The Fine and Performing Arts at UNI
This section contains the following information:
- Facilities
- Programs
- Student Participation and Organizations in the Arts
- Community Participation and Organizations in the Arts
Facilities
Department of Art
Kamerick Art Building
The Kamerick Art Building, which houses the Department of Art and the UNI Gallery of Art, was completed in 1985. The design of the building is based on an elegant modular plan and has won several architectural awards. The 67,000 square foot interior is divided into studios, classrooms, a lecture hall, visual resource center and offices. There is a state of the art computer lab and each studio area is well equipped with specialized tools for each artistic medium. The building has a beautiful courtyard adjacent to a striking glass atrium and serves as an anchor to the main east-west campus promenade.
UNI Gallery of Art and UNI Permanent Art Collection
The UNI Gallery of Art is the exhibition and performance venue of the UNI Department of Art and serves as a vital cultural resource for the campus and the region. A yearly roster of diverse programming supports departmental curriculum as well as the university’s goal to create and maintain an inclusive educational environment that prepares students to thrive in a diverse, global environment.
With a season of eight major exhibitions and supplementary public events like lectures and performances, the Gallery features some of the most outstanding artwork, innovative artists, and exciting speakers in contemporary art. Gallery programming stresses the cultivation of contemporary artists and scholars with diverse backgrounds, training, and art practices. The principal objective is to create crossover attendees and introduce to our viewers artists intersecting disciplinary, aesthetic, and cultural boundaries.
Another objective is to create bonds across disciplines and partner with other arts, culture, and education organizations. Educational employment opportunities are also offered to UNI students interested in careers in arts administration and museum studies. The Gallery’s student staff gains valuable experience in museum and gallery management through Work Study, Cooperative Education internship, and volunteer opportunities.
The Gallery houses most of the UNI Permanent Art Collection in a specialized storage and research facility. Among the 43,000 objects in the Collection are art objects by prominent artists such as Berenice Abbott, Josef Albers, Romare Bearden, George Grosz, Philip Guston, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, and Jaune Quick-To-See Smith. This collection is complemented by numerous public art works.
Gallery and Art Collection tours may be booked by appointment. For additional information visit https://gallery.uni.edu.
Department of Communication and Media
Lang Hall
The UNI Interpreters Theatre serves as both a teaching studio for performance studies classes and as a performance/rehearsal space for public performances. The 90-seat flexible black-box style studio is equipped with full light and sound support.
Department of Kinesiology & Athletic Training
The Department of Kinesiology and Athletic Training are housed in the Wellness and REcreation Center (WRC) and Human Performance Center (HPC). Both centers are adjacent to each other and feature classrooms, laboratories (athletic training, exercise physiology, psychomotor, and biomechanics), fitness facilities, gyms, hydrotherapy room, faculty, and administrative offices.
Department of Languages & Literatures
North American Review offices
The offices for the North American Review, the nation's oldest literary magazine, are located in Bartlett Hall, which was constructed in 1914 and extensively renovated in 2014, receiving LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The offices include editorial and production space where students assist in the editing, layout and production of the magazine.
School of Music
Russell Hall and Gallagher Bluedorn
Russell Hall has been the home of the School of Music since 1962. Completely renovated and expanded in 2008, the building contains a 400-seat auditorium, jazz and chamber music rehearsal halls, recording facilities, a music technology lab, several music education classrooms, office space for music faculty and staff, and over 35 practice rooms. In spring of 2000, the School of Music expanded into the Gallagher Bluedorn, creating additional space for School of Music students, faculty, ensembles, and concert events. For more information visit music.uni.edu.
Department of Theatre
The Strayer-Wood Theatre
Constructed in 1978, the Strayer-Wood Theatre was the first theatre built in Iowa with public funds, acknowledging the state’s responsibility to serve the campus and the community through the arts. The building features two fully-equipped theatre spaces: a 500-seat convertible thrust/proscenium theatre and a black box (see The Bertha Martin Theatre below) as well as support spaces, an alternative performance space, classrooms and offices for the Department of Theatre and TheatreUNI. The university’s student-performed plays and musicals occur in the Strayer-Wood.
The Bertha Martin Theatre
A part of the Strayer-Wood complex, the Bertha Martin Theatre is a 125-seat flexible black-box style theatre with full light and sound support. Used primarily for public performances of plays and musicals, the theatre is also in heavy use as a rehearsal and training space for theatre classes. It was equipped and partially funded with a bequest from the students of Bertha Martin, the founder of the theatre program at the university.
Programs
Each season, Gallagher Bluedorn brings a variety of performances to the Cedar Valley. With a pedigree of great Broadway musicals, standup comedy, classical music and more, Gallagher Bluedorn provides an educational and entertaining outlet for families and students of all ages. Thanks to their activity fees, full time students can each get two free tickets per semester for any Artists Series show.
Department of Art
Visiting Lecturers Series
Each year the Department of Art hosts a number of prominent artists, designers, art educators, art historians, and critics who present public lectures and teach studio workshops. Students have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with many art world luminaries as they learn about career opportunities, contemporary trends, and critical issues within the fields of art, design and art education.
Student Exhibition Opportunities
Art students are encouraged to exhibit their work in a variety of gallery spaces. The UNI Gallery of Art hosts the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition each spring, Vertigo A-Go-Go, a yearly evening of student performance art, and graduating BFA student exhibitions at the end of each semester.
Department of Communication and Media
UNI Interpreters Theatre
Is a co-curricular program in the Department of Communication and Media that involves students from all across campus. In this performance group, smaller-scale productions based on social and cultural issues, oral histories, and traditional performances of literature are created and performed. Some of the subjects covered in the past include social justice issues, environmental issues, eating disorders, autism, children’s literature, rural farm families, and purity balls. Students do not need to have prior performance experience to participate. For further information, contact Dr. Danielle McGeough in the Department of Communication and Media at 319-273-6985.
Department of Languages & Literatures
The North American Review
https://northamericanreview.org/
Founded in Boston in 1815, the North American Review is the oldest and one of the most culturally significant literary magazines in the United States. Since 1969, the magazine has been housed at the University of Northern Iowa, and it has served as a learning lab for generations of UNI students. Either as volunteers or via a for-credit practicum, students are introduced to the many aspects of literary publishing such as submission review, editorial processes, desktop publishing and office management. In addition to producing the namesake quarterly magazine, the NAR hosts a digital initiative, Open Space, as well as a book imprint, the North American Review press.
School of Music
Undergraduate Programs
The School of Music at UNI enrolls approximately 300 students in various degree programs. These students participate in a wide array of course offerings including music education, music theory, music history, performing ensembles, and applied lessons. Undergraduate course programs include the core curriculum (UNIFI/General Education) plus courses specific to the selected major in music. These degree programs range from 120-149 credit hours for completion.
Majors in Music:
- Bachelor of Arts (six tracks): General Studies, Jazz Studies, String Pedagogy, Performing Arts Management, Music History, and Music Technology;
- Bachelor of Music in Performance;
- Bachelor of Music in Composition;
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education (three specializations).
Minors in Music:
- Music;
- Jazz Studies.
Graduate Programs
The UNI School of Music awards graduate degrees (Master of Arts and Master of Music) with seven areas of concentration. Each degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours in graduate-level courses for degree completion.
Majors in Music:
- Master of Arts;
- Master of Music in Performance (two specializations);
- Master of Music in Composition;
- Master of Music in Music Education (on-campus program);
- Master of Music in Music Education (off-campus program);
- Master of Music in Music History;
- Master of Music in Conducting;
- Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy;
- Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy;
- Artist Diploma I and II program certificates.
Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center
Artists Series
Over 30 internationally-acclaimed artists are presented each season in UNI’s Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. From Broadway to baroque to the blues, the center hosts performances as well as educational residencies, allowing UNI students to interact with world stars.
Department of Theatre
In addition to a full curriculum of theatre classes, the Department of Theatre offers a full range of productions throughout the year. It normally produces drama, musicals, theatre for young audiences, and original or experimental work.
TheatreUNI
The production arm of the Department of Theatre, TheatreUNI produces a fully mounted 4-6 show season of work featuring student performers and technicians.
Student Participation and Organizations in the Arts
Gallagher Bluedorn offers numerous internships and job opportunities, including event management and stagehand positions, as well as roles in marketing and education. For more information call 319-273-3660.
Department of Communication and Media
UNI Performance Studies Program
All university students and staff are invited to attend public performances in the UNI Interpreters Theatre, free of charge. Participation in productions is open to all UNI students and community members. Auditions are held at various times throughout the academic year. Those interested in back stage work such as scenery, lighting, costumes, and props, are also needed for technical support. For further information, contact Dr. Danielle McGeough in the Department of Communication and Media at 319-273-6985.
Department of Languages & Literatures
Inner Weather
UNI's student literary magazine, Inner Weather, is an annual student-run publication that publishes the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, photography and art by current UNI students.
School of Music
Many music organizations and ensembles are open to all students by audition or application. Participation by non-music majors is encouraged. Credit is available to all who participate. Among the groups offered are:
- VOCAL
Concert Chorale, UNI Opera Ensemble, UNI Singers, Varsity Glee Club, Cecilians, and Cantorei; - INSTRUMENTAL
Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Bands I, II, III, Panther Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble; - SPECIALTY GROUPS
Horn Choir, Jazz Combos, Northern Iowa Flute Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Taiko Drum Ensemble, String Chamber Music, UNITUBA Ensemble, West African Drum Ensemble, and others. For additional information visit https://music.uni.edu.
Department of Theatre
All university students and staff are invited to attend the productions in the Strayer-Wood and Bertha Martin Theatres. Tickets are free for UNI students. Theatre productions are often used in university classes as experiential learning opportunities.
All productions by TheatreUNI are open to participation by any enrolled UNI student. Auditions are held early in the semester or at times publicized on the Theatre website https://theatre.uni.edu and in the campus press. Students interested in non-performance participation can make a contribution in scenery and properties construction, costume and wardrobe, makeup and hair, lights and audio production, front of house, and stage management by contacting the Theatre office 319-273-6386 or the production’s director.
UNISTA
The UNI Student Theatre Association is housed within the Department of Theatre and is composed of any students involved in theatrical production on campus; they need not be theatre majors or minors. It functions as an independent production organization that produces several small budget plays or musicals each year in the Strayer-Wood Theatre or other venues around the campus on an application basis.
Alpha Psi Omega
A National Honorary Fraternity for students participating in theatre at UNI. This organization performs service projects around the community and hosts an annual awards and honors banquet commemorating the previous year’s season.
USITT
UNI’s USITT Student Chapter is dedicated to providing opportunities to technical theatre students to learn, discuss, and hone their skills as young artists, technicians and managers. We offer a community to technical theatre students and help provide assistance to students who wish to attend the national USITT conference each year. This conference presents students with workshops, portfolio reviews and networking opportunities with theatre professionals.
UNI Multicultural Theatre Society
The UNI Multicultural Theatrical Society is a club for students of diverse multicultural backgrounds and student allies. The purpose of this organization is to give a voice to minorities and multicultural student performers and technicians through the art of theatre while fostering an inclusive environment.
Our mission is to represent our ever-changing society utilizing theatre as outreach. Theatre is an art form that asks us to accurately represent the underrepresented by holding a mirror to society through performance.
Community Participation and Organizations in the Arts
Friends of the Gallagher Bluedorn membership provides support for programming and educational opportunities, including the Kaleidoscope series.
GBPAC Advisory Board: Gallagher Bluedorn is comprised of an advisory board consisting of community representatives, including UNI students and faculty.
Friends of the Permanent Art Collection and Gallery (PAC&G) membership provides support for the Permanent Collection and Gallery, including conservation, education, and programming (https://www.adv.uni.edu/foundation/adminunit.aspx?collegeid=chfa&deptid=231&projectid=223299).
Department of Art
The Department of Art promotes the arts on the UNI campus and in the greater Cedar Valley. The department sponsors joint exhibitions with local arts organizations such as the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls and the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Faculty members within the Department of Art actively exhibit their work locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Many curate and organize exhibitions of works by other artists for galleries within the community. Faculty members are also active participants on boards, committees, and panels for local, state, and national arts organizations.
Department of Languages & Literatures
The Cedar Valley boasts a vibrant literary community, and students in the Department of Languages & Literatures are an important part of it. The Department works closely with Cedar Falls's Hearst Center for the Arts, which is located in the former house of poet and longtime UNI English professor, James Hearst. The Final Thursday Reading Series is a monthly creative writing forum at the Hearst Center that features published authors preceded by an open mic at which many students present their own original creative writing.
School of Music
UNI's School of Music is proud to continually aim for a greater commitment and connection to the surrounding community. The School of Music houses two centers, the UNI Suzuki School and the UNI Community Music School, which serve approximately 1,000 community members annually. They offer music lessons and large group ensembles and are central to the School of Music's commitment to offer 'cradle to grave' music instruction and performance opportunities to the community. Opportunities also exist for music students to teach in these programs.
The UNI Community Music School offers innovative music education experiences for area youth and adults. They also provide mentored teaching opportunities and experiences for UNI School of Music students. Private lessons are available on a variety of woodwind, brass, keyboard, percussion instruments, and voice, as well as group piano lessons. Additionally, the UNI Children's Choir, formed in 1997, provides a choral experience for students in the Cedar Valley area in grades four through eight. The UNI New Horizons band, founded in 1999, offers an opportunity to those 50 years of age or older to take group lessons and play in band. The Community Music School also presents Camp Musicmania, an annual summer camp for Cedar Valley students in grade one through nine.
The UNI Suzuki School has been a musical home to families in the Cedar Valley and Northeast Iowa since 1976. The mission of the UNI Suzuki School is to enrich the lives of children and adults through the study of music. The UNI Suzuki School offers weekly lessons and group experiences with highly qualified music educators in violin, viola, cello and guitar. Performance opportunities, a music theory curriculum, chamber ensemble opportunities, youth and junior orchestras, adult chamber music ensemble and music related social activities enrich the Suzuki experience for participants. A variety of resources, including rental instruments, is available for those interested.
For more information, visit cms.uni.edu and music.uni.edu/suzuki-school.
Department of Theatre
Friends of TheatreUNI
UNI’s oldest community support organization and one of the nation’s first community support organizations for an academic theatre program, was founded in 1978 as a way for the local community to recognize and support the contributions made by the theatre and its programs. It has supported visiting artists, scholarships, and theatre trips to London, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Over the years, it has provided volunteers, works of art for the theatres, and generous hospitality to the theatre’s patrons.