One of the surest signs of a growing career field is when colleges and universities start making more room — and create better spaces — for students in that field.

In this case, it’s art careers.  I’m not kidding.  The University of Wisconsin at Madison is creating a residential learning community. It’s for students preparing for art careers.

Those art-related careers include: art, dance, design, engineering, fashion, film, music, theatre and computer science. (Okay, I blinked a few times at the “computer science” part, too.  Except for some animation and digital art, I struggle to use the words computer science and art careers in the same sentence.)

Focus on art careers = The whole is greater than its individual parts?

It’s the residential learning part that intrigues me.  That keeps creative people together every day.  That’s very different from spending one or two hours a week in the same lecture hall.

Their combined energy and shared creative visions could result in products far greater than the individual works.  It could be like a four-year artists’ colony.  Highly innovative concepts could emerge, taking art in new directions.

Pretty cool.  I like seeing things like that for the next generation of artists.

Also, this program views art careers as a collaborative movement among several disciplines, which takes it beyond artists’ colonies where — for example — everyone is a painter.

I hope this is the beginning of a trend. It can re-energize colleges and attract more high-quality students.  That should make everyone happy.

See if a college or university near you is thinking about something similar.  If so, that could be a community to participate in, even if you’re not a student.  (For example, you could become an ad hoc advisor.)

Here’s the UW press release.  Yes, it’s pretty dry reading. Read between the lines. You’ll see a dynamic concept that may be very exciting once it begins thriving: An art and design community.

These are people who are already committed to (or considering) art careers. They could be an extraordinary group.  It’s not just about future networking. It’s about the experience of the four years you’re together.

UNIVERSITY HOUSING TO LAUNCH CREATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN COMMUNITY – Media Newswire (press release)

news.google.com

UNIVERSITY HOUSING TO LAUNCH CREATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN COMMUNITY

… campus’s Sellery Hall, will welcome students from a broad array of creative disciplines, recognizing that the arts, innovation and creativity are vital …

It’s the collaborative concept that intrigues me the most.  I recently wrote about community causes and events (Use Social Causes to Grow Your Art Career).  In that article, I explained that some of our best ideas can come from related fields and the world around us.

For examples, look at some of today’s most innovative artists.

How mixing creative disciplines helps art careers

Recently, I was deeply moved and inspired by the art of Nathalie Miebach, whose art is based on weather measurements.  Her art crosses several disciplines; her sculptures are also musical scores.

That’s an example of what happens when people exchange ideas, triggering “ah-HA!” moments that lead to even greater innovations.

Throwing a group of creative people together may be a risky, volatile move. This could become one of those legends.  You know, like the Cape Cod School of Art in the very early 20th century… art communities spoken of in hushed tones, and with awe.

This takes art education beyond the usual routine. You know:  Classes, homework, projects… and then partying with people who don’t really get how you think.

Throwing creative people together — people focused on art careers — the experience could be very different.  If I were looking at colleges, I think the University of Wisconsin (or any other college with a similar program) would be near the top of my list.