ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ART

I have already started a draft of ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ART (would this be the header page?) and need to have it looked over. It's possible that we might want something altogether different from what I have written and I'm certainly okay with revising it if I given some direction. How should I proceed? ROUGH DRAFT ONLY (I admit it's too long and needs to be cleaned-up considerably) ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ART The Department of Art finds itself in the midst of an astonishing transition marked not only by the current financial challenges that face every specter of society, but also because of changes in the way we now approach the application of knowledge to everyday experiences. As a department within a large research university, we are committed to expanding the boundaries of knowledge through the critical investigation, interpretation and dissemination of ideas that are primarily expressed visually. We believe in establishing an atmosphere that encourages curiosity, experimentation and critical dialogue and see these qualities as essential to advances in artistic production and intellectual growth. Teaching, public engagement, curatorial practice, theory and studio work are no longer grounded in inaccessible and separate areas of information and experience, but integrated into complex ideas, global topics and themes. As a department within a large research university and located in one of the most vibrant urban areas in the United States, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul provide our students and faculty an expansive range of cultural opportunities and resources from which to find inspiration and develop new institutional partnerships and community alliances. The Twin Cities is home to several major museums such as the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, The Goldstein Museum of Design, and The Museum of Russian Art. A number of dynamic non-profit organizations such as Midway Contemporary Art, Franklin Art Works, Northern Clay Center, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Soo Visual Arts Center, Textile Center of Minnesota, Soap Factory and the first of its kind, Minnesota Artist Exhibition Program make for a rich and diverse community of thinkers and practitioners. Because of this, the art community in the Twin Cities historically attracts writers, choreographers, musicians, composers, actors, designers and visual artists from around the world. Students majoring in art at the undergraduate level have the option of concentrating on a particular studio emphasis such as drawing/painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography and experimental media arts, as well as working at the intersections of contemporary art theory and diverse art practices.