College of Fine and Performing Arts

Office Info:
392 Belk Building/Main Campus
(828) 227-7028

Robert Kehrberg, Dean
John T. West, Associate Dean

The role of the College of Fine and Performing Arts is to implement the University’s mission through exploration of a broad range of human culture and knowledge through great experiences in the arts.

The mission of the College is to strengthen and expand the intellectual and cultural horizons of the university and the larger community by providing a creative learning environment in the arts. The College is responsible to the Provost and is organized into the following units: the School of Art and Design, the School of Music, the School of Stage and Screen, the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center Fine Art Museum and Performance Halls.

The College of Fine and Performing Arts is the creative showcase for the university. Through its dedication to excellence and the integration of teaching, scholarship and service by its faculty, the College offers a wide variety of educational and cultural opportunities to the campus and the region. Through design, musical performances, theatre, dance, motion pictures, videos and the visual arts, the College is a unique and highly visible source of cultural enrichment.

Of primary importance in the College is the teaching/learning process that takes place in classrooms, studios, rehearsal halls, theatres and field locations which engages students, staff and faculty in a common effort to provide an environment where intellectual challenges, the free exchange of ideas, and high standards of scholarship and creativity prevail to provide great experiences for our various constituencies. The fine arts programs hold national accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the American Association of Museums (AAM – pending).