Generations - May 2024
Dear UArts Families,
Thank you for helping to make this year—my first year as president of UArts—so extraordinary! I’m grateful that you’ve entrusted your talented students to a university community that takes enormous pride in our students’ work as makers, doers, dreamers, and thinkers. Together, we’re advancing human creativity, which we believe is an essential and joyful catalyst for social and economic change in today’s complex world.
I’d like to extend a special congratulations to the parents and families of members of the Class of 2024! I’m eager to celebrate your particular UArtist’s milestone accomplishment at Commencement and follow our newest graduates as they embark on the next phase of their creative journeys. Our supportive alumni and university network will be with them every step of the way.
This has been a year of non-stop excitement for me. As president, I have the honor of attending the many exhibitions, performances, and gatherings that feature our students and their work. I’ve seen firsthand how meaningful and productive the creative process is for each UArts undergraduate and graduate student, and I appreciate the stunning originality of their work. There’s truly nothing more invigorating than witnessing UArtists developing their unique creative practice under the guidance of a world-class faculty.
Of note this year, UArts hosted a special edition of our annual UArts Unleashed gala, held our most successful UArtist Day of Giving ever, and expanded our community partnerships to ensure the university’s impact on arts and culture in the region is powerful. I’ve also been thrilled to get to know many of the organizations and businesses in Philadelphia that keep this culturally rich city—and its $4 billion creative economy—running.
I hope you and your students enjoy a fulfilling summer. And for those of you whose students will be launching their careers, remember that UArts is here for them. Home is where UArts is.
Warm regards,
Kerry Walk
A Note from Parent and Family Council
This past year at UArts has been absolutely amazing! The Board of Trustees selected Kerry Walk—a dynamic visionary and a champion of student learning and success–as the university’s new president. President Walk joined UArts in August, and spent the year immersed in the UArts community.
Also this year, a large number of dedicated volunteers rallied together to engage 1,193 individual donors and raise over $200,000 as part of UArtist Day of Giving. The event was coupled with an additional $500,000 for future student scholarships, pledged by Philadelphia music-scene pioneer Larry Magid through his estate. All these accomplishments make a huge difference for current students and the next generation of artists and cultural leaders.
UArts performances, exhibitions, and showcases are highly creative, and many events for alumni, students, families, and friends are now more broadly accessible to the public. Continue to stay up to date by registering for Happening@UArts. Additionally, UArts’ Parents & Families webpage was updated with resources and contact information, and UArts events are continually updated at uarts.edu/calendar. You can also stay connected to news and updates by following UArts’ other channels, including
Enjoy the summer, and thank you again for all you do to support the university’s mission of advancing human creativity!
Regards,
Parent and Family Council
Commencement 2024: Honorary Degree and Silver Star Award Recipients Ceremony
At this year’s Commencement celebration, University of the Arts will recognize director and choreographer Jeffrey L. Page BFA ’02 (Jazz Dance) and Barnes Foundation Executive Director and President Thomas Collins with Honorary Doctor of Arts degrees. The presentation of the university’s highest honorary degree is intended to recognize extraordinary intellect or artistic achievement, service to the university and society.
This year’s ceremony—the university’s 146th—will also officially celebrate the inauguration of UArts’ 15th president, Kerry Walk, PhD.
In addition to conferring honorary degrees and inaugurating President Walk, this year’s Silver Star honorees are Sidney DuPont BFA ’13 (Musical Theater), a 2022 Tony Award nominee for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Paradise Square), and Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist, Guggenheim fellow, and Pew fellow Ron Tarver MFA ’17 (Studio Art).
Alumni Association Resources
As graduating UArtists continue their creative careers as alumni, we hope they will stay connected to one another and UArts by taking advantage of the benefits, resources, and other opportunities available through UArts Career Services and Alumni Relations. We’re always here if they have questions or ideas or need support.
Generations Newsletter Survey
To ensure that you have the information you need to support your student’s UArts experience, complete this brief two-minute survey to help us enhance future versions of Generations and other UArts-related communications. Participants will be entered into a raffle to win a special UArts swag bag!
Questions? Contact Joanna Yoder, director of alumni, parent, and family relations, at jyoder@uarts.edu.
UArtsCalendar & Happening@UArts
Check out the amazing schedule of events we have coming up on campus: uarts.edu/calendar.
Sign up for our biweekly newsletter, Happening@UArts, to keep up with UArts’ schedule of performances, exhibitions, and showcases.