Through May 2017
The University of the Arts
320 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
The University of the Arts in Philadelphia has launched a celebration of its 140th anniversary, themed “UArts 140: The Makers Moment.” The year-long commemoration features a wide variety of events, exhibitions, performances, lectures, presentations and other activities.
“We stand on the shoulders of all who have come before us. It is their engagement with society, their boldness, their risk-taking that dares us to define what’s next for arts education and the next generation of creative capital,” said David Yager, UArts’ president, who was inaugurated on October 17, 2016. “Our alumni and faculty are leaders in their fields, with contributions that are recognized the world over. They are a huge part of why I feel so fortunate to have arrived at this university, in this city, at this very moment,” he said.
The UArts 140 celebration officially began on October 16, with a gala featuring Philadelphia native and Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr., and performances by some of UArts’ nationally-recognized ensembles. The following day, President Yager was inaugurated as the fourth president since the school received university status in 1987.
The anniversary activities continue through the academic year with the university’s 140th Anniversary Event Series, featuring exhibitions, performances, lectures and master classes by prominent visiting artists, and more. One of the highlights is the awarding of the university’s Irvin J. Borowsky International Prize in Glass Arts, accompanied by the artist’s talk presented by the winner.
The University of the Arts evolved from two century-old institutions: Philadelphia College of Art (PCA), established in 1876, and Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts (PCPA). In 1985, PCA and PCPA merged to become the Philadelphia Colleges of the Arts, and after receiving university status in 1987, the University of the Arts became the only university in the nation that offers programs in design, fine arts, media arts, crafts, music, dance, theater and writing that requires interdisciplinary experimentation along with technical rigor.
