The College of Fine Arts believes in advancement of the arts within a diverse intellectual and social environment through collaboration in learning and artistic practice. Programs in art, music, theater, dance, and arts technology are offered.
The School of Art at Illinois State University provides a professional education for students desiring careers in the visual arts. The highly selective baccalaureate program provides the most gifted students the opportunity to mentor closely with a faculty sponsor and to produce a professional solo exhibition prior to graduation. The master’s program provides highly motivated and gifted visual artists the opportunity to work intensively toward their development as artists.
offers a variety of study programs within the spectrum of music. More than fifteen ensemble opportunities are available to all students on-campus, plus multiple chamber music ensembles, and musical theatre/opera productions. Admission to the program is through audition. There are also private instruction opportunities taught by professors, not teaching assistants, on all wind, brass, and percussion instruments, as well as piano, voice, and strings, including classical guitar.
The annual at Illinois State University is a week-long event which features outstanding performances of contemporary concert music. Highlights of past seasons include appearances by Ensemble Mise-en, City of Tomorrow, Momenta Quartet, Orchid Ensemble, Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, Color Field Ensemble, Spektral Quartet, Del Sol Quartet, loadbang, and Ensemble Dal Niente. Featured guest composers have included Stephen Hartke, Steven Stucky, Joan Tower, Lee Hyla, Sydney Hodkinson, and Augusta Read Thomas. RED NOTE also holds an annual Composition Competition which brings in entries from around the world.
The School of Theatre and Dance offers conservatory-level training within the context of a liberal arts education. Performance opportunities with Illinois State include the professional Illinois Shakespeare Festival, extensive main stage, second-stage and studio productions, plus student produced works. Admission to the Acting, Dance, and Dance Education sequences are through audition. Admission to the Design/Production sequence is through portfolio.
The Arts Technology Program integrates study across the arts with the study of digital technology. Students use digital media to explore areas of traditional creative art making in music, sound, still and moving imagery, and typography to express ideas and solve problems. Admission to the Program in Arts Technology is through portfolio.
