Dean’s Insider: Pursuing arts collaborations that are changing the field

This month, we were so excited to welcome our College of Fine Arts Advisory Council members back to campus for an in-person meeting for the first time since fall 2019. This was my first chance to interact live with this important group, and it was my first state-of-the-college address. (Spoiler alert: The state of the College of Fine Arts is strong, and our programs are thriving!)

We spent much of our time together talking about collaboration. We showcased engaging collaborative projects that integrate our scholarly research with our public-facing role in a city with a robust creative economy. As a research university, we want not just to excel in our disciplinary fields, but to create field-changing practitioners and visionaries.

First up, Associate Professor Adele Nelson presented her collaboration with Visual Arts Center Director Mackenzie Stevens for the upcoming exhibition Social Fabric: Art and Activism in Contemporary Brazil. This ambitious exhibition, which opens in fall 2022 at the VAC, will showcase a stellar slate of contemporary Brazilian artists, including Rosana Paulino and Jaime Lauriano. The exhibition will fill more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space and is the result of a multiyear collaboration between the faculty, graduate students, the VAC and campus and global partners. This innovative show pushes our programming in new directions and exposes our students and our audiences to important voices in contemporary art.

Michael Baker, chair of the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies, highlighted vital collaborations with industry partners that give our students valuable hands-on learning opportunities working with real-world companies to design amazing experiences. The department has partnered with global design and architecture firm Gensler for an experiential design course to create content that will be presented on an LED screen in Gensler’s lobby in Austin.

As I settle into my role as dean and learn more about our college, I’m so energized and inspired by the amazing collaborations already happening among our faculty, students, staff and with community and industry partners. We’re well-positioned as we begin working on the strategic plan for our college’s future, and we’re grateful for the support of our friends of the college as we shape our vision together.

Sincerely,