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Find your voice. Fuel your passion. Ignite your future.

The University of Utah College of Fine Arts faculty and programs challenge, immerse and ultimately prepare committed students for a rewarding career in the arts. 

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Specialization and Teaching

World class faculty and robust arts teaching programs fuel the next generations of creative thinkers.

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Spotlight

With over a dozen venues to exhibit, perform, or screen films, students’ chances to shine are abundant.

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Arts Research

As a Research 1 institution, opportunities abound to participate in groundbreaking creative and scholarly arts research.

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Whether across creative disciplines or across campus, innovation thrives where the arts intersect.

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Salt Lake City’s thriving and vibrant arts culture offers world class local and global arts experiences.

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Nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, campus is minutes away from trailheads and ski resorts.

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300+

Arts experiences on campus each year

86%

of alumni rated their experience as excellent/good

95%

of our recent alumni felt respected by their instructors/faculty

NEWS + BLOG

The Finer Points

The College of Fine Arts is delighted to honor the 2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher: Benjamin Stanford (Theatre). 

In 2015, The Office of Undergraduate Research established the Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award to recognize an outstanding undergraduate researcher from each college. Faculty mentors are invited to nominate students, and awardees are selected by committee. The criteria for the Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award include: a record of sustained commitment to developing research skills and knowledge under the supervision of a faculty mentor, evidence of independent and critical thinking, active participation in research-related activities on campus, and positive contributions to the research culture of the department, college, and university.

In his own words: 

Name: Benjamin Stanford
Major: Theatre Studies H.B.A.
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Three words that describe me: Non, Con, and Formist.
Most impactful class and professor: Tim Slover has been the most impactful professor in my development as an artist and writer while at the U. I have participated twice in the Department of Theatre's New Play Workshop, which he runs each year, as well as three other classes of his. His Topical Theatre class in particular expanded my perceptions of what theatre ought to do. Tim has taught me that complete creative and personal trust between mentor and student is critical for learning. Honestly, most of my current talent exists because of him!
A CFA moment I’ll never forget: One of my favorite CFA events that has stuck in my mind ever since I attended it was Taylor Mac's shortened performance of "A 24-Decade History of Popular Music" at Kingsbury Hall in 2018. For me, it was the first performance I had experienced that truly broke open my perceptions and assumptions of the many different forms artistry and theatre can take.
What inspires me: I find a lot of inspiration in the creative work of other artists and collaborators whom I have the chance to work with closely. I also find inspiration in certain professional playwrights and composers such as Bruce Norris, David Henry Hwang, and Stephen Sondheim, to name a few. I am also very much inspired by my partner, Izabelle, and all six of my genius brothers.
Summary of major accomplishments on or off campus:
Ben is an award-winning playwright graduating this year from the Department of Theatre. His works include One-Sided (Univ. of Utah, 2020), The Experiment (On Pitch Performing Arts, 2020), We Don't Smoke (Univ. of Utah, 2021), and most recently, Human--a musical Ben co-wrote and composed (Open Door Productions, 2021). Ben has performed with the Utah Opera, Draper Philharmonic and Choral Society, and the Murray City Arts Council. He has also worked as Dramaturg this year on Henry V (Univ. of Utah), and is currently working as a Writing Coach for WriteOn! Workshops as well as Associate Director for the student organization Open Door Productions. Ben is headed to graduate school in the fall to start his MFA in playwriting. He is the proud recipient of the Hoenig Theatre Artist Scholarship, the Marion Stiebel Siciliano Utah Fine Arts Institute Scholarship, the Ralph E. and Winnifred S. Margetts Scholarship, the Jack Lunt and Gordon & Connie Hanks Summer Study Prize, and the Promising Playwright Award.

Inaugural Arts & Health Faculty Fellow: Sam Briggs
05-28-2025
Inaugural Arts & Health Faculty Fellow: Sam Briggs

Sam Briggs, assistant professor in the Department of Theatre, has been selected as the inaugural Arts & Health Faculty Fellow in the College of...

U Department of Film & Media Arts welcomes new Chair, Professor Tim Palmer
05-28-2025
U Department of Film & Media Arts welcomes new Chair, Professor Tim Palmer

On July 1, 2025, after a rigorous national search, Tim Palmer, PhD will take...

U Arts faculty, staff, and students take the stage in SLAC's Summer Show, "The Secret Lives of the Real Wives in the Salt Lake Hive"
05-27-2025
U Arts faculty, staff, and students take the stage in SLAC's Summer Show, "The Secret Lives of the Real Wives in the Salt Lake Hive"

Just announced! Salt Lake Acting Company's Summer Show, "

CFA students and alumni shine in SLCC's The Grand Theatre's "Dreamgirls"
05-27-2025
CFA students and alumni shine in SLCC's The Grand Theatre's "Dreamgirls"

"Dreamgirls" runs through...

CFA hosts the 8th Biennial Conference of The Interdisciplinary Society for Quantitative Research in Music and Medicine (ISQRMM) in David Gardner Hall
05-27-2025
CFA hosts the 8th Biennial Conference of The Interdisciplinary Society for Quantitative Research in Music and Medicine (ISQRMM) in David Gardner Hall

The CFA is hosting the 8th Biennial Conference...

School of Dance hosts the 27th Annual CORPS de Ballet International Conference at the Marriott Center for Dance
05-27-2025
School of Dance hosts the 27th Annual CORPS de Ballet International Conference at the Marriott Center for Dance

The School of Dance will host the 

School of Music hosts the 49th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference at David Gardner Hall
05-27-2025
School of Music hosts the 49th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference at David Gardner Hall

The School of Music hosts the 49th Annual International Trumpet...

"Feathered Tides" offers thoughtful performance while preserving the natural environment
05-27-2025
"Feathered Tides" offers thoughtful performance while preserving the natural environment

"

Chamber Choir tours and performs in Italy
05-26-2025
Chamber Choir tours and performs in Italy

Professor Barlow Bradford (Music), Visiting Assistant Professor Eric Schmidt (Music), and accompanist Xiaoyu Zhang toured Italy with the School...

Character Dance Ensemble (CDE) travels to Germany
05-17-2025
Character Dance Ensemble (CDE) travels to Germany

Each year, the School of Dance's Character Dance Ensemble (CDE) travels internationally to learn traditional and contemporary dances and immerse themselves...

REPOST: Goldwater Scholar Lukas Mesicek
05-15-2025
REPOST: Goldwater Scholar Lukas Mesicek

We are thrilled to share this feature story of a student pursuing interdisciplinary excellence: Jazz guitarist and scientist Lukas Mesicek.

Academic Advisor Jennifer McLaurin receives 2025 UAAC Outstanding Experienced Academic Advisor Award
05-08-2025
Academic Advisor Jennifer McLaurin receives 2025 UAAC Outstanding Experienced Academic Advisor Award

UAAC Advisor Awards Committee announced that College of Fine Arts Academic Advisor Jennifer McLaurin received the 2025 UAAC Outstanding Academic...

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