Look to the Visionaries who remind us what it means to be human.
Recognizing the vital role the arts play in our lives — from illuminating the human experience and solving problems with creativity and innovation to fostering well-being and building a more just and equitable world — we commit not only to elevating artistic creation but also to nurturing the environments that allow for the sharing and freedom of creative expression.
By reframing the role of the arts within the university, we deepen our mission. We aim to build an academy where the arts are integral and serve as a catalyst for research and scholarship, innovation and learning, wellness, and community. Further, we will work to establish the university as a leading institution for the arts through our celebration of their power to inspire collaboration, bolster economic activity, and foster individual and collective growth.
U-M commits to supporting the creation of art and cutting-edge spaces essential to artistic innovation and rich public engagement. We will cultivate both humanistic exploration and creative practice across disciplines and a curriculum that integrates more opportunities for personal exploration through creative expression. Knowing the power of the arts to drive inclusivity, equity, and social justice, we will center these values within arts-related endeavors. Across the breadth of our campuses, we will support arts-centered inquiry in the research and scholarship that propels our university’s mission forward.
We believe that the arts are critical for a dynamic, engaged, and productive society. Looking ahead, we intend to spur community involvement — nurturing the fusion of arts with STEM, the social sciences, and the humanities — and build bridges between different academic partners and communities. This will transform our culture, helping us fulfill our mission of education, research, and public service that meets societal needs now and in the future. Most of all, we endeavor to create a vibrant arts culture at Michigan that reflects, engages, and inspires the diverse and dynamic world around us.
In the next decade, we will:
- Establish the university as a leading institution for the arts — studying, practicing, promoting, and supporting the arts — by allocating resources and expanding initiatives that provide more opportunities for experiences and participation.
- Encourage greater participation in the arts by cultivating programming that is inclusive and promotes the breadth of experience and interests of our community.
- Inspire art-focused research and curriculum creation that supports the university’s mission and continually assess programming to maximize engagement and meet community needs.
- Develop the service mission of the arts to foster a more vibrant, just, and joyful state of Michigan and the world.