Dean’s Insider: UT’s What Starts Here capital campaign in the College of Fine Arts

Last week, the university launched the public phase of its comprehensive fundraising initiative entitled the What Starts Here capital campaign with the bold goal of raising $6 billion by 2026.

As many of you know, we’ve been in the “silent phase” of this fundraising campaign since 2016, and we are well on our way to meeting this audacious goal. The College of Fine Arts’ goal is to raise $150 million during the campaign, and thanks to your generous support and advocacy, we’ve already realized more than $113 million in new gifts.

These funds will help the college build resources to further its academic mission and increase its endowments. The college’s priorities for the campaign include:

• Innovation in Research and Creative Practice
• Student Support and College-to-Career Success for Artists and Creatives
• New State of the Art Facilities and Renovations

How can you help us reach our goals? We’re grateful for your financial support, of course, but we also look to you for advocacy and connections. If you have a friend or know someone who might be interested in the excellent work happening in our college, please consider introducing us. Bring your friends to our exhibitions, performances and special events and talk about why you are engaged with the College of Fine Arts and why creatives are essential for our society, culture and economy.

I’m so grateful to our development team, led by Executive Director and Assistant Dean of Development Sondra Lomax, for their hard work in helping our college pursue our goals. We’re also incredibly grateful to the University Development Office for its focused commitment to supporting visual and performing arts and design at UT.

What starts here in the College of Fine Arts does indeed change the world, and I am gratified to be part of this community and to have an up-close look at the incredible impact of the work of our faculty, students and staff.  With your help during the What Starts Here campaign, we will build resources to secure the excellence of our programs for future generations of Fine Arts students.

Sincerely,