New U-M Arts Initiative Announced, Gunalan Nadarajan to Advise

On October 3, 2019, a campus-wide arts initiative was announced by University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel. A working group of arts leaders on campus — including Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design Dean Gunalan Nadarajan — will collaborate with all parts of the university in creating the initiative. A two-year startup phase will produce a roadmap through creative and inclusive engagement with the community, especially with students.

As part of the announcement, Schlissel cited work by U‑M Stamps School of Art & Design associate professor Anne Mondro and her ​“creation of arts programs for community members living with dementia.”

“This will be a dynamic period of experimenting with new projects,” Schlissel said. ​“How can we incorporate art and art making into the Michigan experiences of all our students? How can we bring the world’s most compelling artists to campus for deep engagement and collaboration with us? 

“How can the arts help to open new ways of understanding and solving problems in different disciplines? And yes, how can the arts bring us together around profound questions like ​‘what is love?’”

U‑M PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW ARTS INITIATIVE | arts​.umich​.edu