The Arts have always been an important part of life at Boston College, but recent years have seen a marked increase in the profile of our arts programs. Innovative exhibits at the McMullen Museum have earned international praise, and our programs in literature, music and theater have attained a solid reputation for excellence. The arts are actively transforming the environment at the university.
Enhancing the status and accessibility of the arts at Boston College is an important goal of the University President, Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., and a particular passion of J. Robert Barth, S.J., former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Father Leahy established the Arts Council in December of 1997 to support and encourage the growth and prominence of dramatic, musical, visual and other art forms on the campus. After completing a review of the "state of the arts" on campus, the council defined its goals and strategies for improvement of the arts of Boston College. The primary objective is to make the experience of art available and meaningful to Boston College students, the wider university community, and to share this with the Greater Boston and international community.
In its short tenure, the Boston College Arts Council has established an annual Arts Festival, inaugurated Arts Council awards for faculty, staff and students, established a twice-yearly calendar for the arts, and developed an annual Career Night for the Arts. The Arts Council's current projects include expanding the arts facilities for performance, creating gallery space for the exhibition of student art, and enlarging the McMullen Museum; developing new and enhancing existing academic programs; establishing scholarships for student artists; and increasing the presence of public art on campus.
Article about the "State of the Arts" report in The Chronicle.