$600,000 Grant Fuels Future of Arts and Technology at Grinnell

Grinnell College has received a $600,000 grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation to launch a four-year initiative that will expand the integration of technology throughout the College's arts curricula while creating new opportunities for collaboration, creative exploration, and interdisciplinary learning.

The award, approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors in June, will support new courses, faculty development, visiting artists, student research, collaborative teaching, and the creation of an innovative intermedia space that brings together film, music, theatre, and emerging technologies. 

President Anne F. Harris shared, "The liberal arts encourage students to ask bold questions, explore new ideas, and dynamically connect knowledge across disciplines. This generous support from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation allows us to build on those strengths by creating new opportunities for students and faculty to experiment and collaborate at the intersection of technology and the arts. We're grateful for the Foundation's investment in Grinnell's students and in the future of creative learning."

At the heart of the initiative is a vision to prepare students for an evolving creative landscape where artistic practice increasingly intersects with digital technologies. Faculty across the arts will work together to develop new courses and learning experiences that encourage experimentation while equipping students with technical and creative skills applicable across a wide range of careers.

“This grant is important both practically and symbolically. At both levels, it's an investment in the future of the arts at Grinnell," said Ruth Feingold, Dean of the College. "Our students thrive when they're encouraged to explore ideas across disciplines, and this funding will give our faculty the resources to create new opportunities where artistic creativity and emerging technologies come together. It reflects Grinnell's commitment to providing an innovative liberal arts education that prepares students to shape the changing creative landscape."

Professor Craig Quintero, said, “The grant is an amazing acknowledgement of the innovative work already being created in the arts at the College, while also providing funding to enable faculty to explore new digital mediums and add more technology-based projects to the curriculum.”

A major component of the project will be outfitting a new intermedia space within Grinnell's Film and Media Studies Center at 1013 Broad Street. The flexible space will support multimedia installations, expanded cinema events, immersive performances, multichannel sound, and collaborative artistic projects while serving as a hub for teaching and experimentation. 

Beyond physical space, the grant will encourage faculty collaboration through workshops, retreats, and curricular development projects that connect departments in new ways. Faculty will receive support to redesign existing courses, create interdisciplinary offerings, pursue specialized training in emerging technologies, and experiment with sustainable models of collaborative teaching. 

“The Arts faculty at the College is already exploring cutting-edge advancements in projection mapping, digital music, VR, and immersive installations. This grant provides funding to enable faculty to dig deeper into their research and explore other emerging fields,” Quintero added. 

Students will benefit from expanded access to advanced creative technologies, new interdisciplinary courses, opportunities to work with nationally and internationally recognized visiting artists, and travel experiences that expose them to innovative artistic work beyond campus. The initiative will also culminate in two public symposia that bring together artists, scholars, students, and faculty to explore the intersection of art and technology while showcasing creative work developed through the grant. 

The initiative will be directed by Professor Craig Quintero during its first year and Professor Nicky Tavares during its second year; they will help to guide faculty collaboration and oversee the development of new curricular and creative opportunities.

By bringing together expertise from across the arts, the project aims to strengthen interdisciplinary connections while ensuring Grinnell students graduate with the creative, collaborative, and technological skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital artistic landscape.

Quintero shared, "As we roll out the program this fall, we will hold an informational session in September to provide details about the funding parameters as we invite the community to help us reimagine the fruitful interplay between art and technology."