Arts and Culture
Asian Arts and Culture Center
The Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University engages the university and surrounding communities in cross-cultural dialogue through a broad range of artistic and cultural learning experiences related to Asia. Our programs increase understanding of the world's diverse cultures, challenge stereotypes, strengthen cultural competency and offer unique perspectives on creativity and the human experience. We also offer opportunities for TU students to learn practical skills needed for working in non-profit cultural institutions.
Galleries at TU
- Center for the Arts Gallery
- Holtzman M.F.A. Gallery
- Storage Space Gallery
- Asian Arts Gallery
The galleries present a variety of exhibitions to the Towson community and metropolitan region, including national and international touring exhibitions, in addition to student and faculty exhibitions. The Center for the Arts Gallery emphasizes contemporary and historical art by regional, national and international artists; the Holtzman M.F.A. Gallery focuses on thesis exhibitions that pertain to the M.F.A. program; the Storage Space Gallery showcases the work of individual undergraduate studio majors who exhibit and curate their art in this gallery space on the fourth floor of the Center for the Arts; the Asian Arts Gallery features exhibits, creative projects and performances, and artistic and cultural traditions that relate to Asia.
Lieberman Collection, Honors College
7800 York Road
The Lieberman Collection of oil paintings, sculptures, ink drawings, lithographs, photographs and art books is on display throughout the Honors College and was donated to the Towson University Foundation by Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Lieberman in memory of their sons.
Performances, Concerts, Exhibits and Lectures
Art + Design, Art History, Art Education
The Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education provides a rich experience in the fine arts for students and for the larger Towson area community. The department hosts lectures by prominent artists, critics, art historians, and curators in addition to annual exhibitions. The galleries exhibit works of living artists of the past 50 years, as well as emerging artists and students. Student organizations in the department arrange for trips to museums, outreach opportunities, and community service learning.
Communication Studies
The Department of Communication Studies sponsors two annual events—a university-wide Public Speaking Competition and the Communication Studies Symposium; it also co-sponsors an annual Media and Culture fall lecture series with the Department of Electronic Media and Film and the Department of Mass Communication. The department offers workshops and seminars sponsored by Pi Kappa Delta, which serves as both an honor society in speech and debate and as the primary department student organization. The Public Communication Center, where students, staff, and faculty from across the university work with a public speaking coach to craft a class presentation, public speech, or advocacy project is also housed in the department. The department faculty and students regularly participate at annual conferences including the Maryland Communication Association, the Eastern Communication Association, and the National Communication Association. Students are encouraged to participate in department-run Study Abroad and Away programs in Amsterdam and Scotland.
Dance
The Department of Dance undergraduate programs offer professional dance training within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education. Dance majors experience rigorous preparation, including extensive study in studio technique, choreographic studies, dance history, and dance education. The department supports the performance and choreographic training of the B.F.A. major in yearly concerts: Inertia and Dance Majors Performance Project. These student works are mentored and often selected to represent TU at the American College Dance Festival each year. Student performance opportunities are supported by elective repertory and company courses each term, culminating in a formal production at Stephens Hall Theatre. Our two dance student organizations, Sigma Rho Delta and National Dance Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) Collegiate Program, support leadership training and community service opportunities. Guest artists regularly impact our curriculum. Opportunities to perform with VT Dance and Deep Vision Dance Company offer curriculum enhancement.
Electronic Media & Film
The Department of Electronic Media & Film (EMF) sponsors a thematic film series each fall and, during the spring term, co-sponsors the Bridges to the World International Film Festival. The department also hosts the End of Semester screenings and the annual Media Arts Festival, both of which showcase student works. Alumni, student, and department-sponsored screenings and visiting artist talks are scheduled throughout the year. EMF has a number of student groups, including the student-run radio (XTSR) and NBS (National Broadcasting Society).
Mass Communication
The Department of Mass Communication sponsors an annual MCOM Lecture Series in spring, which features prominent speakers in journalism, advertising, and public relations. The department also co-sponsors an annual Media and Culture lecture series in the fall with the Department of Communication Studies. Both lecture series are open to all TU students, faculty and the public. In addition, many workshops and guest lectures are organized for faculty and students through partnerships with the area's media and strategic communication industry. Student chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSSA) and American Advertising Federation (AAF) organize a number of professional networking events for mass communication majors.
Music
The Department of Music presents approximately 200 concerts, recitals and guest artist events annually in our state-of-the-art concert venues and off campus. Our ensembles - University Chorale, Chamber Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Choral Society, Music for the Stage, Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Combos, Popular Music Ensemble, Improvisation Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, Early Music Ensemble, World Music Ensembles, as well as Student Composers Concerts - provide experiential pedagogy preparing students for careers in music. Additionally, specific TU Foundation endowments - The Bill and Helen Murray Jazz Residency, The Peggy and Yale Gordon Trust Guest Artist in Classical Music Fund, The Ruth and Arno Drucker Fund, The Stephen Lane Endowment, The Cecylia B. Barczyk Cello Endowment, The Dr. James Muse Anthony Fund for Music Enhancement and the New Music Ensemble at Towson University - provide resources for students to work directly with professional musicians, composers and scholars through guest artist masterclasses, presentations and performances.
Theatre Arts
Each year, the Department of Theatre Arts presents a full season of performances in our main stage and three studio theatres. Audiences may enjoy productions of plays from a range of periods, directed by our faculty and area professional artists, and featuring our students in a range of artistic roles from performers to designers and technicians. Student-produced work includes undergraduate performances of contemporary plays as well as original experimental works created by students in our M.F.A. program.