WHAT TO EXPECT
FLOURISH will feature panels on contemplative sciences and the arts, education, athletics, leadership, and other diverse topics as well as contemplative experiences that promote mindfulness, deepen connections, and foster practices for personal growth and reflection.
Download the Schedule of Activities
Below are some helpful details to make your weekend smooth and enjoyable.
Weekend activities commence on Friday, April 4. Contemplative Commons tours, yoga, and meditation experiences will be available beginning 9 a.m. Friday, for those who arrive early. We will formally kick off FLOURISH: A Weekend for Wellbeing at 12:30 p.m. on Friday (note that 12:30 p.m. start time reflects a change from our previous schedule), with panels and contemplative samplers on offer through 5 p.m. Panels and contemplative samplers continue on Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, with registration running throughout the day. We recommend checking in at least 30 minutes prior to the first event you wish to join. Please visit the registration tables in the front lobby on the ground floor of the Commons to pick up your name tag and event materials.
FLOURISH panels will take place in Studio 1B on the ground floor of the Contemplative Commons and feature an incredible line-up of speakers, including Tony Bennett (former UVA Men’s Basketball Coach), Bob Rotella (Sports Psychologist), Roshi Joan Halifax (Abbott, Upaya Zen Center), Jerry Colonna (Executive Coach and CEO, Reboot), Paul Tudor Jones II (Founder, Tudor Investment Corporation), Amy Griffin (author of The Tell; Founder, G9 Ventures) and others. 15-minute breaks will be provided between panels to allow time for rest and connection.
We also encourage you to check out our FLOURISH contemplative samplers, including yoga classes, guided meditations, immersive sound experiences, and Contemplative Commons tours. Please note that contemplative samplers have limited capacity, so please arrive early to have the best chance of attending.
In addition to contemplative samplers, you are invited to take time for peaceful moments in the NINFEO, an immersive sound, light, and sculptural experience housed on the ground floor of the Contemplative Commons off the gallery; the Willow (Studio 3A), a drop-in meditation and prayer space on the 3rd floor that serves as a sanctuary for people of all faiths, spiritualities, and those who seek quiet reflection; and the Conservatory (Studio 4B), an immersive light and sound room on the 4th floor where you can sit, meditate, or just listen to the soundscape.
FLOURISH will also feature a special Meditation from the Dell on Saturday, April 5 from 12:45-1:45 p.m. in Dell Field, between the Contemplative Commons and the Perry-Fishburne Tennis Courts. Programming includes:
- A Soothing Sound Bath featuring Susy Schieffelin of The Copper Vessel
- A Presentation of the Inaugural Contemplation in Action Award to GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer, songwriter, and performer Maggie Rogers
- A Guided Meditation on Community Flourishing, featuring Mindfulness Teacher Rhonda Magee
- A Musical Offering by The Golden Hours, featuring members of David Wax Museum and Lowland Hum
We will close out the weekend with an exciting benefit concert to celebrate the Contemplative Sciences Center on Saturday from 8-10:30 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena. The concert stars Zac Brown Band, with special guest Maggie Rogers and comedy by Joe Zimmerman. We can’t wait to see you there!
FLOURISH will take place at the Contemplative Commons (403 Emmet Street S, Charlottesville, VA 22903). Please make sure to enter the building on the ground level via the main doors on Emmet Street.
For guests staying at Boar's Head Resort, The Draftsman, or The Forum, complimentary shuttles will run to FLOURISH event locations starting at 8 a.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. on Saturday. Shuttles will also be available for evening events. Due to limited parking, we encourage you to use the shuttle service or public transportation. Please consult the shuttle schedule, and plan to make your way to the Contemplative Commons early to ensure no issues in arriving on time for events that you wish to join.
The University offers limited paid parking around Grounds, and this weekend will be a busy one, so please take this into account when planning your transportation.
On both Friday and Saturday FLOURISH has limited complimentary parking available at the Culbreth Parking Garage (130 Culbreth Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903), which is a 10-minute walk to the Commons.
Additionally, Meditation from the Dell guests will have parking available until 4 p.m. at Alumni Hall (221 Emmet St S, Charlottesville, VA 22903) in the X3 lot (directly across from the tennis courts) and the U-Shape lot (in front of the Emmet St entrance) and Ridley Hall R1 lot (405 Emmet St S, Charlottesville, VA 22904).
For more information on additional parking options, please visit the UVA Visitor Parking Guide.
We encourage you to dress comfortably. Activities will include a mix of both indoor and outdoor offerings, as well as a mix of seated and movement-based experiences. If you have evening plans directly after the day's events, you may want to plan accordingly. Storage lockers are available in the central hall / art gallery, if you would like to store belongings.
Cellular service inside the Commons can be spotty. We recommend connecting to UVA WIFI via the UVA Guest Network for access. We suggest updating phone settings to receive calls via WIFI.
On both Friday and Saturday all-day refreshments and mid-afternoon snacks will be available. On Saturday, a light breakfast and full lunch will also be provided.
If you have any questions, please email CSCBenefittickets@gmail.com. Should you need to resolve issues with your mobile tickets, a member of our concert team will be on-site at the Commons on Friday between 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to assist with ticketing and any questions before the show.
Additional tickets to the benefit concert are available to purchase here.
The Benefit Concert Pre-party is located at the Hall of Fame at John Paul Jones Arena (JPJ). Doors open for the Benefit Concert Pre-Party at 6 p.m. If you plan to drive, park at the JPJ Surface Lot (parking lot in front of the arena at the West entrance), and please make sure to come early as parking fills up quickly. Additional direction and parking information can be found here.
You will be able to enter JPJ through doors 22/23 (on the far-right side of the big white tent on the exterior of JPJ). Once you enter the building and check in, event staff will direct you to walk to the left down the entire concourse. Once at the end of the concourse, head down the stairs on your left, and at the end of the stairs, turn right to reach Hall of Fame. If you have any questions, please ask event staff on-site at JPJ. Please note that this event is not open to students.
John Paul Jones Arena is located at 295 Massie Road in Charlottesville. Please visit John Paul Jones Arena’s website for information on Bag Policies, Directions and Arena info.