Beginning in the fall 2022 semester, the School of Art and Creative
Media will unite the strengths of Millikin's Art Department with
those of the rapidly expanding Arts Technology and Administration
program to integrate innovative scholarship and artistic practice
being done by students and faculty.
"The new School of Art and Creative Media provides exciting new
opportunities to fully embrace and expand upon the multidisciplinary
and interdisciplinary art, scholarship and teaching that have become
a hallmark of our arts programs," said Millikin University Provost
Mary Black. "Faculty in our arts and media programs continue to find
new and innovative ways to prepare students for careers and lives in
the arts in the 21st century, and interdisciplinary collaboration is
key to that innovation."
Millikin University's curriculum offerings have vastly expanded in
media arts and arts entrepreneurship over the past four years with
new majors and revamped programs presented each year. The School of
Art and Creative Media's multidisciplinary approach helps ensure
that Millikin graduates will continue to be prepared for the
evolving job market while leading fulfilling lives using their
creative skills.
"We're very excited about the possibilities of this merger. Faculty
expertise, equipment and technology, and the enormous creative
energy of our students will come together to provide not only
efficiencies but, more importantly, a positive impact on students
preparing to enter the creative economy," said Laura Ledford, dean
of the College of Fine Arts at Millikin. "Career opportunities are
expanding for creatives across all media, and we must respond by
providing the skills our students need to succeed as versatile,
collaborative professionals."
The School of Art and Creative Media will offer students an
opportunity to explore exciting career paths from art therapy to
arts management, to creative media communication to intermedia
studio art, while also supporting the traditional fine arts.
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"Just in the last five years, Millikin has grown to have multiple
Macintosh labs on campus, new production studios for film and photography, and
state-of-the-art audio recording sound equipment," said Jessa Wilcoxen,
associate professor and chair of the Arts Technology and Administration
Department at Millikin. "Artists, publishers, storytellers and media makers have
opportunities to showcase and sell their works through our celebrated
student-run art gallery, and our new student-run businesses in audio
communication, film production and media creation."
Lyle Salmi, professor and chair of the Millikin Art Department, noted, "The
School of Art and Creative Media recognizes the importance of the synergies and
creative possibilities within both the traditional fine arts and the newer
creative endeavors of arts technology and media."
In addition to its curriculum offerings, the School of Art and Creative Media
will create a pathway for undergraduates to accelerate their careers in arts
management through a new accelerated Arts Administration/Master of Business
Administration (MBA) 3+1 dual degree program.
The School of Art and Creative Media will also expand offerings on the following
subjects: animation, character design, data visualization, game and app design,
cinematography, screenwriting, arts management, sound design, audio engineering,
podcasting, media communication, sports media, commercial photography and
directing.
"Millikin University's Performance Learning approach will be at the center of
the School of Art and Creative Media, focusing on the core values of community,
professionalism and future-oriented practices," said Laura Ledford.
For more information about Millikin University's School of Art and Creative
Media, visit millikin.edu/art-creative-media.
[Millikin University Director of
Media Relations and Publications Dane Lisser] |