Herron School of Art and Design's New Center Bolsters Both Business Partnerships and Community Programming

INDIANAPOLIS - The Herron School of Art and Design brings a new Center for Art, Design and Public Life to the Indianapolis community. This means businesses and other organizations can maximize their use of Herron's art and design expertise. It also means increased access to community arts programming at Herron.

Under the leadership of Jim May, the center proactively seeks community partnerships and responds to requests for public art and design work. Projects often are created by Herron students who are mentored by faculty. The Center for Art, Design and Public Life resulted from a shift in curriculum, which emphasizes civic engagement, giving students more "real world" work experience. Partnering with clients in the community is one way to provide students exposure to professional situations. Herron clients have included the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Clarian Health, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Wyoming, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, and Celadon Trucking, among others.

Jim May, formerly the vice president of museum programs at the Indiana State Museum, brings to Herron a strong knowledge of the community in addition to a degree in contemporary art history, and experience in project management. According to May, "Herron has many activities that are cross disciplinary in nature and I look forward to bringing increased cohesion to these efforts. Herron has always been an excellent source for arts education in the community but now that it is located on the IUPUI campus in such a wonderful facility, the potential to expand its civic engagement is excellent." The Center for Art, Design and Public Life also will support the mission of the Herron Galleries and the Visiting Artist Lecture Series by expanding the educational component of exhibitions for Herron's degree-seeking students, non-art majors and the community.

Valerie Eickmeier, dean of the Herron School of Art and Design, is enthusiastic about the many ways the community will benefit from the new center. "The Center for Art, Design and Public Life will enhance the facilitation of Herron's civic engagement and provide excellent professional practice for degree-seeking students. Herron is a cultural resource and the new center will foster our interaction with the community. We are pleased that Jim May has joined Herron and are confident that his contribution in carrying out Herron's mission will maximize our opportunities to provide high quality community outreach initiatives through gallery exhibitions, visiting artist lectures and art programming."

Herron's Center for Art, Design and Public Life is made possible, in part, with support from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation.