Colleges
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Dr. George Sparks, Dean
Dr. Marilou Johnson, Associate Dean
Phone: (540) 568-7131
Location: Harrison Hall, Suite 1102
MSC: 2105
Web site: http://cvpa.jmu.edu/
Academic Units
Mission Statement
Goals
Majors and Minors
Resources and Events
Academic Units
School of Art and Art History
Leslie Bellavance, Director
School of Music
Dr. Jeffrey Showell, Director
School of Theatre and Dance
William J. Buck, Director
Mission Statement
The College of Visual and Performing Arts is founded on the belief that artistic expression reveals the essential nature and diversity of human experience. Embracing traditional practices as well as contemporary approaches and technologies, the College provides a stimulating environment in which students create, perform, interpret, research, teach and think critically about the arts.
The College actively supports creative and scholarly endeavors, collaboration between faculty and students, and interdisciplinary exchange. We are committed to making the arts an integral
part of the life of the university and advancing their
visibility, accessibility and understanding throughout the region and the world.
Goals
The programs in the college are committed to achieving the following common objectives:
- To prepare students to be articulate, effective, and inspiring performers, educators, creators, scholars and professionals in the arts.
- To attain recognition and leadership in the arts at the regional, national and global levels.
- To enhance, develop and sustain undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction.
- To support cultural, aesthetic and intellectual diversity, and to foster interdisciplinary exchange.
- To offer students instruction and learning experiences that incorporate the latest technology, research and practices.
- To engage the surrounding community as an active partner in promoting and experiencing the arts.
Majors and Minors
CVPA offers majors and minors from the following schools:
- School of Art and Art History
- School of Music
- School of Theatre and Dance
Resources and Events
artWorks Gallery
artWorks Gallery features rotating exhibits of JMU undergraduate and graduate student work. The gallery is managed by students in the School of Art and Art History. artWorks is located a short walk from Duke Hall on the second floor of 131 Grace Street, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA. For information on current exhibitions and hours of operation, please call (540) 568-7175. artWorks Gallery is sponsored by the School of Art and Art History.
Institute for Visual Studies
Dr. David Ehrenpreis, Director
Phone: (540) 568-5656
The Institute for Visual Studies is a center for scholarly, scientific and creative inquiry into the nature and workings of images. An incubator of new ideas, the institute fosters discovery, and the generation of artworks, products, and applications by multidisciplinary teams of students and faculty. The Institute
for Visual Studies is sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts and is a collaboration among faculty representing all colleges at the university.
Madison Art Collection
Dr. Kathryn Stevens, Director
Phone: (540) 568-6934
This collection of more than 3000 art objects features
Neolithic through contemporary art pieces. The Madison Art Collection is located in the Festival College Center, Room 2102. For more information access, view this Web site. The Madison Art Collection is sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Masterpiece Season
Each year the college and its visual/performing arts units present a variety of cultural events for JMU and the entire university community. The Schools of Art and Art History, Music, and Theatre and Dance all take an active role in this series. In addition to highlighting the talents of JMU faculty and students, Masterpiece Season produces visiting artist programs titled the Encore Series and the Family Series. In recent years, Masterpiece Season has featured such artists as Wynton Marsalis, the Harlem Boys Choir, the Richmond Ballet, Spirit of the Dance and the St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet. To purchase tickets or to obtain ticket information, call (540) 568-7000.
New Image Gallery
New Image Gallery is a professional photography gallery featuring contemporary photography of regional and national significance. New Image Gallery is located on the second floor of 131 Grace Street, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA. For information on current exhibitions and hours of operation, please call (540) 568-7175. New Image Gallery is sponsored by the School of Art and Art History.
Sawhill Gallery
Sawhill Gallery is a professional art gallery featuring changing exhibitions of international, national and regional significance. In addition to providing exhibitions of contemporary art, a hallmark of the gallery's mission is to demonstrate art's multicultural and interdisciplinary dynamic. Sawhill Gallery is located in Duke Hall, Room 101, corner of Main and Grace Streets, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA. For information on current exhibitions and hours of operation, please call (540) 568-6407. Sawhill Gallery is sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Art and Art History.
