KU News Release

Fine arts reorganization provides greater opportunities to KU students

LAWRENCE — A reorganization of the University of Kansas’ fine arts programs will provide students a 21st century approach to the study of the arts and lay the foundation for increasing academic and artistic accomplishment.

“The arts play a critical role in society, providing enlightenment, education and entertainment,” said Richard Lariviere, provost and executive vice chancellor. “The way the various artistic fields are studied and practiced at universities is changing, with an increased focus on collaboration and interdisciplinary work.

“The plan we’ve developed recognizes those changes and ensures KU students will have an opportunity to be part of a vibrant arts community for decades to come. It is the result of input from faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as professionals in these fields. I thank them for their thoughts and ideas, as they will help ensure a bright future for the arts at KU.”

The School of Fine Arts contains the departments of art, design and music and dance. The school also oversees the Lied Center of Kansas.

The reorganization, which is subject to approval by the Kansas Board of Regents and will be done using existing resources, transforms the School of Fine Arts into the School of Music. This school will contain KU’s music programs and will be headed by a dean.

“Creating a School of Music will allow the students and faculty to focus on their field of study and will create a stand-alone identity comparable to similar programs at peer institutions,” said John Gronbeck-Tedesco, interim dean of the School of Fine Arts. “At the same time, the school will continue its programs that welcome students from across the university, such as instrumental and vocal lessons, ensembles, bands, vocal groups and orchestras.”

The Department of Art and a new Department of Dance will become part of a new School of the Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Department of Theatre and Film, already in the College, will join this new school. Like the other major academic divisions in the College, the School of the Arts will be led by an associate dean.

“Creating a School of the Arts within the College recognizes the strong ties between the arts and humanities and increases the opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaborative work involving KU faculty and students,” said Joseph Steinmetz, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Also, since the College is the largest academic unit at KU, it will bring more opportunities for participation in the arts to more students.”

The Department of Design will join the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, uniting that school’s client-centered focus with the department’s similar focus of the interior design, industrial design, visual communication, photomedia and design management programs.

“Architecture and design increasingly rely on shared technologies in the creation and illustration of a variety of projects,” said John Gaunt, dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning. “Bringing these fields together will increase opportunities for collaboration, which will better prepare students to succeed in their careers.”

A few programs within the Department of Design will become part of the Department of Art within the School of the Arts: ceramics, metalsmithing and jewelry, scenography, textile design, theatre design and visual arts education.

The Lied Center will report directly to the provost’s office in recognition of the center’s role as an asset to the entire university.

Lariviere emphasized that current students will not see their studies disrupted by the reorganization. Degree programs will be moved intact within the new structure to protect the integrity of those programs for current students. All students in current degree programs will be able to complete their program of study.

In addition to enhancing academic and artistic opportunities, the plan is also cost-effective, requiring no additional funding. The realignment of departments will require minimal physical relocation of individual faculty and staff, and no reductions in staff positions.

Subject to regents approval, the new structure will take effect July 1, 2009, in time for the 2009-2010 academic year.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.