Celebrating Fine Arts Graduates

UNM Art Museum has shared well-wishes and words of encouragement from UNM Alumni to 
celebrate the UNM’s graduating class of 2020.

We Are Still Making Art

Art

Film & Digital Arts

Theatre & Dance

Music

Join a vibrant art community, in the midst of an inspiring outdoor paradise

Art is not just important to us here at UNM, it’s part of us. We teach it, create it, and embrace it. It shapes our identity and even drives our economy.

Whether it’s cast or woven, printed or painted, disruptive, experimental, theoretical or visionary, we have an insatiable love and deep respect for the artist and their practice—and if you do too, we should really talk.

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Art

Focusing on traditional and avant-garde studio art practice, art history, and art education, The Department of Art provides an environment where creativity and intellectual discourse can flourish

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Music

As the only music program in the state to have dedicated performance faculty-artists to teach every instrument or voice, the Department of Music strives to develop the complete musician

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Theatre & Dance

The Department of Theatre and Dance cultivates critical thinking and analysis, providing a broad, liberal arts education in the related performing arts of Dance, Theatre, and Design for Performance

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Film & Digital Arts

Dedicated to the study and practice of film and video as art, Film & Digital Arts develops the necessary skills to succeed as a moviemaker, screenwriter, video game designer, film historian, or experimental arts practitioner.

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“The first step – especially for young people with energy and drive and talent, but not money – the first step to controlling your world is to control your culture. To model and demonstrate the kind of world you demand to live in. To write the books. Make the music. Shoot the films. Paint the art.”
—Chuck Palahniuk

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Experience The Arts!

*Due to COVID all events are being held online

In addition to our scholarly pursuits, the College of Fine Arts is also a dynamic visual & performing arts center for the burgeoning arts community of Albuquerque.

Produced by our creative students and faculty, the College of Fine Arts proudly presents over 300 public performances, exhibitions, installations & art discussions annually.

full event calendar

    01sepAll Day28febFeaturedTHE VIEW FROM HERE: TAMARIND AT SIXTY AND BEYONDAn Online ExhibitionTamarind Institute, 2500 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

    08oct7:00 PM7:30 PMFeaturedHonky Tonk Happy Hour Podcast Live Watch & Listening PartySecond Podcast Drop of the Semester

    29oct4:00 PM5:30 PMFeaturedCONVERSATION: ELLEN LESPERANCE WITH JULIA BRYAN-WILSONSupport provided by Frederick Hammersley Fund for the Arts at the Albuquerque Community Foundation.

    12nov5:00 PM6:00 PMFeaturedTamarind Talks: Paula WilsonPresented by UNM's African American Student Services and Tamarind InstituteTamarind Institute, 2500 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

CFA by the Numbers

• Top 5 in the nation in Photography
• The only place in the US to earn a concentration in Flamenco
• The only college at UNM with a fund dedicated to study abroad
• 64% of CFA grads find jobs before or within 4 months of graduation

• 100% Music Education job placement
• Best American cities for creatives – Thrillist
• Best places to live and work as a moviemaker – Movie Maker
• Diverse culture – 94% of students had a conversation with people different from themselves

• The top state for fine artists
• The #3 State for actors
• The #15 State for Musicians
—NEA Ranks

Undergraduate Degrees

Full-Time Faculty

%

of Students Receive Financial Aid

Days of Sunshine Per Year

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A Message From The New Dean

“I am honored and excited to serve as the Dean for the College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico, it is my goal to work with the talented faculty, staff and students of the CFA to positively impact the region, and empower all underrepresented people of the state. Additionally, I am looking forward to the CFA being an active partner in supporting the success of President Stokes’ Grand Challenge Initiative, helping make our school a destination university.

—Harris D. Smith, Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Professor, Dept. of Theatre & Dance

UNM College of Fine Arts’ Statement of Solidarity and Anti-Racism

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“UNM was so affordable that I did not graduate with debt, which allowed me to start my own business.”

Jeremy Bernstein

2017 IFDM Graduate & Breachgate Founder

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“The UNM music program was the perfect balance of research and practice. I had the flexibility to conduct ensembles, play in the Wind Symphony, assist the Spirit Marching Band, and design and conduct research, all while teaching part-time in the Albuquerque Public Schools. I am proud to be a Lobo and am exceedingly grateful for the mentorship and encouragement I received at UNM. ”

Nathan B. Kruse

Associate Professor of Music Education Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH

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“The UNM music program was the perfect balance of research and practice. I had the flexibility to conduct ensembles, play in the Wind Symphony, assist the Spirit Marching Band, and design and conduct research, all while teaching part-time in the Albuquerque Public Schools. I am proud to be a Lobo and am exceedingly grateful for the mentorship and encouragement I received at UNM. ”

Nathan B. Kruse

Associate Professor of Music Education Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH

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“ I was able to spend a great deal of time in the studio, both as a dancer myself and as a rehearsal assistant for historic repertory. In my time in the program, I was lucky enough to have received graduate assistantships, that made the degree financially possible and gave me the opportunity to gain teaching and research experience before graduation. Moving to New Mexico for this Master of Arts degree was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life, and that’s not an exaggeration. ”

Sarah Williams

MA graduate in Theatre & Dance

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“The art program at UNM was absolutely invaluable in the development of my personal and professional life. Not only was I given the leeway to pursue the mediums that I wanted, but the faculty thoughtfully pushed me to hone my artistic ability and creative thinking skills with radical new ideas and collaborative experiences. I can honestly say that my time in the College of Fine Arts was four of the best years of my life.”

Trent Jones

2012 Bachelor of Arts graduate, Graphic Designer

Contact the College of Fine Arts

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How to Apply

• All students must be admitted to the University, whether as an incoming freshman, transfer student, or non-degree student. Apply online through the Admissions Department at UNM

•After meeting all CFA admission requirements, students must apply to become a declared major.

Academic Advisement

The College of Fine Arts Student Success & Advisement Center is committed to serve the UNM community with compassion, guidance, and respect as we promote academic excellence.

To speak with a CFA advisor, please call (505) 277-4817.

Founded in 1889, the University of New Mexico sits on the traditional homelands of the Pueblo of Sandia. The original peoples of New Mexico — Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache — since time immemorial, have deep connections to the land and have made significant contributions to the broader community statewide. We honor the land itself and those who remain stewards of this land throughout the generations and also acknowledge our committed relationship to indigenous peoples. We gratefully recognize our history.
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