dele Yiseol Kenworthy’s "What is something you always wished I asked and knew about you?" Found and foraged plant material. From NEXT Opening Night in April 2022.
Adele Yiseol Kenworthy "what is something you always wished I asked and knew about you?". Found and foraged plant material. Credit: Denny Henry

At the end of each year, students at George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design present what they’ve been working on all year at a showcase. But this year’s thesis and capstone presentation will be a little bit different. The school is piloting a festival format, titled the NEXT Festival, which will feature performances, exhibitions, and symposia. As festival producer Babette Pendleton explains, this transition is meant to showcase the wide breadth of Corcoran programs rather than simply work as an exhibition focused on visual art. By integrating in different factions of the arts, the three-day event will encompass more of the disciplines that make up the Corcoran school. There will be musical events, dance projects, and of course visual exhibitions from thesis students. Soffia Obando Carcamo, a student majoring in fine arts, says she’s excited to see the wide breadth of work her classmates have created. “I’m always inspired by what they do and I’m really curious. I don’t usually get the chance to see outside of my major,” she tells City Paper. “There are a few of my classmates doing really interesting work and I know for sure I haven’t seen it anywhere else… I know people are going to be like, ‘I didn’t know we could do that.’” NEXT Festival runs April 20 through May 20 at George Washington University. NEXT Festival Extravaganza starts at 6:30 p.m. on May 4. corcoran.gwu.edu. Free.