Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University

CREATIVE ARTS (Art and Art History, Emerging Media/Digital Arts, and Creative Writing)

MUSIC

THEATRE (including Shakespeare Studies, Musical Theatre Studies and Dance Studies)

Office - Rm 142 in Music Building

541-552-6101

Director - David R. Humphrey

Director of the Schneider Museum of Art - Scott Malbaurn

Chair of Creative Arts - Robin Strangfeld

Chair of Music - Cynthia Hutton

Manager of the Music Graduate Program - Terry Longshore

Co-Chairs of Theatre - Jackie Apodaca and Sean O’Skea

Director of Masters of Theatre Studies Program - TBD

Director of Shakespeare Studies/ShakespeareAMERICA - David McCandless

OCA Student Success Coordinator - Karen Bolda

OCA Division Manager/Music Program Assistant - TBD

OCA Production Manager - Thomas Knapp

OCA Marketing/Box Office Manager - Simone Stewart

Program Assistant for Creative Arts - Rachel Humpton

Program Manager for Theatre and Shakespeare Studies & Visiting Schools Program - Helen Eckard

Program Assistant for Theatre - Kara Gandesbery

Program Assistant for Schneider Museum of Art - TBD

Studio Tech/Museum Preparator - Jason Hayes

Theatre Tech Manager - Jane Hickinbotham

Costume Design Assistant - Brandon McCowan

Costume Shop Assistant - Amy Harper

VISION STATEMENT

The Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University empowers people to learn, interpret and change the world through the arts.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University educates artist practitioners and scholars in a diverse environment that cultivates Southern Oregon University’s values of creativity, collaboration, communication, and adventure.  The Center encourages artistic excellence, contextual understanding and critical thought, and urges explorations of innovative, emerging approaches, forms, and expressions.

FOCUS

Focus will be on the training, nurturing, presenting, and honoring of Oregon artists.  The unique Oregon setting of the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU serves as a creative catalyst for the mixture of students, educators, and artists from the state, the nation and the world.  This diverse combination will infuse the Oregon arts landscape with artistic excellence.

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

The Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU is an Academic Division as well as a cultural arts hub providing programming for the campus and the greater community.

Academic Programs

Academic programs are at the core of the Center–Creative Arts (Art and Art History, Emerging Media & Digital Arts, and Creative Writing) Music, and Theatre, (Dance/Movement Studies & Musical Theatre Studies). Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in these programs.

The Schneider Museum of Art

The Museum is actively involved with the University’s studio art experience by exhibiting work from important professional contemporary Oregon, national, and international artists.  The Museum’s programming includes a nascent visiting artist-in-residence program with artists creating original works on site.  These are presented in the Museum and provide unique opportunities for student involvement.  Strong collaborative programs are developed with all areas of the arts to engage students and present works of innovation and exploration.  

Affiliated Arts Programs

A second component of the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU is its university related programs including Chamber Music Concerts, the ShakespeareAMERICA Institute (a partnership between SOU and OSF), High School Honors Band and Choir, Shakespeare Visiting Schools Program and more, all of which serve as cultural and academic accompaniment that make available unique educational experiences for students, stimulate recruitment and provide artistic distinctiveness to the Center and the entire University.

Community Arts Partnerships

The third component of the Center is the close working relationships and partnerships that exists between the University and community arts organizations including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Britt Festivals, Ashland International Film Festival, Rogue Valley Symphony, Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, Ashland Gallery Association, and many others.  Community arts organizations provide professional/semi-professional arts experiences for SOU students.  There is a long history of collaboration between SOU and the partner organizations that have created for the region and the state a rich cultural environment. 

For information about any of the program areas or contact information go to the specific program page in the catalog or visit OCA.SOU.edu.

Schneider Museum of Art is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday - Saturday.  For information about exhibitions go to sma@sou.edu or call 541-552-6245.