Arts Initiative

The Arts Initiative at Columbia University was created in 2004 by President Bollinger to promote "the role of the arts in the university, and the university's role in the arts". It is part of the Office of the President. The initiative's Director is Gregory Mosher. The initiative's website is CUArts.

Mission

The Arts Initiative at Columbia University was created in 2004 by President Bollinger to re-invent the role of the arts in the university, and the university’s role in the arts. This effort now spans the campus, unconstrained by venue, department, field, or program, and reaches out into a diverse international culture. Among its aims are to make the arts part of the experience of every Columbia student's education and to promote a life-long involvement in the arts.

This enterprise rests on three pillars. The Initiative nurtures the vast artistic energy – nearly 150 groups, departments, and programs - on Columbia’s campus. It creates and strengthens links between Columbia and the wider culture. It connects the arts with other ways of understanding–and acting in-the world.

Current Programs

Ticket and Information Center (TIC)

The Ticket and Information Center opened in January 2008 and dispensed over 30,000 free and discounted tickets to the Columbia community in its first fourteen weeks. Operating both in the Lerner lobby and online, the TIC features campus events of all sorts, NYC cultural events, and discount movies vouchers. By special arrangement with Telecharge and select Broadway producers, the TIC has at last created an alternative to student rush by selling student-priced tickets in advance. The Ticket and Information Center staff fields questions ranging from Carnegie Hall's address to when the Columbia Orchestra holds auditions. TIC operates in partnership with the Provost's office, with additional support from Columbia College and Student Services.

Passport to New York

Passport to New York is a program that grants student CUID holders free admission to 28 New York City museums and institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, the Guggenheim, the Whitney, and more. Students only need their CUID with a valid sticker for that school term (i.e. Fall 2008) for admission. Passport to New York is one of the Arts Initiative's most popular programs.

The Gatsby Charitable Foundation Fund

The Gatsby Charitable Foundation fund, made possible by the generosity of Lord David (MBA '71) and Lady Susie Sainsbury, continues its extraordinary support for student arts projects. Grantees spanned Columbia's schools, with projects ranging from Project Bluelight, Columbia's first undergraduate film production company, to Follies, an original musical composed and performed by graduate students in the School of International and Public Affairs. Gatsby funds also support the CUArts website and subsidize student tickets. The Gatsby application form is now online at CUArts.

CUArts

CUArts, the University's web compendium of campus and NYC arts information and resources, is now accessible directly from the Columbia University homepage. Sixty thousand visitors a month visit the site to link to Columbia's major arts schools, programs, organizations and venues, the Ticket and Information Center, and the Columbia Alumni Arts League, as well as listings of jobs/internships, arts libraries, campus rehearsal and performance venues, and much more.

The Columbia Alumni Arts League

The Columbia Alumni Arts League was established in late 2006 to make it possible for Columbians from all schools to stay involved in the arts – and with each other - after graduation. The Columbia Alumni Arts League provides member discounts and perks at fifty-five leading NYC cultural organizations, while CAAL Nights bring alumni together several times a month at a dazzling variety of arts events. Last year President Bollinger and Jean Magnano Bollinger began a tradition of presenting the graduating class with complimentary one-year memberships; the 2007 graduates joined nearly one thousand members from previous classes. CAAL also maintains a web listing of local arts events featuring alumni, and sends a weekly newsletter featuring exclusive and affordable cultural opportunities to over 10,000 members.

Arts Networking

Held in collaboration with the Columbia Alumni Association, networking sessions bring students and artistic alumni together to effectively schmooze. CCE may not have you back, but the AI does. More Info

Past Programs

Tierno Bokar

Legendary director Peter Brooks staged a production of this French-language play in Barnard's LeFrak Gymnasium. Website

New Yorker nights

Series of events at Miller Theater in 2005-2006 featuring speakers like Joan Didion, Oliver Sacks, Malcolm Gladwell, Simon Schama, and others.

Havel at Columbia

Vaclav Havel chilled at Columbia for the Fall of 2006. He delivered the CC Coursewide Lecture, students had to read a play of his in Lit Hum, the first time a Living White Man cracked the curriculum, and he shared the stage with Bill Clinton for a discussion. Website

Upcoming projects

Discount tickets

Now available through the TIC!

External links

• CUArts.columbia.edu