The arts at Union

From courses to concerts to student clubs, the arts are infused throughout campus life.

We offer more than 600 courses in visual art, music, theater and dance, taught by faculty who are accomplished in their field and dedicated to teaching.

Courses such as The Illustrated Organism (studio fine arts and biology), Business of Visual Art and Contemporary Entrepreneurship (art history and economics), Understanding Human Movement (biology and dance), and Environmentalism and Globalization in Contemporary Art (art history and environmental science) also feature exciting possibilities in interdisciplinary learning that are uniquely Union.

Our arts programs aren't for artists only. Choose art as a major or minor, or find new ways to enrich yourself through dozens of clubs, events and activities. The campus comes alive with exhibitions, receptions, recitals, performances, film series, poetry readings and guest speakers throughout the year.

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Union offers more than 600 courses in the arts, taught by faculty
who are accomplished in their field and dedicated to teaching.

Art History Dance Digital Media Film Studies Music
Theater Studio Fine Arts World Musics & Culture

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Events and opportunities

Events
- Annual student choreography showcase
- Annual dance residency, featuring internationally recognized troupes
- Art exhibits at Mandeville Gallery and the Wikoff Student Gallery
- chamber concert series
- Empty Bowls (ceramics) fundraiser
- Field trips to Broadway, Tanglewood, concert halls, and museums and galleries
- Film screenings, festivals and staged readings, featuring student work
- Film series
- Lothridge Festival of Dance
- Student recitals
- Taylor Music Time performances
- Theater productions
- Winter Dance Concert
International opportunities
- Bali, Indonesia, mini-term
- Cuba mini-term
- London, England, theater mini-term
- Paris, France, printmaking at the Louvre mini-term
- Paris, France, art history mini-term
Clubs & organizations
Clubs
- African Dance
- Anime
- Ceramics
- Ballroom Dancing
- Bhangra
- Dance Team
- Hip Hop
- Terra Dance Company
- U-Break
- Mountebanks, student performing group
- No offense Improv Group
- Film Committee
- A capella groups (Dutch Pipers, Eliphalets, Garnet Minstrelles)
- Concert Club
- Heavenly Voices Choir
- Pep Band
- WRUC
Organizations
- Taiko Ensemble
- Union College and Community Chorale
- Jazz Ensemble
- Camerata Singers
- Union College and Community Orchestra
- Early Music Ensemble
Publications
- Concordiensis, student newspaper
- Dutch Oven, humor newspaper
- Garnet Yearbook
- The Aleph (terms abroad)
- The Idol magazine
Theme houses
- Arts House, arts
- Dickens House, literature
- Maker House, creativity and collaboration in sewing, welding, woodworking and other forms of making

Facilities

FEIGENBAUM CENTER FOR VISUAL ARTS

This newly renovated spacious building has studios for drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and 2D and 3D design, as well as a media lab, photography suites and dark rooms. The center also houses the Crowell and West galleries, individual studios for advanced students, and a metalworking studio alongside an outdoor sculpture space.

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TAYLOR MUSIC CENTER

The Music Technology Studio, Early Music Studio, World Musics Room and Choral Library are all housed here, along with classrooms, practice rooms and faculty offices. The intimate Emerson Auditorium, which seats 100, hosts Taylor Time, a series that brings professional musicians to campus for performances and workshops.

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PETER IRVING WOLD CENTER

The Wold Center houses Makerspaces, interdisciplinary labs that support maker activities using digital and analog tools, including virtual reality technology, 3D printers and scanners, a laser cutter, CNC router, soldering kits and more. The Castrucci Gallery explores intersections between arts, math and science.

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YULMAN THEATER

The Main Stage hosts major student productions, from the classic to the contemporary. The Black Box Theater is a flexible space for staged readings, monologues and other performances. This modern complex also features a design studio, and scenic and costume shops, and it is home to the century-old Mountebanks student-run drama group.

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HENLE DANCE PAVILION

Spacious and light-filled, this 7,000-square-foot facility overlooks Jackson's Garden. The dance studio and lobby/rehearsal space have 20-foot ceilings that safely permit lifts and aerials. A student choreography showcase is held in the studio each spring. The pavilion also includes classrooms, a costume shop, offices and meeting rooms.

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THE NOTT MEMORIAL

This National Historic Landmark is home to the Mandeville Gallery, which exhibits nationally recognized contemporary artists. The Wikoff Student Gallery showcases student works as well as the campus-wide LGBTQ+ exhibit. The popular Lothridge Festival of Dance is held in the Nott each spring during Steinmetz Symposium.

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MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Historic Memorial Chapel is used for choral and orchestral performances. Known for its superb sound – the acoustical ceiling was designed by one of America's preeminent scientists – the chapel is home to the renowned Capital Region Classical music series, which brings world-class ensembles and musical performers to campus. The chapel also is an ideal performance space for student a cappella groups and guest artists.

SCHAFFER LIBRARY

The library hosts the Art Installation Series, in which students can interact with an artist at work. It is also home to several of the College’s most prized possessions, including the rare “Elephant Folio” edition of Audubon’s Birds of America and original Ramée campus drawings. The Union College Permanent Collection is also housed here.

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