College of Fine + Applied Arts (FAA)

Summary

The College of Fine and Applied Arts is reimagining the way we see our changing world through art and design. Environmental arts can bring us better ways to live together; performing arts offer an expression, interpretation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human; and the visual arts give us new ways to communicate, develop and improve products, and see our world. Our three unique arts venues serve as vital centers of culture, performance, exhibition, and public engagement. We know our future depends on daring to bring art to new places, and that design is a common thread connecting our disciplines with one another, the campus, and beyond. We know we must explore and experiment with creativity in ways we have never done before. And we know we have the tools and people to make it happen. We give our students the ability to “live their careers” before their careers begin, and they leave us with minds piqued to make the next creative breakthroughs that will delight, inspire, and capture the attention of the world. We create leaders and explorers. We are problem solvers and builders of bright futures. We develop daring new ideas and a new generation to build upon them. With Illinois, we dream big—then we make it happen.

Priorities

Student Support

As the college’s top priority, scholarship and fellowship dollars will ensure that we attract and retain the best students, help to drive enrollment upward, and assist in recruiting talented students from underrepresented backgrounds. Funds may also support student programs, field study/research, and other distinct experiential learning opportunities that enrich the student experience.

Faculty Support

New endowed faculty positions will support the recruitment and retention of world class faculty, ensuring that the college can move in strategic directions around new degree options and initiatives. These funds will also support visiting faculty, artists, and other in-residence programs that are critical for student learning, mentoring, and networking.

Public Engagement

Public engagement funds contribute to cultural programming and seminars, performances, classes, and other educational activities in which the college engages with community members beyond campus constituencies. Funds in public engagement will support Krannert Art Museum, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and Japan House programming, as well as Illinois Summer Youth Music, symposiums, and other engagement efforts.

Research Initiatives

Illinois’s record of research excellence not only attracts strong students, but fuels new external partnerships that take on the world’s most urgent challenges. These funds will bolster the development of new work and collaborative research opportunities both within FAA and with outside partners. New support can help faculty not only join such efforts at Illinois, but lead their own on the global stage through new labs and facilities that impact real lives in domains across the private and public sectors.

Physical and Technological Infrastructure

Supporting the infrastructure to provide transformative learning experiences is a priority for FAA. We strive to prepare students for leadership in their fields by offering access to cutting-edge learning, performance, and studio environments.