Mizzou unveils new arts school, plans to enhance student opportunities

The University of Missouri unveiled its new visual arts studies school at a reception on Wednesday.

The school is located within the College of Arts and Science and will merge several programs including art, art history, digital storytelling and film studies.

The school’s director, Jo Stealey, said the idea to combine the programs came from a year and a half of weighing the positives with the negatives.

“Early last spring we made the decision that yes, there were enough benefits to move forward with this, that we made an official application to band together and form the school,” Stealey said.

The big announcement was held at the Sager Braudis Gallery in Columbia, a partner to the school that Stealey hopes will enhance educational opportunities for students. It will also regularly display exhibits from the school.

“We feel like this is a win-win situation,” said Stealey. “At a time when funding in the arts is dwindling nationally, we here at the University of Missouri are committing to enhancing the arts education for our students and at the same time, bringing that arts education out into our local and regional communities.”

Wednesday’s event featured exhibitions from faculty and students at the gallery. The art pieces are set to be on display now through Oct. 27.