What are the important milestones in the creation of a new arts center?
Introducing new curriculum. That includes, for example, a faculty decision about a cinema and media studies major. I’m hopeful that decision will happen this year. But there are other conversations, like the introduction of a new arts requirement, that need to be folded into larger conversations with faculty members about broad curricular reform, and that may take another year or two.
Developing a consensus about programming. This work has already begun, and we hope to complete it by winter term 2007.
Developing an architectural design. This will occur after the programming exercise is completed, when we have enough planning in place that it makes sense to hire an architect.
How will Carleton conceptualize and design the arts center?
The arts planning committee, including students, faculty and staff members, and trustees, is at the very early stages of deciding what programming the arts center will host. Since a core feature of the committee’s report is a real attempt to create both a curriculum and a space that support the interdisciplinary nature of the arts, our initial focus will be on thinking about collaborative spaces.
