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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UNM Fine Arts 2022 Spring Convocation

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Art

Film & Digital Arts

Theatre & Dance

Theatre & Dance Faculty
Chameleon

Theatre & Dance Students

The Bat –
By Shannon Flynn
Directed by Erik Ehn

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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Fine Arts Student Ambassadors

“My favorite class was a computer programing class that taught us how to code to create visual art. It was amazing I think it is so important to be technologically literate and it was really cool for me to approach coding creatively. As an Interdisciplinary Arts major, I get to study multiple types of art at the same time. I study Art history and film production. With this degree, you don’t have to confine yourself to one area of study. Just like so many creative people, I am somebody that has multiple interests and the College of Fine Arts is able to help students pursue multiple interests at once.”


– Quinn Gottlieb, Undergraduate Student in Interdisciplinary Arts

“UNM gives students lots of opportunities for internships and student lead projects. I know this will sound cheesey but I’m most proud of the friendships I’ve made and networking. In the film program I learned that networking is very important to do in the film industry. Over the summer I got a job with amazon as a grip through a friend . I’ve learned alot here at UNM about the film industry.”

– Antonio De Dios, Undergraduate Student in Film & Ditigal Arts

 

 

“I think that students get overwhelmed with all the work and the diverse faculty here at the UNM Department of Music are understanding, resourceful, and so easy to work with. They genuinely care about their students. I feel very fortunate to be studying here at UNM.”

– Elsa Mota, Undergraduate Student in Voice Performance

“I don’t think that I have ever been in a class within the Fine Arts Department where any of my ideas have been shot down, or I have been told ‘no’. The faculty and the peers are so focused on building up your idea and concepts.”


– Joseph McKee, Undergraduate Student in Art History

“I had dropped out of high school and I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was working in the service industry and on a whim I ended up going to UNM because I didn’t have much else I wanted to do. I found a real love and passion for design in this program. I found that I’m good at it, I’ve found that I enjoy doing that. I stay after most of my classes finishing up things that I’m working on. The University allowed me to find that passion and direct my creative energy towards something that could be a career. It brought that
option to me, not that I was not aware, but I didn’t think it was real until I came to the University.”


—Pearl Modine, Undergraduate Student in Design and Technology for Performance
with a concentration in Costuming

“When I first got to UNM, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in. When I finally decided I wanted to go with film, there were still so many options within the film industry that you can do. UNM provides a lot of opportunities to allow you to figure out what you want to do and explore different aspects. Especially within the film industry, they allow you to explore camera operation, production, editing. The amount of credits I’ve gotten in the last year, the movies and TV shows I’ve worked on – I wouldn’t have had those movie credits without the opportunities, people I’ve met, and the networking I’ve done here at UNM…Those credits are my very first credits and I’m kind of proud of those.”


–Bryanna Acosta, Undergraduate Student in Film and Digital Media/Spanish

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Experience The Arts!

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

    04oct7:30 PM8:30 PMFeaturedUNM Composition and New Music New MexicoFeaturing 20th and 21st Century musicUNM Center for the Arts & Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM 87106

    04oct(oct 4)7:30 PM08(oct 8)6:00 PMFeaturedThe Linnell Festival of New PlaysUNM Center for the Arts & Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM 87106

    08oct2:00 PM3:30 PMFeaturedSmokeboxUNM's MFA in Dramatic Writing Program presentsUNM Center for the Arts & Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM 87106

    15octAll DayFeaturedZia Marching Band Fiesta44th Annual Marching Band Fiesta

    11nov7:30 PM9:00 PMFeaturedFriends of Dance Scholarship Benefit ConcertCelebrating the Works of Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance CompanyCarlisle Gym, Central Campus, Albuquerque, NM 87131

    12nov7:30 PM9:00 PMFeaturedFriends of Dance Scholarship Benefit ConcertCelebrating the Works of Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance CompanyCarlisle Gym, Central Campus, Albuquerque, NM 87131

    13nov2:30 PM4:30 PMFeatured¡Música del Corazón!Baroque Fandangos of New Spain and Historic Fandangos of New Mexico1701 4th Street SW

CFA by the Numbers

• Top 8 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 studying 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 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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