Singletary Center for the Arts

The venue first opened to the public on November 1, 1979. It was created as the fine arts complex for the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. And for the first 8 years of its existence, it was simply known as the Center for the Arts. But then on April 16, 1987, the Center of the Arts was dedicated to and renamed after the eight president of the university, Dr. Otis A. Singletary. And from then on, it was known as The Singletary Center for the Arts.

The facility is part of the College of Fine Arts and is an essential part to the UK School of Music. It has held the singular mission to host artistic, cultural, and educational events for the University’s community, the Lexington community, and the larger Commonwealth of Kentucky. And it also strives to provide professional full-service venues for the creation and practical application of artistic expressions by performers, artists, and speakers from the university, the country, and the world.

It quickly established itself as a premiere venue for live performances. And has welcomed over 3.7 million patrons since its 1979 opening. And it proudly boasts hosting over 400 events every year. And these annual events include a variety of musical performances from a wide variety of genres, including orchestral, choral, jazz, rock, and bluegrass to name a few. It also hosts dance recitals, comedy shows, and lecture series events.

Quite simply, The Singletary Center for the Arts is one of the greatest collection of shows in the country.

Notable Performers and Visitors from 2017-Present

It’s an understatement to say that this venue has hosted some incredible shows and events. But you might not be able to imagine how prestigious this venue is for awe-inspiring shows and events. So instead, here’s a short list of just some of the incredible performances that have come to The Singletary Center for the Arts from the past five years.

  • Ariel String Quartet – 2017
  • David Russell – 2017
  • Gordon Lightfoot – 2017
  • Conrad Tao – 2017
  • Viola Davis – 2017
  • Brian Regan – 2018
  • Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet – 2019

For more information on the Singletary Center for the Arts see the pages below:

Singletary Center for the Arts Parking:
Read parking information and directions for the Singletary Center for the Arts.

Ticket Policies:
Read ticket policies, ticket verification and refund policies.

Singletary Center for the Arts Seating Chart:
View the Singletary Center for the Arts seating map and read related seating information.