School for Interdisciplinary Arts
As its name suggests, the School for Interdisciplinary Arts takes an integrated, multidimensional approach to the arts and art-making. Students and professors work across boundaries of art forms such as theatre, studio art, creative writing and literary arts, children's theatre, creative drama, entrepreneurship, applied design and innovation, arts education, art and technology, and all areas of arts and social action.
The School for Interdisciplinary Arts has organized its curricular offerings around three core principles that form the pedagogical foundation for the school. These are: interdisciplinarity between and among the fine and liberal arts; arts and technology; and arts and social action.
Student work ranges widely, from broadcast narratives, digital sculpture, and animation to exploring gender and social action. The school encourages students to work closely with faculty members: artists and scholars who have studied social and psychological dilemmas, shifting demographics, and technologies that shape contemporary audience sensibilities.
Emily Dickinson Hall houses two "black box" theatres and areas to support design construction. The Center for Design offers equipment and staff support for applied design, social entrepreneurship, invention, sculpture, and digital work. Students also have access to design studios and staff support for sound design. The College's gallery often features exhibits by students and alums.
The school encourages students to break down boundaries, incorporate technology, create new forms, and, in the process, transform the world.
John Slepian is dean of the school of interdisciplinary arts and Five College associate professor of art and technology.
Bea Cusin (413.559.5824; bcusin@hampshire.edu)