”Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
~ Mary Oliver
Artists shape humanity. Studying in the Fine Arts broadens students’ opportunities to cultivate their creativity within a diverse urban environment. Metro State offers accessible bachelor’s degrees in Creative Writing, Screenwriting, Studio Arts and Theater. Curriculum also includes digital media, film production and music. Our faculty are award-winning working artists and scholars. The Fine Arts department promotes community events such as gallery exhibitions, artist talks, film screenings, theater productions, student public readings and literary events so our student voices are seen and heard.
Creative Writing
The Creative Writing program at Metro State is one of the richest and most diverse in the nation. Both our B.A. and minor in Creative Writing include workshops in fiction, memoir, poetry, creative non-fiction, children's literature, humor, the graphic novel, and other literary forms. Students gain experience in drafting, analyzing, and editing publishable creative works. Our award-winning faculty and curriculum challenges students with the delights and hard work required to write imaginatively, and lead a life made richer by the literary arts.
Screenwriting
The Screenwriting Program mentors talented writers and filmmakers—the next generation of visual storytellers—in the evolving traditions of cinema, TV and new media, all forms which rely on a good story well told. Through application and practice blended with professional development and community engagement, students gain a deep understanding of the film and TV industry and graduate from the program with a confidence in their distinct voices and unique stories, as well as the creative and technical skills to make it all come to life.
Studio Arts
Metro’s BA and minor in Studio Arts provides students with practical, conceptual and critical art training. After a number of core courses are completed, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of upper division coursework in such topics as painting, drawing, photography, digital arts, textiles, book arts, clay, sculpture, printmaking and art activism. Nationally and internationally exhibited faculty prepare students to contribute to contemporary, multi-disciplinary art practices.
Theater
Theater is a universal language that can develop and expand one’s communication skills, connection to creative ideas, and the ability to participate in profound social change. With a focus on new work and student-written plays, the program proudly offers a showcase for developing talents and provides opportunities for personal growth while working collaboratively within the artistic process. There are many ways for students to get involved, on stage and/or off; whatever skill or interest one brings, and regardless of major, the theatre program has a niche for all who wish to participate.
Music
Explore music at Metro State through lower and upper division courses such as Music Appreciation, Topics in Music and Applied Guitar Study. Students will have the opportunity to work as a group or in independent study courses while increasing their knowledge and enjoyment of music and furthering technical skills. Metro offers a high level of musical instruction and has an ever-expanding and inclusive musical community.