College of the Arts

Creative expression meets real-world impact.

Experience the arts at PSU

Find your creative voice—and experience the voices of others—at the most dynamic and accessible public arts institution in Oregon.

Through creative research, community projects, and hundreds of public events each year, the College of the Arts makes Portland a better place to live.

In the studio and on the stage, in the classroom and the community. Our students and faculty cultivate the bold ideas that can change the world.

Artists are problem solvers. Today more than ever, that’s what the world needs.

Creative practice demands new ideas, empathy for others, collaboration and practical results. These skills are essential for solving the big challenges facing society today—and they’re at the heart of our college. That’s why our graduates are well prepared for successful careers in the arts and beyond.

COVID-19 Update: The College of the Arts office (Lincoln Hall 349) will be physically closed until further notice while staff work remotely. Don't hesitate to reach out to the-arts@pdx.edu with any specific questions or concerns. Have questions? Visit our Virtual Front Desk! We are available Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 11am-1pm; Tuesday, Thursday from 1-4:30pm.

Our schools

School of Architecture

School of Art + Design

School of Film

School of Music & Theater

Student Resources

How to Apply

Academic Advising

Scholarships

PSU College of the Arts stands with the AAPI community

The faculty, staff and students of the PSU College of the Arts mourn with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and reiterate our commitment to calling out and eradicating racism and inequity in all its forms.

Black Lives Matter

The College of the Arts is committed to working for justice and striving to create an anti-racist environment for our students, faculty, staff and community. Read Dean Leroy Bynum, Jr.'s statement to the community.

Your generosity makes a difference

Innovation, advocacy, and community building are central to addressing today’s challenges—and creativity is key. College of the Arts students pursue rigorous academic curricula and learn the skills and discipline for successful and sustainable careers in the arts. Your gift will have direct impact on aspiring artists, musicians, designers, and makers!

The College of the Arts Student Hardship Fund was created to provide immediate support to students in need of emergency funds to cover both academic and personal expenses, such as housing, medical bills, utilities, and equipment. Thank you for your gift to support College of the Arts students facing financial hardship during this challenging time.

Give to the College

Give to the Harsdship Fund

Upcoming events

Researchers' Guide to Working With the Media

April 13 April 13

Researchers' Guide to Communicating with Policymakers

Sharing your research with policymakers is essential to transforming…

Add to my Calendar 2021-04-13 09:00:00 2021-04-13 13:00:00 Researchers' Guide to Communicating with Policymakers Sharing your research with policymakers is essential to transforming research into action. This workshop is designed to help you effectively convey the policy implications of research output to those in positions responsible for effecting change. Learning topics include: Science policy priorities Value of policy engagement Deep dive on policymakers Working with difficult audiences Tuesday, April 13, 2021 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Virtual Workshop Registration Link Will Be Available Soon Virtual Workshop Amy Spring (springa@pdx.edu), Shaun McGillis (mcgillis@pdx.edu) Amy Spring (springa@pdx.edu), Shaun McGillis (mcgillis@pdx.edu) America/Los_Angeles public

April 14 April 14

PSU Jazz Virtual Series: Thana Alexa

Join the Portland State University Jazz Area for our weekly PSU Jazz…

Add to my Calendar 2021-04-14 15:00:00 2021-04-14 15:50:00 PSU Jazz Virtual Series: Thana Alexa Join the Portland State University Jazz Area for our weekly PSU Jazz Virtual Series. Each week features a world-class artist engaging in lecture and conversation with students and faculty. Follow Portland State University on Facebook to receive notifications when the page goes Live. https://www.facebook.com/psujazz Surprising is the word that perhaps best describes Grammy® nominated and Downbeat cover artist, Thana Alexa, an extraordinarily creative force in music. An awe-inspiring vocalist, composer, arranger and producer – for whom the voice is both a lyrical and experimental instrument – her music pushes the boundaries of the genre into new and unexplored territory with deep seeded roots in jazz and overtones of contemporary soul and world music. Her latest album, ONA (self-release, March 2020), which earned her two Grammy® nominations (Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Instrumental Jazz Solo for Regina Carter’s performance), is Alexa’s focus, her mission statement. Translated to "SHE" from her family's native Croatian, ONA was inspired by the cross-generational and cross-cultural stories of the immigrant women in her family and evolved into an exploration of the experiences of contemporary women everywhere. Its premise crystalized in 2017 after her attendance at the Women's March on Washington, D.C. after which she was inspired to learn more about the stories of the women in her own family and the influences that their life experiences have had on her own existence, growth and sense of freedom. The album speaks to us musically about every facet of womanhood, conveying a message of strength and empowerment. Streaming live on Facebook https://fb.me/e/3BXCa0x4t Sherry Alves alves4@pdx.edu Sherry Alves alves4@pdx.edu America/Los_Angeles public

April 14 April 14

PSU Vocal Collective: Wish You With Me

The PSU Vocal Collective has been exclusively remote for over a year. Many…

Add to my Calendar 2021-04-14 19:00:00 2021-04-14 20:00:00 PSU Vocal Collective: Wish You With Me The PSU Vocal Collective has been exclusively remote for over a year. Many of the students have never met in person, yet they still manage to collaborate and connect in meaningful ways. "Wish You With Me," captures the spirit and resilience of the students using the remote favorite...ZOOM. You are invited to witness our virtual music classroom of Brady Bunch blocks, latency lips, and the occasional pet cameo. We may not be together physically, but we are certainly making the most of our virtual experience. The music was rehearsed online using Jamulus software and recorded asynchronously in Soundtrap in Winter '21. Music by Peter Eldridge, words by Peter Eldridge and Cliff Goldmacher. The PSU Vocal Collective is a multi-voiced ensemble that specializes in Jazz and other contemporary styles. This ensemble is part of the Jazz Area within Portland State University School of Music and Theater. Video premiere on PSU's YouTube channel https://youtu.be/aD-ypfCNMtU Sherry Alves alves4@pdx.edu Sherry Alves alves4@pdx.edu America/Los_Angeles public

April 15 April 15

Master Artist Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr: KSMoCA Artist…

Please join us for the 2020-2021 King School Museum of Contemporary Art (…

Add to my Calendar 2021-04-15 10:00:00 2021-04-15 11:00:00 Master Artist Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr: KSMoCA Artist Lecture Series Please join us for the 2020-2021 King School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA) Artist Lecture Series. These free lectures are open to members of the public and students at Dr. MLK Jr School and their families. This lecture will take place via YouTube livestream. Presentations will be recorded and made available on our YouTube channel as an ongoing resource for students, teachers, and members of the public. Join this event Online art@pdx.edu art@pdx.edu America/Los_Angeles public

April 8, 2021

College of the Arts