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Meadows School of the Arts

Founded in 1917 as SMU’s School of Music, the school expanded to include other arts disciplines and was named for Algur H. Meadows in 1969. Today the school encompasses communications, performing and visual arts, while maintaining a focus on creativity and innovation. Artists always have been at the forefront of change in technology, diversity and entrepreneurship, and Meadows aims to continue this tradition. Meadows is committed to becoming a national leader in innovative arts and communication training, fostering the creation of new art and research, engaging in service to, and interaction with, the local and global communities and providing a welcoming climate for all.

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Centennial Decade Priorities

Student Quality

Increase scholarships to recruit and retain the most promising scholars

  • Endow the Meadows Scholars program to recruit the most talented and highest achieving students
  • Endow graduate studies support in key areas such as art history, music and arts management

Faculty and Academic Excellence

Attract outstanding teachers and researchers and enhance academic programs, facilities and resources

  • Endow new faculty positions to attract and retain top senior artists and scholars including:
    • Director of Meadows Museum and Distinguished Chair
    • Director and Distinguished Chair in Arts Research
    • Arts Entrepreneurship
    • Music Performance
    • Sports or Fashion Journalism
  • Establish a top 20 NRC ranked Ph.D. program in Art History
  • Endow a new National Center for Arts Research to provide data-based insights that will promote the health of the nation’s arts sector
  • Create an endowment to maintain our professional training facilities including our digital studio andconvergence newsroom in order to capitalize on SMU’s location in Dallas as one of the nation’s top media markets
  • Develop a new interdisciplinary arts education model driven by innovative curriculum, entrepreneurship and community impact

Campus Experience

Improve and expand student services and programs

  • Enhance the Meadows Museum’s premier collection through quality acquisitions
  • Expand the Meadows Museum’s special exhibitions and community programming, including lectures, concerts and docent tours
  • Renovate and expand facilities dedicated to public programming, from performance theatre to film screenings

Meadows School of the Arts at a Glance

Meadows School of the Arts offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in the visual, performing and communication arts.

Meadows Degrees and Programs

Degree offerings across 10 divisions include:

  • Art
  • Art History
  • Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship
  • Communication Studies
  • Dance
  • Film and Media Arts
  • Journalism
  • Music
  • Temerlin Advertising Institute for Education and Research
  • Theatre

In addition to working with a renowned faculty, students at Meadows School of the Arts have access to many eminent visiting professors, artists and scholars as well as the annual winners of the Meadows Prize.

Facilities

Meadows School of the Arts facilities for instruction, performance and exhibition include:

  • The Owen Arts Center, which houses the Greer Garson Theatre,  Bob Hope Theatre, Margo Jones Theatreand Caruth Auditorium
  • The Umphrey Lee Center, which houses the Belo Journalism Complex
  • The Meadows Museum, which features the most comprehensive collection of Spanish art outside Spain and also houses the Elizabeth Meadows Sculpture Collection
  • The Pollock Gallery at the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, which provides an academic forum and scholarly exhibitions of present and past artists for students, faculty, artists and the surrounding community
  • The Doolin Gallery for student exhibitions
The school's location in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex allows students to gain real-world experience that further enriches their education. The region offers:
  • A thriving local performing arts scene
  • One of the nation's top 10 media markets
  • A vibrant film and television production industry
  • Museums, art galleries and significant private collections  
  • Numerous Fortune 500 headquarters

Join Us

Be a part of defining the next 100 years of unbridled achievement at SMU. To get involved in The Second Century Campaign, call 214-768-4153 or e-mail meadowsgiving@smu.edu.