News and Events | The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

The image is a poster for the North American Conference on Video Game Music (NACVGM). It features a stylized red and black abstract design. Text includes event details: "May 1-2, EMPAC Theater: RPI." QR codes for the event program and registration are displayed at the bottom.

Gaming, Music, and Digital Culture Converge at RPI

A National Gathering Exploring the Sound of GamingRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) will host the 13th North American Conference on Video Game Music (NACVGM) on May 1 and 2 at the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). This conference, which will also be available virtually, brings together scholars from across the world to explore the latest research on the role of music and sound in video games. Research, Performance, and Play

A person stands alone on a vast, rocky landscape resembling Mars, under a dramatic sky with a glowing sun in the distance. Two large rock formations frame the scene.

Starman Screening and Director Q&A at EMPAC April 29

Academy Award®-nominated director Robert Stone is coming to RPI’s campus for a special screening of his film Starman, followed by a live Q&A. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in the EMPAC Theater on April 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Starman Screening and Director Q&A at EMPAC April 29

Academy Award®-nominated director Robert Stone is coming to RPI’s campus for a special screening of his film Starman, followed by a live Q&A. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in the EMPAC Theater on April 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Image showing a promotional poster for "Constellations," a performance by the RPI Contemporary Improvisation Ensemble. It features Nick Dunston with DJ Rekha and Joey Latka, and is directed by Michael Century and Nick Dunston. The background displays an abstract, starry design.

RPI Students Experiment with Music Performance for April 9 Concert

RPI’s Contemporary Improvisation Ensemble will host “Constellations” on April 9, a collaborative performance with student musicians and renowned artist Nick Dunston. The free concert will take place at 5 p.m. in the Theatre of the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) on RPI’s campus.

GameFest Returns to EMPAC on March 28

GameFest, RPI's annual celebration of innovation and creativity in game design, returns to the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) on Saturday, March 28 from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. GameFest features a showcase and competition for student-made games, with cash prizes awarded by a panel of experts from the Capital Region games industry. 

Drawing of three individuals on a film set, two operating a camera capturing a third person in a vector suit

Long-Lost Kill Bill Sequence Finally Released with Help from RPI Administrator and Fortnite Collaboration

A long-rumored sequence cut from Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film Kill Bill has finally reached audiences, thanks in part to RPI’s Sarah Beth Eisinger, senior administrator in the Games & Experiential Media department.

Two individuals engaged in gaming on devices at a 'Game Dev Club' event in a public setting with others in the background.

RPI Gaming Students and Local Game Studios Demo New Projects at Showcase

RPI’s Game Development Club recently hosted their annual Rensselaer Games Showcase, an event that brings together students and local professionals to play, preview, and discuss one another’s developing gaming projects.

Promotional image for the RPI Holiday Concert and Troy Victorian Stroll Kickoff, featuring the phrase "LIGHT IN WINTER" over a backdrop of snow-covered branches against a sunrise.

RPI to Host Holiday Concert and Troy Victorian Stroll Kickoff December 6

RPI President Martin A. Schmidt ’81, and his wife, Lyn, invite the Capital Region to join them for the RPI Holiday Concert and Troy Victorian Stroll Kickoff, which will take place on Saturday, December 6, at 7 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) on RPI’s campus.

RPI Symposium Explores Art, the Environment, and the Legacy of the Erie Canal

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in collaboration with the Albany Symphony, the New York State Canal Corporation, and the New York Power Authority, will host a symposium titled Reflections on Waterways: Intersections of Arts, Culture, and the Environment in New York on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Center For Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) Auditorium at RPI. 

Two individuals are focused on a computer screen displaying a complex software interface

From Players to Creators: RPI Camp Empowers Teens to Design Video Games

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) recently hosted its immersive Game Development Camp, giving middle and high school students a unique opportunity to jump-start their careers in game design and development.