About Us
The School of Art’s goal is not merely to educate, but to transform. We refine our students’ natural passions into focused pursuit, enabling them to develop professional skills and create meaningful work. Students have a unique opportunity to engage with faculty and peers of cross-disciplinary expertise who encourage students to think beyond the boundaries of what they previously knew. Visit the Why us? section to find out more.
- Purpose & Impact
- Our People
- Our Work
- Our Location
- Openness & Opportunity in the Arts
- Learn More
- Land Acknowledgment
Purpose and Impact
Mission Statement
The School of Art fosters art as integral to human experience and as a catalyst for innovation, expression and critical inquiry.
Our R1 research initiatives and immersive studio practice experiences provide students and faculty with opportunities to engage deeply with creative processes, bridging theory and practice in transformative ways. Through education, research, studio practice, and community engagement, we empower individuals to explore their creative potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Vision Statement
The School of Art envisions a future where the arts thrive as an integral component within the framework of our R1, land-grant institution.
R1 Comprehensive: We are dedicated to advancing new knowledge through practice-related and place-based research, creative practice, and critical theories. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we integrate the arts with other fields, generating new knowledge that benefits both our disciplines and society at large.
Land Grant Commitment: As a land-grant institution and a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, we are committed to expanding opportunities for all students. Using the arts as a medium for empowerment, dialogue, and community-building, we strive to create spaces for meaningful engagement and transformative experiences.
By embodying these commitments, the School of Art strives to be a hub of creativity, inclusivity, and excellence, enriching the world through the arts in all its forms.
Our Work
There is no better way to get a glimpse into what we are about than to see the work with which we are engaged.
Learn MoreOur Location
Whether it’s the towering mountain vistas, the otherworldly desert landscapes, or the vibrant arts scene, Tucson is sure to fill you with inspiration. Often referred to as a “small town within a city,” Tucson possesses a supportive community that expresses the values of sustainability and diversity, both of culture and thought. As a result, the city is host to a number of innovative projects in a variety of disciplines that seek to tackle some of our most pressing problems. The University of Arizona plays an outsize role in engaging the community to create a more equitable future for everyone.
Explore Tucson
Openness & Opportunity in the Arts
The School of Art actively works to create an environment that is welcoming and supportive of students of all backgrounds and lived experiences, regardless of major, and to provide meaningful experiences in the arts. This includes curricula that speak with openness and opportunity to all the populations we serve.
We are active participants in the larger “Arts Forward” ecosystem supported by Arizona Arts, which aims to ensure that the arts play an essential role in realizing the university’s land-grant mission of community engagement and partnership to improve lives in Arizona and across the nation.
