As a premier destination for the arts in Northern Virginia, the Center for the Arts presents some of today's most talented artists, from promising students to internationally-acclaimed stars.
Relaxing on the lawn outside the Center for the Arts
The Best of the Performing Arts
A Mason Arts venue, the Center for the Arts is the centerpiece of performing arts on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. Each year, the Center welcomes hundreds of thousands of community members into its nearly 2,000-seat Concert Hall. The Center presents an annual season of national and international professional artists through its Great Performance at Mason Series and Family Series—offering the best of classical music, opera, jazz, global music, dance, theater, and more.
Managed by Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Center hosts many student and faculty performances presented by the Schools of Music, Theater, and Dance and supports the events of the School of Art, Film and Video Studies, Computer Game Design, and Arts Management programs. The Center brings distinguished visiting artists as Mason Artists-in-Residence for extended engagements designed to engage and inspire diverse audiences both on and off campus. The Center for the Arts serves as a performance home for many community arts organizations in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Our Mission
The Center for the Arts is part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), whose mission is to make the arts an intrinsic part of the lives of every George Mason University student and area resident. The Great Performances at Mason season is integral to the College's mission, providing a diverse program of challenging and entertaining cultural experiences for the entire University community, as well as Northern Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Our Goal
The College’s professional presenting division plays an important role in enriching the academic programs across the University through performances that examine important issues and bring global cultures to Mason. Each year, CVPA students have opportunities to interact with artists from the Great Performances at Mason season through master classes and residencies. Through the Free Tickets for Mason Students program, all Mason students are invited to experience the many inspiring performances at the Center.