Special Collections; Jean McManus, Catholic Studies Librarian, University Archives; and Julia Schneider, German Language and Literature and Italian Studies Librarian, Hesburgh Libraries. This and other exhibits within the Hesburgh Libraries are generously supported by the McBrien Special Collections Endowment. All exhibits are free and open to the public during business hours. Related Events Monday, March 31, 4:30 pmLecture: Martina Cucchiara, “Fervent Faith, Relentless Persecution: The Daily Life of Erna Becker-Kohen, a Catholic of Jewish Descent in Nazi Germany” Thursday, April 10, 4:30 pmLecture: Robert M. Citino, "The Fascist Lair: the Battle of Berlin" Tuesday, April 22, 4:30 pmYom HaShoah Program to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust Exhibit Tours Meet and speak with curators of the spring exhibit, "Tragedies of War: Images of WWII in Print Visual Culture." Monday, March 31, 3:30 pmThursday, April 10, 3:30 pmTuesday, April 22, 3:30 pm

In 1980, the University of Notre Dame became the first major university to boycott Campbell Soup products in support of Midwestern farmworkers represented by the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (Toledo, Ohio). In a few short months, a small and dedicated cohort of students tapped into a growing movement and convinced the campus to act in solidarity. This exhibit was created in conjunction with Somos ND, a campus-wide initiative to honor the history and legacy of Latino and Hispanic contributions to the University. It is curated by Emiliano Aguilar, assistant professor in the Department of History. This and other exhibits within the Hesburgh Libraries are generously supported by the McBrien Special Collections Endowment. All exhibits are free and open to the public during business hours.Open to undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, postdocs, the public, alumni, and friends