For Students

The arts play a major role in Stanford student life, culture, and tradition.

Whether it’s dance, drama, creative writing, design, visual arts, film, or music, the arts cross boundaries and sub-communities within the University and provide common ground for Stanford students.

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Whether you are planning to integrate the arts into your studies as an arts major or minor, continue your artistic passion through an extracurricular student organization, or simply support your talented classmates as a dedicated audience member and fan, there are many ways to engage in the arts at Stanford.

To stay connected, subscribe to ArtsUpdate, a weekly digest of arts events and opportunities for Stanford students.

To read more in depth profiles of Stanford artists and events, subscribe to the Stanford Arts Review Digest.

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Student Opportunities

Arts Spaces

Studying the Arts

Stanford’s academic programs in the arts offer a unique combination of study through theory and practice. You don’t have to be an arts major or minor to take classes in the arts, but if you choose to major or minor in an arts discipline, you will have a chance to work in-depth with world-class faculty and accomplished fellow students from around the world. To find out more about degree programs in the arts, browse through the department course catalogues and visit their respective websites.

Check out the Creativity Course Guide to see some of the exciting, creative courses being offered across campus. You can also check out a listing of some of the most intriguing classes that fulfill the new Creative Expression breadth requirement.

Areas of study in the arts at Stanford include:

  • Architectural Design
  • Art and Art History
  • Creative Writing And Literature
  • Dance
  • Theater and Performance Studies
  • Diversity In The Arts
  • Film and Media Studies
  • Music
  • Music, Science, and Technology
  • Product Design

Beyond the Classroom

Stanford offers many ways to experience the arts outside of the classroom. The Arts Intensive program allows students to spend three weeks prior to fall quarter in rigorous, for-credit training in a particular arts discipline. The Arts Immersion program gives students the opportunity to travel to cultural centers. The Bing Overseas Studies Program offers students over a dozen destinations around the world to study and explore opera, ballet, theater, art, film, design and more.

Arts Where You Live

From artist salons in the dorms to a world-class museum and performance venue in your backyard, the arts are everywhere on campus. Check out events.stanford.edu to see what is happening today or post your arts event for others to find.

Finding Your Community

In your time at Stanford, there are many ways you will find community — through your dorm, your classes, and your extracurricular activities. Engaging in the arts is one way to connect with other students on campus in a meaningful and lasting way.

Stanford has over 100 student arts organizations.

Through these groups, students produce theater and dance performances, write original scripts for the stage and screen, publish magazines, record music, make films, teach art in public schools, lead workshops, host conferences, and organize festivals. Joining or starting a new student group can give you invaluable experience in leadership, teamwork, and collaboration, and a community for expressing your creativity and passion.

Funding

Stanford offers several channels through which student artists can find funding for curricular and extracurricular projects.

A Career in the Arts

Students interested in gaining experience working in the arts have several opportunities both on- and off-campus throughout their time at Stanford. Below are some places to begin your search.

Have an arts-related job, audition, call for art, or other opportunity for Stanford students? Members of the Stanford community, please forward it to Sophia Villarreal Licona at sophiav1@stanford.edu.