Featured performing and visual arts programs of the month

As the Spring season approaches, these well established arts programs continue to blossom. The University of Minnesota partners with a talented performing arts community to offer both a BA in Theater Arts and a BFA Actor Training Program, and Temple University accesses Philadelphia’s cultural music environment to benefit music majors. Performance is strongly emphasized at The Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, while visual creativity and commitment is a prerequisite for acceptance to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).

Theater: University of Minnesota

Collaborative learning occurs at the University of Minnesota in a community of student artists through production opportunities, internships, apprenticeships, classroom work, and one-to-one projects with faculty and guest artists. The BA Theatre Arts degree program is designed for students interested in performance, directing, design, dramatic history, theatre criticism, and/or theatre technology with a variety of inventive techniques. Classroom learning is coupled with practical experience through ties to the performing arts community of the Twin Cities. The University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program combines a core of theatre courses with a full liberal arts curriculum, merging outstanding academics with the world of professional theatre under the auspices of the acclaimed Guthrie Theater. Renowned director Sir Tyrone Guthrie partnered with former U of M theatre arts head, Dr. Frank Whiting, to establish adventurous, groundbreaking educational programs. This partnership continues, with an innovative curriculum, more than 50 years later. Visit the website

Music: Temple University

The Boyer College of Music and Dance is part of the Center for the Arts at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Located near the City’s historic cultural institutions, including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadanco and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a thriving arts community provides countless opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration among students, faculty and cultural partners. Students have the unique opportunity to interact with leading composers, conductors, educators, performers and choreographers with program areas in Choral Conducting, Composition, Dance, Instrumental Studies, Keyboard Studies, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music History, Music Theory, Music Therapy, Voice and Opera. Originating as a single department of music education with vocal instruction at Temple University in 1893, the college now enrolls an average of 800 students each year, many of whom have successfully pursued professional careers in their respective fields. Visit the website

Dance: SUNY Purchase

The Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, a State University of New York (SUNY) school, offers BFA and MFA programs that prepare students for careers in the professional dance world. Training for serious and dedicated dance students provides daily classes in classical ballet and contemporary modern dance followed by advanced classes, modern repertory workshops, and an emphasis on both performance and choreography. This assures an artistic foundation through the four-year composition program and studies of music for dance, dance history, dance production, anatomy for dance, and core curriculum courses. Starting freshman year, students in the Conservatory audition for the internationally renowned Purchase Dance Company that performs repertory and commissioned works. Purchase College alumni perform with most of the important modern and ballet dance companies in the world. They teach as guest artists, direct, choreograph major productions, and have founded their own companies around the globe. Visit the website

Visual Arts: California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

Walt and Roy Disney established CalArts in 1961 as the nation’s first higher-education institute to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in both visual and performing arts. Dedicated to training and nurturing the next generation of professional artists, admission to CalArts is competitive and considered mainly on the basis of talent, creativity and commitment. Visual Arts BFA programs are offered in Art, Graphic Design, Photography and Media, Film and Video, Experimental Animation, and Character Animation. A Digital Arts Minor empowers students to further the use of technology in the arts. All faculty members are working artists with an abundance of real-world experience to better prepare students for the professional demands of art and design. A faculty member is assigned to guide each student through the program as a personal mentor and advisor. CalArts has eight dedicated galleries and a variety of more informal spaces for ongoing shows and presentations of student work. Visit the website

Specialized college arts consulting with former college deans of admissions is available at ArtsBridge. Learn how to refine your talents, apply to the right college arts programs, and receive personalized guidance in Theater, Music, Dance, or Visual Arts.

Learn about upcoming ArtsBridge Audition Workshops that offer students the opportunity to learn the ins and outs from decision-making college faculty.