U2 makes a major $300k donation to UNLV after Sphere residency

After U2‘s blockbuster Residence in Las Vegas at the Spherethe legendary rock band donated to the UNLV College of Fine Arts.

Donation was subtly announced in the College of Fine Arts newsletter (according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal). The program’s dean, Nancy Usher, said the grant “will support access to top music education, as well as experiential learning and performance opportunities for music schools. These opportunities will include student travel and support for creative activities and performances at various international music events.”

During a recent phone call, Uscher revealed that the donation came after ongoing discussions with a “secret donor.” They continued to ask questions, piqued the interest of UNLV representatives.

“We had a very wonderful dialogue with the people who represented them, and at some point they were pretty sure that our goals were in line with the kind of work they like to do in support of education,” Usher said. “Then they told us who they were and we were delighted.” I feel like they’ve cared about Las Vegas for a long time.”

Most of U2’s donations will go toward UNLV College of the Fine Arts scholarships. According to the statement, part of the money will also go to help students who are planning international performances, including attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the summer.

Some UNLV students were also invited to the French Festival des Anches D’Azur in La Croix Valmer. The donation will help send students there as well.

All four members of U2 — Bono, The Edge, Adam Claytonand Larry Mullen Jr. — signed a donation to a college in Las Vegas. Uscher wrote them a handwritten thank you note for their donation. Usher praised them for taking care of the students.

U2 residency at the Las Vegas Sphere

Prior to the UNLV donation, U2 performed a 40-night concert residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. They were the first artist to perform there, opening the venue on September 29, 2023.

The shows centered around their 1991 album Achtung Babi. U2 performed the album in its entirety, including deep cuts like “So Cruel,” live for the first time. Other deep cuts like “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World” and “Love Is Blindness” were dusted off and played for the first time in decades.

Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton performed these shows. However, Larry Mullen Jr. was unable to perform. He is still recovering from surgeries he received to repair injuries sustained from drumming. In his place was Bram van den Berg from the Dutch band Crezip.

Now, the band is working on new material. They’ve spent a lot of time looking back, but it sounds like they’re in the studio. Edge recently said that their new song could arrive “very soon”.

The last original song they released was “Atomic City”, written for their Sphere residency. Before that, they recorded “Your Song Saved My Life” for the animated film Sing 2, in which Bono starred. Their last album of original material was released in 2017, Songs of Experience.