After two rigorous national searches, the College of Fine Arts is thrilled to announce and welcome Temma Balducci, PhD and Chris DuVal, MFA, as the new Chairs of the Departments of Art & Art History and Theatre, respectively, beginning July 1, 2024. Balducci comes to the U from Arkansas State University (A-State) where she has served as the Chair of the Department of Art + Design since 2017. She sees art as a powerful economic driver, and to that end has been a strong advocate of engagement between the university and the local community — a perfect fit for our institution’s vision t ..read more

There’s a new kind of Master designation at the U and it was granted to our very own Communications Specialist and Grant Writer Emeri Fetzer at this year’s Swoopy Awards hosted by the University of Utah Central Development office. The event highlights the best of the U’s fundraising efforts and advancement professionals, and the College of Fine Arts was recognized thanks to Fetzer’s incredible leadership on a complex development campaign that raised nearly $21,000 from 145 gifts — all of which supports the college and its five academic units. Fetzer’s Giving Day Master Award is a reflec ..read more

“It’s funny… I’ve never gotten a blister on my foot until this performance,” said University of Utah Dance student Kiya Green.   Green was referring to BIG BEATS, which she performed last year alongside other U Dance students and faculty as part of the U’s collaboration with Brooklyn-based choreographer Joanna Kotze. Now, nine months later, Green and many of the other dancers will reunite to perform the piece from which BIG BEATS was drawn: ‘lectric Eye.    ‘lectric Eye is a dynamic work by Joanna Kotze. Presented by the U’s School of Dance and Utah Presents, ‘l ..read more

As the academic year draws to a close, it’s time to congratulate professor Paul Larsen on his retirement after 25 years of teaching at the U. Larsen has been a key figure in the U’s Film & Media Arts program. As screenwriting professor, he has influenced countless students and encouraged a vibrant storytelling culture. In fact, professor Hubbel Palmer was a student of Larsen’s. “Paul Larsen is the best writing teacher I've ever had. When I walked into his classroom for the first time many years ago, I was immediately struck by his wisdom, insight and humor,” Palmer said. “He has a peace ..read more

By Sarah Benedict For the final Career Trek of the semester, ArtsForce took students to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Only a short walk away from the art building on campus, this museum is renowned for its large collection of works, dedication to connecting with K-12 schools, and historic impact on the arts in Utah. This trek was a wonderful opportunity for CFA students to interact directly with the wide array of professionals in the UMFA and to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to run a museum. It also gave them a chance to connect with peers who shared similar career interests a ..read more

By Ali Fuller Todd Oberndorfer is an artist and arts administrator. He holds a BFA in 2D design from Weber State University and an MA in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University. Todd has ties to various organizations and projects in both Salt Lake City and Ogden that seek to support artists, public art spaces, and community engagement and outreach in the arts. This has included working as the Visual Arts Coordinator with the Salt Lake Arts Council to manage the Finch Lane Gallery and co-founding The Banyan Collective media company that focuses on art and adventure podcasting to sha ..read more

College of Fine Arts Internship Coordinator, Kate Wolsey, was named Partner of the Year by U Career Success.  "Kate has played an integral role in helping U Career Success build and develop a strong relationship with the College of Fine Arts," the committee wrote. "She has been an advocate for our coaches to connect with Fine Arts students through ArtsForce events, tabling, one on one coaching sessions, and career treks. She has also been a huge asset to the Corporate & Community Engagement team by continually answering questions, offering connections and resources, and collaboratin ..read more

By Ava Crane In a simultaneously disconnected and connected age, learning how to build a network as a fine arts student can be intimidating. ArtsForce’s 11th Annual Networking event wanted to tackle this challenge by helping students understand what steps they could take now to create early career success. From digital to traditional networking, it all comes down to making a genuine connection. Having connections to other artists, organizations, and more is essential to finding opportunities throughout your arts career. To help students practice their networking skills, the event featured a ..read more

At College of Fine Arts Convocation 2024, Michael Palmer of the Department of Film & Media Arts will deliver an address to graduating students.  Michael Palmer BS in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Statistics, BA in Film and Media Arts, Minors in French and in Theatre Hometown: Leeds, AL  Three words that describe you: Persevering, Adaptable, Connective. Most impactful class or professor: Hubbel Palmer (no relation, as always). The first to really say to my face I could make a career out of film, he's been an incredible mentor for the past two years, and I owe a lot o ..read more

The College of Fine Arts is honored present the 2024 College of Fine Arts Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor award to Hubbel Palmer of the Department of Film & Media Arts.  Palmer's research and teaching are focused broadly on screenwriting. He has mentored undergraduate students’ research both through the Office of Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and the Honors Colleges. He has numerous accomplishments his own creative work. Notably this year, Professor Palmer and writing partner Chris Bowan’s work, Ninety-Five Senses, was nominated for an Oscar in the cat ..read more