Our spaces form a constellation across campus and the Bay Area, each one a vital star in the interconnected network of creative work that defines the arts at Berkeley. Arts spaces are where our students and our faculty collaborate, where they experiment, where they shape new ideas and create new things. We need modern, updated arts spaces in line with the quality of our faculty and students. We've seen that when students are given the space to explore and innovate their work expands in ways that unlock new possibilities in their practice and our world.
Art Practice
As practicing artists, our faculty need studio spaces that match the scope of their work and also allows for artwork storage. Our MFA students have studio space at the Richmond Field Station which are difficult to access and in varying states of disrepair. Reconfiguring spaces on campus would give our MFA students proximity to sculpture shops, ceramic shops, printmaking, and digital fabrication labs — and allow them to spend less time commuting and more time making art. Support Art Practice
Film & Media
Interest in the Film & Media major has exploded in recent years. Meanwhile, some of our spaces haven’t been updated in over 20 years. In a field driven by technology, this matters. Funding to update and upgrade projectors, sound systems, and lighting will help our students experience the films they are studying as the filmmakers intended. Funding for production spaces and equipment will give our students access to the technical and professional tools they need. Support Film & Media.
Theater, Dance and Performance Studies
The spaces used by TDPS students are well-loved from decades of classes, rehearsals, and performances. Help us improve students’ experiences with upgrades to sound systems to capture performers’ voices, lighting to fully convey the mood of a piece, and flooring that lets our dancers move boldly and easily. Support TDPS.
Center for New Music and Audio Technologies
CNMAT works with leading artists, performers, composers and improvisers to advance the edges of new music and emerging music-related technologies. The Center occupies the former recording studio known as 1750 Arch Street Studios which still continues to host intimate concerts with local and international musicians. With wear and tear over the years, the building is in need of cosmetic and structural upgrades. Support CNMAT.
The Magnes Museum of Jewish Art & Life
Exhibition spaces in The Magnes draw visitors in to engage with the richness and vibrancy of Jewish culture. And as The Magnes expands its community outreach through programs like Teens Take the Magnes and the Jewish Arts & Bookfest, we want to enhance the lobby with a new layout and inviting furniture to create a welcoming space where all members of our community feel comfortable to extend their visit and explore further. Support The Magnes.
For more information on ways to improve arts spaces at Berkeley, contact Assistant Dean of Development Karen Huang at kjwhuang@berkeley.edu.