Hixson–Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts

Hixson–Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts
Name	Hixson–Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts
Established	1993
Type	College of Fine and Performing Arts
Parent	University of Nebraska–Lincoln
City	Lincoln, Nebraska
Country	United States

Hixson–Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts is the arts college within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln located in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as a center for instruction, performance, exhibition, and research in the visual arts, music, theatre, and design. The college links conservatory-style training with liberal arts traditions and collaborates with municipal, regional, and national arts organizations to support cultural production and professional preparation.

History

The college was created as part of institutional reorganizations at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln during the late 20th century and named following a major philanthropic gift from the Hixson Family and the Lied Foundation. Its formation drew upon historical programs that traced lineage to the University of Nebraska conservatory traditions, the expansion of arts curricula in the 1970s, and capital campaigns associated with the construction of venues such as the Kimball Recital Hall and the Morrill Hall-era collections. Over time the college has hosted touring ensembles from organizations including the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, collaborations with the Kennedy Center, exchanges with the Czech Philharmonic and visiting artists linked to institutions like the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Carnegie Hall residency programs.

Academic programs

The college offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across degree types including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Music, with curricula emphasizing performance, composition, art history, studio practice, and design. Programs prepare students for careers connected to professional companies such as the New York Philharmonic, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as for advanced study at conservatories like the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and universities such as Yale University and Indiana University Bloomington. Interdisciplinary initiatives connect to research centers and grants from entities like the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Departments and schools

The college encompasses departments and schools structured to cover major artistic disciplines: the School of Music, the School of Art, the School of Theatre and Film, and programs in Art History and Graphic Design. Faculty appointments have included artists and scholars associated with institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate Modern, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the Royal College of Art. Visiting artists and lecturers have come from organizations such as the American Ballet Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and universities including Harvard University and Columbia University.

Facilities and performance venues

Performance and exhibition infrastructure includes recital halls, black box theatres, galleries, and studio complexes that have hosted performances and exhibitions connected to the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, touring productions from the Broadway League, and speakers from the National Gallery of Art. Facilities used for instruction and public programs echo practices at peer institutions like the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Major venues associated with the college have received visiting ensembles from the Berlin Philharmonic, residencies with artists from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and collaborative projects with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the Omaha Symphony.

Student life and organizations

Student organizations reflect the college’s range, including chapter affiliations with national groups such as the Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and honor societies akin to those at Juilliard School and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Ensembles and troupes maintain touring schedules and competition participation with festivals such as the Interlochen Center for the Arts programs, regional conferences of the Music Teachers National Association, and exchanges similar to the American College Theater Festival. Student-run galleries and publications collaborate with external partners like the Lincoln Arts Council and national networks including the College Art Association.

Community engagement and outreach

The college runs outreach initiatives partnering with the Lincoln Public Schools District, regional cultural organizations including the Nebraska Cultural Heritage Center, and statewide arts organizations such as the Nebraska Arts Council. Collaborative projects have included community music education modeled after programs at the El Sistema network, school residencies akin to those from the National Youth Orchestra, and public exhibitions comparable to touring shows organized by the Smithsonian Institution. Outreach grants and partnerships have connected the college to federal and philanthropic funders like the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Notable alumni and faculty

Alumni and faculty associated with the college have gone on to careers linked with institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Symphony, the American Conservatory Theater, the Royal Opera House, PBS broadcasts, and major museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Faculty and visiting artists have included performers, composers, visual artists, and scholars with affiliations to the Guggenheim Fellowship recipients, MacArthur Fellows, and awardees from institutions such as the Pulitzer Prize committees and the Tony Awards. Representative professional placements for graduates include ensembles like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and theater companies such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Roundabout Theatre Company.

Category:University of Nebraska–Lincoln colleges and schools