Artistic Excellence

We will be recognized as a premier regional college where the arts flourish through innovation, performance, exhibition, and scholarship. Through the integration of high-level artistic pursuits and a liberal arts curriculum, we empower students to develop integrity and quality in artistry, leadership, and service — drawing on the creative potential of faculty mentorship, community partnerships, and emerging technologies. The arts at Concordia present a distinctive opportunity to engage students, celebrate myriad artistic voices, and prepare imaginative artists and insightful scholars for engaged citizenship and vibrant contributions to our communities.

Goal 1

Offer compelling arts programs.

• Objective 1: Enhance and elevate existing arts programs by offering students faculty mentorship and opportunities to grow and develop as artists and scholars, broadening participation across diverse student populations, and ensuring meaningful opportunities to flourish in the arts.
• Objective 2: Design, develop, and launch new arts programs that meet and align with current and emerging student interest and demand.
• Objective 3: Expand and further develop technology aspects of arts programs.
• Objective 4: Assess facilities and equipment for artistic offerings, including Memorial Auditorium, Frances Frazier Comstock Theatre, and the Cy Running Gallery, and develop plans for improving infrastructure to support growth in the arts, community engagement, and student/audience satisfaction.

Goal 2

Increase student accessibility to the arts.

• Objective 1: Increase funding for scholarships in the arts.
• Objective 2: Reduce barriers to participation in the arts by increasing financial support for cocurricular experiences, including lesson and ensemble fees.
• Objective 3: Develop more specific and timely advising structures and strategies for students in the arts with equitable retention as a primary goal.
• Objective 4: Assess availability of varied levels of arts experiences (time, cost, ability) relative to student demand.

Goal 3

Develop and deepen community engagement and institutional partnerships in the arts.

• Objective 1: Explore, design, and implement education partnerships for academic and cocurricular programs, including bringing visiting artists to campus and hosting artistic events such as competitions and festivals.
• Objective 2: Increase public awareness of existing arts events and programs on campus and enhance community engagement with campus arts programming.
• Objective 3: Create opportunities for faculty and staff to go out into the community, particularly to interact with students in schools.
• Objective 4: Examine/improve/expand existing community outreach experiences for students, and create additional programs for students to engage with community organizations through internships, co-op experiences, and volunteering.