What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events taking place at the University this weekend and next week:

Performances

Veronica Swift with the Emmet Cohen Trio — 7:30 p.m., Sept. 20, Schwab Auditorium, University Park campus. The Center for the Performing Arts season begins with a concert featuring two millennial artists, singer Veronica Swift and pianist Emmet Cohen, who are making waves in jazz.

Kevin Hart — 7 p.m., Sept. 22, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Comedian Kevin Hart will perform at Penn State as part of "The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour."

Classical Coffehouse: Cantus — 8 p.m., Sept. 24, Robb Hall, Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park campus. Hailed as “the premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States,” the Minneapolis-based octet is acknowledged around the world for its programmatic versatility, artistic excellence and charisma.

"Alone Together" with Cantus — 7:30 p.m., Sept. 25, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, University Park campus. “Alone Together" will explore the struggle to build meaningful connections in a world that has never been more connected through a performance by a capella octet Cantus.

COIN — 8 p.m., Sept. 27, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. The Penn State Student Programming Association will present the indie pop band COIN for a free concert.

Events

"The Light of What Comes After" — 6 p.m., Sept. 20, Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel, Penn State Behrend. Erie native and Penn State Behrend alumna Jen Town will read from her highly-acclaimed first collection of poetry, "The Light of What Comes After."

"Rocking Through the Fifties" — Sept. 20-23, Penn State Berks. Students, faculty and staff at Penn State Berks will welcome family and alumni to campus for its annual Family and Homecoming Weekend. This year’s theme is “Rocking Through the Fifties” and will celebrate the college’s founding on its 60th anniversary.

The Great Insect Fair — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 22, Snider Agricultural Arena, University Park campus. Appreciating insects' influence in society and culture will be the focus of Penn State's 2018 Great Insect Fair. The theme of this year's family-friendly fair is "#ArthroPop: Insects in Pop Culture."

Lectures

"Ruskin and the Art of Relations" — 5 p.m., Sept. 20, 112 Borland Building, University Park campus. The Penn State Department of Art History's Dickson Memorial Lecture will feature Jeremy Melius, assistant professor of art history at Tufts University, examining great Victorian critic John Ruskin's account of relations, both “natural” as well as social.

"All Things Virtual" —  7 p.m., Sept. 24, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. Alumnus Dave Leopold, the senior director of content production technologies at Viacom, will examine creativity in storytelling with immersive reality.

Author Moshin Hamid — 7:30 p.m., Sept. 25, Adler Athletic Complex, Penn State Altoona. Moshin Hamid, author of four critically-acclaimed novels, will speak as part of Penn State's Distinguished Speaker Series.

"Guardrails of Democracy" — 7:30 p.m., Sept. 26, Sutliff Auditorium, Lewis Katz Building, University Park campus. David Frum, a senior editor at The Atlantic and author of “Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic,” will discuss what he describes as the “guardrails of democracy."

“How Immigrants Shape(d) the United States" — 12:30 p.m., Sept. 27, Downsbrough Community Room of Schlow Library, State College. Penn State alumnus Nalini Krishnankutty will present a lecture titled “How Immigrants Shape(d) the United States: An Exploration of History."

Exhibits

"Keith Lemley: A Theory of Everything" — Through Sept. 30, Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St., State College. Lemley's work explores the artist's interests in current scientific theories connecting disparate parts of the universe through underlying geometries. Free.

"Gravity Schmavity" — Through Oct. 29, the Arboretum at Penn State, University Park campus. Repurposed plastic sculptures by artist Aurora Robson will be on display at the Arboretum's H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. Free.

"Instinctive Gestures" — Through Dec. 18, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. This exhibition features contemporary works recently gifted to the Palmer by collectors Marilyn Fishman and James MacElderry. Free.

"Transitions" — Through fall semester, Freyberger Gallery, Penn State Berks. As part of the campus' 60th anniversary, Penn State Berks is hosting an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to step back in time and view key moments in the campus' history. Free.

"Into the Woods" — Through Feb. 11, 2019, Pattee Library, University Park campus. The exhibit explores the eastern U.S. forest, its wildlife and botanical wealth, while also paying tribute to early women naturalists and conservationists. Free.