Watch the Video here>

The University of Virginia’s arts program is growing, kicking off a new school year by trying to get more students and the Charlottesville community involved.

UVA is putting an extra focus on the fine arts in the midst of a liberal arts education. It has always offered creative writing, music, and drama classes. Now, it’s consolidated under one initiative known as “UVA Arts.”

Students “drummed up” support Saturday for the growing arts program at the UVA, and celebrated how far the program has come.

“It has grown immensely, I think that there’s been a lot of interest in what the arts can do and how it can help every student who’s at UVA,” Emma Terry of the Provost’s Office said.

“It really is a lot bigger, I think events like the one tonight that show students all the things that we have going, but also the imaginative programming and the new facilities,” UVA President Teresa Sullivan said.

Those facilities include what is now called “Arts Grounds,” a collection of theaters, workshops and classrooms to enhance collaboration.

“We’re cross-disciplinary, so drama works with the architecture school, which works with studio arts, and so being on Arts Grounds right here, it’s just this great creative place for everyone to join in and be a part of it,” Terry said.

Sullivan says that even applies to students who may not be studying art.

“We view ourselves not just as producing students who can be performers or artists, but an audience for the arts,” Sullivan said.

The university says the growth of UVA Arts also benefits the Charlottesville community, through the Virginia Film Festival and symphony concerts.

“The Fralin museum has lots of visitors from the community, our theater programs have lots of people,” Sullivan said.

UVA Arts has many programs open to the public this fall, including the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival and the Virginia Film Festival. The full schedule can be found here.

Media Contact
Nora Neus
NBC29
[email protected]
Original Publication: NBC29