Whether they plan to draw their classmates as Star Wars characters, make vivid protest posters or set up still-lifes of sweets and candy, U-High students eagerly wait for this year’s Artsfest, a day dedicated to teaching arts to students, while committee members and teachers alike are working hard to promote and emphasize the importance of the event.

On Feb. 22 each student will participate in four assigned workshops as well as two all-school assemblies.

The festivities will begin with a performance from the Jesse White Tumblers, and conclude with a performance by U-High alumni Bardo and his hip-hop group Allied Forces. Bardo will also encourage enthusiasm for the arts as keynote speaker.

“Artsfest is a place to showcase individual student passions,” art teacher Brian Wildeman said, hoping freshmen will sign up for workshops in a timely fashion so they can choose their favorites.

Registration for The Hunt, a scavenger hunt designed to build anticipation for Artsfest, began Feb. 1. Teams of up to six members take pictures of their completed tasks and send them in by Feb. 21.

According to coordinator Sahar Siddiqui, winners will be announced at the Artsfest closing ceremony and will be awarded tickets to the Pitchfork Music Festival.

Art in the Dark, an art-themed dance, will take place Feb. 21, the evening before Artsfest.

The night’s activities will include henna tattoos, tye-dye and karaoke. As usual, the dance will have an emphasis on student performance and showcasing the various types of art enjoyed by U-High students.

“By art, I don’t just mean painting and drawing,” Sahar said, emphasizing the variety of artistic disciplines students have an opportunity to participate in.

In addition to those led by students and faculty and even the director, young alumni and professional artists will lead workshops, including a figure drawing class led by Lillian Rosner, who recently finished her master’s degree in art education at the University of Chicago. Others include a T-shirt decorating workshop with Lilla Dent and a voice acting class with Miranda Garfinkle.

“They can expect to see high schoolers embracing the idea of ‘their day’,” Mr. Wildeman said, explaining what inexperienced freshmen can look forward to during Artsfest.

Most of all, he hopes that even freshmen who are not interested in pursuing careers as artists will enthusiastically participate.