An homage to John Cage's landmark composition of the same name, the 4 Minutes, 33 Seconds Contest highlights University of Georgia student research in the arts. The event offers an opportunity for students to win prizes and to share their creative inquiry with peers, faculty, administrators and alumni throughout the university community. The competition is open to any graduate student or undergraduate student working on an advanced project, who is conducting research related to the literary, visual, or performing arts or artists.

The 2023 competition is coordinated by Katie Geha, director of the School of Art Galleries in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, and Gerald Maa, director of The Georgia Review. The 4 Minutes, 33 Seconds Contest is part of UGA's annual Spotlight on the Arts festival.