STLCC Announces the Fall 2026 Visual and Performing Arts Season

August 19, 2026

ST. LOUIS, MO (August 17, 2026) – St. Louis Community College (STLCC) invites the community to be "Where Creativity Takes Center Stage" for its fall 2026 visual and performing arts season. The dynamic arts series boasts 10 art exhibitions, five theatrical productions and five musical performances across STLCC’s four campuses now through December.

“This fall, we’re proud to showcase a spectrum of world-class artistic experiences that reflect both our local talent and our global connections,” said Janice Nesser-Chu, district dean for the School of Communications, Design and Creative Arts. “From an international art exchange to the regional premiere of a choral work exploring American ideals, our season reminds us of the enduring power of the arts to connect us more deeply to one another and to the world around us.”

Every exhibition, performance and concert in the fall 2026 season is free and open to the public, reinforcing the College’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all.

Visual Art: From Local Legacies to International Exchange

The fall gallery season begins with Borrowed Time: Photographs by David R. Hanlon, 1990-2026 at the Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery (Aug. 27-Sept. 22), a themed retrospective of Hanlon’s work created during 36 years of teaching photography at STLCC. Often using extended exposures, these photographs explore the representation of time as it passes across multiple generations. Opening reception: Thursday, Aug. 27 | 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Hanlon will also be honored at the Peterson Photography Lecture Series on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with a reception in the Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery from 5 to 6:45 p.m., followed by the artist lecture at 7 p.m. in Lecture Hall, Room 103.

In September, the Florissant Valley Contemporary Art Gallery hosts the 2026 Overseas Art Exchange Exhibition (Sept. 8 to Oct. 8), organized by the Friends of Taiwan–STL, featuring the work of 30 established and emerging artists from six countries. The season continues with showcases of the STLCC creative community’s excellence, including the Annual Faculty Exhibition at Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery (Oct. 1-29) and the Alumni Invitational Exhibition at Florissant Valley Contemporary Art Gallery (Oct. 26-Dec. 3).

Other art gallery season highlights include:

Phillip Finder: Quiet Forms, Aug. 28-Sept. 24, Forest Park Gallery of Contemporary Art. Reception: Friday, Aug. 28 | 6 to 8 p.m.
Expressions on Paper and Canvas, Sept. 8-Oct. 9, Wildwood Contemporary Art Gallery. Reception: Thursday, Sept. 10 | 4 to 7 p.m.
Sandra Marchewa: “I Love You Because I Have To,” Oct. 9-Nov. 5, Forest Park Gallery of Contemporary Art. Reception: Friday, Oct. 9 | 6 to 8 p.m.
Fields of Color: Three Abstract Voices, Oct. 26-Dec. 4, Wildwood Contemporary Art Gallery. Reception: Thursday, Oct. 29 | 4 to 7 p.m.
Fragile and Mass: An Exploration of Dichotomy and Paradox, Nov. 12-Dec. 10, Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery. Reception: Thursday, Nov. 12 | 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Sgraffito: Incision and Insight, Nov. 20-Dec. 17, Forest Park Gallery of Contemporary Art. Reception: Friday, Nov. 20 | 6 to 8 p.m.

Wipoosana Supanakorn with the Overseas Art Exchange Exhibition

Theatre: Contemporary Dramas and Classic Comedies

STLCC’s theatre season kicks off with a Student-Directed One-Act Play Festival (Sept. 30-Oct. 4) at Meramec Theatre, celebrating the unpublished works of acclaimed American playwright David Ives. Student directors Carrington C. Davis and TJ Shay bring these rare pieces to life under the mentorship of faculty advisor Michelle Rebollo. At each performance, two one-acts are on the bill: “Emily Dickinson Enters Into Heaven,” a witty imagining of a heavenly literary debate, and “Locked and Loaded, Can I Help You?”, a dark comedy that explores faith through Ives’ signature humor and sharp dialogue.

More theatre season highlights include:

Brilliant Traces by Cindy Lou Johnson, Oct. 1-4, at Florissant Valley’s Terry M. Fischer Theatre: A poetic and powerful encounter in a remote Alaskan cabin.
Sylvia by A.R. Gurney, Nov. 5-8, at Forest Park’s Mildred E. Bastian Theatre: A smart, playful comedy about a man, his wife, and the dog who changes their lives.
The Butler Did It by Walter Marks and Peter Marks, Nov. 12-15, at Florissant Valley’s Terry M. Fischer Theatre: A hilarious classic whodunit where every character is named Butler.
Sweat by Lynn Nottage, Nov. 18-22, at Meramec Theatre: A Pulitzer Prize-winning drama exploring life, loss and friendship in an American factory town.

3 actors performing Shakespeare on stage

Music: Choral Premiere, Orchestral Classics and Big Band Favorites

The music season offers a rich variety of choral and instrumental performances. A major highlight is the St. Louis regional premiere of Redeem the Dream, composed by University of Missouri professor Brandon Boyd, featuring the Meramec Concert Choir joining the UMSL Orchestra and Choirs at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center (Oct. 27). Commissioned as part of the Sing Democracy 250 initiative, the work incorporates the 1935 Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again" and text from the Declaration of Independence.

Other musical highlights include:

Fall Instrumental Concert, Sunday, Oct. 18, 3 p.m., at Meramec Theatre: Featuring classic instrumental literature and inspired performances from the Meramec Orchestra and Meramec Symphonic Band.
Fall Instrumental Concert, Sunday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m., at Florissant Valley’s Terry M. Fischer Theatre: Featuring the Florissant Valley Symphony Orchestra performing works by Dvořák, Stravinsky and Wagner.
Florissant Valley Orchestra on Tour, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m.: A community performance at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Ferguson.
An Evening of Jazz, Friday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m., at Forest Park’s Mildred E. Bastian Theatre: Featuring the Forest Park Jazz Band playing contemporary arrangements of big band favorites.
Holiday Concert, Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m., at Meramec Theatre: A festive showcase featuring the Meramec Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Jazz Combos.

Stay Connected

Audiences can also stay connected throughout the season with the launch of the STLCC Arts Connection e-newsletter. Subscribers will receive monthly event reminders, behind-the-scenes stories, spotlights on faculty and students, and updates from the School of Communications, Design and Creative Arts.

For a complete schedule of events and to subscribe to the newsletter, visit stlcc.edu/visual-performing-arts.

About St. Louis Community College

Established in 1962, St. Louis Community College is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. STLCC has four campuses: Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Meramec and Wildwood. The College annually serves more than 34,000 students through credit courses, continuing education, and workforce development programs. For more information about STLCC, visit stlcc.edu.