DIVISION OF HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES, MEDIA, AND ARTS
CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS Division of Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, and Arts
Nurturing the unique talents of arts activists and providing them with the tools, exposure, and professional networks to share their gifts on a global stage … and rise as leaders in their fields.
C R E AT I V E A N D P E R FO R M I N G A RTS
Morehouse College has shown that art is an intellectual expression of creativity that impacts society by altering views, establishing values, sharing diverse perspectives, and communicating experiences beyond place and time. The College has a storied history in the arts that dates back more than 100 years. Its focus on excellence, artistic talent, academic understanding, and respect for the highest professional standards has produced trailblazers who have made a global impact. The Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, and Arts (HSSMA) Division, which oversees all art majors, is charged with developing 21st century art icons and music educators. HSSMA offers six Creative and Performing Arts majors: — Art — A rt History and Curatorial Studies — Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies
— Theatre and Performance — Dance Performance and Choreography — Music
The artistic talent found among the students and faculty of Morehouse is second to none. The College has produced some of the most influential voices in arts activism of this century, from Spike Lee to Killer Mike. Creative and performing arts programs challenge Morehouse scholars to take up the mantle and share their artistic voices in music, film, visual art, and other performance mediums on a global stage. The departments and programs are led by accomplished artists and esteemed academicians who make expert contributions in their fields as professors and respected practitioners of the
THE CAMPAIGN FOR MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
arts. In addition to teaching theory and the global language of the arts, HSSMA professors guide students through an exploration of the cultural history of the diaspora, and challenge students to pursue excellence in writing and performance as they prepare for careers as leaders and innovators in their disciplines. The Division fosters the development of artist activists who use their outstanding talents as musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, actors, dancers, educators, producers, and composers to educate audiences about their cultural identity and political views. Their creative works often make bold statements on social issues and showcase the beauty, history, and unique voices of people of color. C reative and Performing Arts graduates have gone on to win prestigious professional awards, perform internationally, and teach music at both the high school and college level. Some 90 percent of students in the Division graduate within four years, with 80 percent pursuing graduate degrees. H SSMA majors are national leaders: Music is one of only three departments at the College to be nationally-accredited by professional associations (National Association of Schools of Music); CTEMS is one of the nation’s only film and screenwriting program at an HBCU. T he Division features programs that are essential to the cultural landscape at Morehouse, including the Morehouse College “House of Funk” Marching Band and the world-famous Morehouse Glee Club. The Glee Club, which has an international fan base, has performed
multiple times in the presence of U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the inauguration of Jimmy Carter. The Glee Club also sang at the funeral of the College’s illustrious Nobel Prize-winning alumnus Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continues to tour the world performing before packed audiences. The Division also oversees the Morehouse Jazz Ensemble, the Morehouse Concert Band, and Morehouse musicians from the Atlanta University Center-wide orchestra. Fostering the pursuit of excellence at Morehouse
C R E AT I V E A N D P E R FO R M I N G A RTS
College, The Division of Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, and Arts’s objective is to become the premier center for the development of artists in higher education. We recognize that the pace of change is so frequent in the arts that it is critical for the Division to have the flexibility and funding to embrace change as a critical competency to ensure future success. The constant demands and expectations from our students, partners, and audiences place high importance on how we educate, attract, and create new ways to perform and present art. And as we inspire future leaders, servants, and art activists, it is essential that we challenge our students not only to produce art that captivates but art that also moves us forward in how people of color are celebrated and recognized for their ingenuity and brilliance. The following strategic imperatives will support our efforts: R aising funds to underwrite student scholarships and support resources to help the Division aggressively increase student recruitment in arts disciplines. P roviding students with innovative support services to elevate their academic learning and expand access to instructional and operational technology in labs, studios, and classrooms. E stablishing a budget for the presentation of nationally and internationally recognized concert artists, actors and directors, guest lecturers and clinicians, film and television professionals, artists in residence, art connoisseurs, and art exhibitions to give Morehouse students access to Master classes by some of the best performance and artistic talent from around the world.
Arts, and Arts and Entertainment Program in collaboration with the Business and Economics Division to help artists improve their business acumen. E xpanding study abroad opportunities and virtual studies in the arts, as well as certificate programs in music composition, recording technology, conducting, and church music. I ncreasing performance opportunities within and outside of the classroom.
Invest in Success The Division of Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, and Arts is the home to some of the College’s most celebrated majors and programs. With your support, the Division can expand its curricular and co-curricular programs, both at Morehouse and abroad, improve its facilities, upgrade technology, and provide essential scholarships in the arts for students who could not afford higher education without the aid of benefactors. Your gifts will give voice to a new generation of icons who are eager to share their stories with the world.
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES Presidential Scholars Program for the Arts
$145,000,000
Scholarly Research Endowment
$10,000,000
Distinguished Faculty Positions
$10,000,000
Dean’s Programmatic Endowment TOTAL
$5,000,000 $170,000,000
Morehouse College provides one of the nation’s most productive educational experiences for studying creative and performing arts. The Division fosters the intellectual, analytical, and artistic skills necessary for the study and global application of unique expressions of creativity from diverse cultural experiences.
Establishing a Music Industry, Recording MAKING MEN OF CONSEQUENCE
“MOREHOUSE COLLEGE HAS A RICH LEGACY OF PRODUCING LEADERS WHO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER ACROSS DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING IN FILM, TELEVISION, AND THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS. THE COLLEGE’S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, LECTURES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS EXPOSE THE MOREHOUSE COMMUNITY—AND METRO ATLANTA—TO INNOVATORS IN THE ARTS AND IDEAS THAT BROADEN THEIR INTELLECT AND ECHO THEIR CULTURAL EXPERIENCE.” UZEE BROWN JR., D.M.A. ’72 | PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
giving.morehouse.edu