Arts Planning

1998: 21st Century Report

The 21st Century Report identifies a new arts center as a key priority for Carleton College. Read the Report.

December 2004: Charge to the Committee

President Robert A. Oden Jr. charges the Arts Planning Committee to create a stategic plan for the arts at Carleton. Read the Charge.

September 2005: Purchase of the Middle School

Carleton College purchases the former Northfield Middle School building.

Fall 2005: First Report of the Arts Planning Committee

The Arts Planning Committee releases its initial report, Building the Consciously Creative Campus, recommending two interrelated courses of action: a curricular initiative to make the arts more central to our students' education, and a facilities initiative to construct a state-of-the-art center for the arts on the property of Northfield's former middle school building. Read the full report.

January 2006: Renewed Charge to the Committee

President Robert A. Oden Jr. charges the Arts Planning Committee to create a tangible plan to achieve the recommendations made in their first report, Building the Consciously Creative Campus. Read the Renewed Charge.

June 2007: Second Report of the Arts Planning Committee

The Arts Planning Committee releases its second report, Toward a Consciously Creative Campus: A Collaboratory & Music Center, with its programmatic recommendations for a new collaborative arts center and a new music center. Read the full report.

June 2007: Architect Selection

The College announces the selection of Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle LTD (MS&R) as the architect for development of the former Northfield Middle School into a facility geared toward creative collaboration.

January 2008: The Arts Union is named

The Carleton community puts its collective head together to come up with a name for the new arts center/old middle school. Two entrants in the "name the building" contest submitted the same winning name: "The Arts Union." Read the full story.