Transformation of the Owen Arts Center

Transformation of the Owen Arts Center 24416864 2021-09-29T09:47:06-05:00

Transformation of the Owen Arts Center

To walk through the doors of the Owen Arts Center at SMU Meadows School of the Arts is to enter a world that transcends conventional boundaries; bridges the classic, the contemporary and emerging frontiers; and equips a new generation of artists, creatives, innovators, and thinkers to become more influential in every sector of a rapidly changing world.

At Meadows, everything we do is fueled by our core belief that the arts impact every aspect of life and culture. And now, with a historic challenge grant from The Meadows Foundation, SMU has the extraordinary opportunity to transform the Owen Arts Center into a space that turns our deepest-held values into action.

Past Meadows parent Marlyne Sexton has recently given a challenge gift to help us raise the remaining $4 million needed to reach our $34 million fundraising goal. Join the effort today!

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Track Our Progress

$30.8 Million

$34 Million Goal

$30.8 million of our $34 million goal has been committed as of 9/28/21

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Hard Hat Tour

Renovation Kickoff Ceremony: Video

Renovation Kickoff Ceremony: Photos

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Inspiring Spaces for Aspiring Artists

A Dynamic Hub

New and renovated spaces will foster creativity; encourage innovative teaching, practice, creation, exhibition and collaboration; and attract a talented and diverse community of artists, scholars and visitors from across the campus and around the world. What emerges is a pipeline of creative and artistic talent and leadership that continues to elevate Dallas as a significant nexus for design, innovation and artistic practice and contributes to the rising national and international reputation of Meadows as a leading school of visual, performing and communication arts.

The Owen Arts Center occupies a prominent location at the heart of the historic main campus, with Bishop Boulevard to the east and Hillcrest Avenue to the west.

Find out what Meadows students, faculty and staff have to say about the future of Owen Arts Center!

Phase One: $34 Million

Phase One of the renovation will modernize the north wing of the building from Hillcrest Avenue to Bishop Boulevard. The project will create and improve academic spaces for the visual arts, art history and creative computation while transforming exterior entrances into grand, welcoming and accessible spaces.

Conceptual renderings below, not actual images.

Nancy C. and Richard R. Rogers Center for Visual Arts

Home to the academic pursuits of art, art history and creative computation with a new formal entrance on the north side of the building.

Main Gallery

Original home of the Meadows Museum restored as a gallery to display rotating exhibitions and to serve as an elegant entertainment space, with access to the Dean’s Suite.

Gene and Jerry Jones Grand Atrium and Plaza

Landscaped plaza along Bishop Boulevard and adjacent enclosed atrium for formal and impromptu student performances, concerts, and events.

Foundations Studio

Located on the first level, a new studio for learning the fundamentals of techniques, processes, and principles involved in the creation of art.

Sexton Family Courtyard

Lush space along Hillcrest Avenue suitable for gatherings, serving as the west entryway for Greer Garson Theatre and Hamon Arts Library.

William B. Jordan Gallery

New student gallery for critique sessions, temporary exhibitions and gallery talks to be named in honor of Bill Jordan, founding director of Meadows Museum and former chair of Division of Fine Arts.

Sexton Family Art Studio and Terrace

Newly created, expansive art studio on the top floor and accompanying terrace suited for en plein air painting.

Art History Lecture Hall

Large classroom equipped with advanced auditorium screening capability and tiered seating to accommodate up to 48 students.

Paul W. Harris Promenade

Expanded, inviting pedestrian walkway connecting the heart of SMU’s campus along Bishop Boulevard to the western thoroughfare of Hillcrest Avenue.

Gallery Conference Room

Elegant conference room located adjacent to gallery spaces, used for meetings with distinguished guests of the University and for faculty and student presentations and seminars.

William B. Jordan Gallery

SMU Meadows School of the Arts aims to celebrate the legacy of the late William B. (“Bill”) Jordan, internationally known scholar, teacher, author, founding director of the Meadows Museum and former chair of the Division of Fine Arts, with the creation of the William B. Jordan Gallery. To be located on the first floor of the original home of the Meadows Museum within the Owen Arts Center, the new gallery will be ideally situated for student critique sessions, temporary exhibitions and gallery talks.

Thanks to donations from Dr. Jordan’s friends, colleagues, and former students, fundraising to support the construction of the William B. Jordan Gallery is more than halfway to the goal of $1 million. Join the effort and make a gift today.

Conceptual rendering only, not an actual image.

William B. Jordan and Algur H. Meadows

A tribute to William B. Jordan, founding director of Meadows Museum and former chair of Division of Fine Arts.

Naming Opportunities

Nancy C. and Richard R. Rogers Center for Visual Arts Home to the academic pursuits of art, art history and creative computation with a new formal entrance on the north side of the building.	Named
Gene and Jerry Jones Grand Atrium and Plaza Landscaped plaza along Bishop Boulevard and adjacent enclosed atrium for formal and impromptu student performances, concerts, and events.	Named
Sexton Family Courtyard Lush space along Hillcrest Avenue suitable for gatherings, serving as the west entryway for Greer Garson Theatre and Hamon Arts Library.	Named
Main Gallery Original home of the Meadows Museum restored as a gallery to display rotating exhibitions and to serve as an elegant entertainment space, with access to the Dean’s Suite.	$3 Million
Sexton Family Art Studio and Terrace Newly created, expansive art studio on the top floor and accompanying terrace suited for en plein air painting.	Named
Paul W. Harris Promenade Expanded, inviting pedestrian walkway connecting the heart of SMU’s campus along Bishop Boulevard to the western thoroughfare of Hillcrest Avenue.	Named
Dean’s Suite Offices for the Dean of Meadows School of the Arts and key academic leadership prominently located on the first and second floors adjoining the Main Gallery.	$1 Million
William B. Jordan Gallery New student gallery for critique sessions, temporary exhibitions and gallery talks to be named in honor of Bill Jordan, founding director of Meadows Museum and former chair of Division of Fine Arts.	$1 Million
C.E. and Mary Kathryn Doolin Gallery Existing gallery modernized and enhanced for the exhibition and critique of student work.	Named
Sexton Family Creative Computation Suite Fully equipped technology labs and classrooms for students to explore computing as a creative medium.	Named
Foundations Studio Maker space for learning the fundamentals of techniques, processes and principles involved in the creation of art. Foundations classes are prerequisites for all art majors and are essential in the basis of a student’s artistic development.	$1 Million
Art History Lecture Hall Large classroom equipped with advanced auditorium screening capability and tiered seating to accommodate up to 48 students.	$1 Million
Laurie Hickman Cox Painting Studio Studio specialized for the study and creation of painting, with a custom ventilation system for finishing artworks of acrylic and oil-based media.	Named
Drawing Studio Studio specialized for the study of drawing techniques, from concept sketches to finalized works.	$500,000
Printmaking Studio Studio specialized for printmaking capabilities featuring large-scale printing presses and support equipment to facilitate intaglio etching, drypoint, woodcut, monotype, silkscreen and numerous hybrid combinations.	$500,000
Photography Lab Integrated workspace for the development, processing and display of traditional, non-digital photography.	$500,000
Digital Imaging Lab Lab used in digital photography coursework for student creations outfitted with computers loaded with leading-edge design software, large-format printers and flatbed scanners.	$500,000
Gallery Conference Room Elegant conference room located adjacent to gallery spaces, used for meetings with distinguished guests of the University and for faculty and student presentations and seminars.	$500,000
Undergraduate Studios Suite Flexible studio space to accommodate multiple art undergraduate students to develop and practice their skills. Places are competitively awarded to upper-class undergraduates based on merit.	Named
Graduate Studios Suite Spacious, adaptable space for M.F.A. in Art graduate students to create and develop their bodies of work as they work toward their creative theses. Studios are individually tailored by the students as they hone their skills.	$250,000
Jennifer Burr Altabef Student Lounge Located on the third floor of the Greer Garson Theatre, an informal space for students to work, study and relax.	Named
Barbara Thomas Lemmon Art History Suite Offices for key art history leadership and The Lady Tennyson d’Eyncourt Visual Resources Laboratory (VRL).	Named
Division of Art Suite Office space for key Division of Art leadership.	$250,000
MADI Office Suite Office workspace for Master of Arts in Design and Innovation (MADI) faculty.	$250,000
Faculty Offices Suite Located on the third floor, span of nine offices for the faculty of art history, art, and creative computation adjacent to the Art History Lecture Hall and Sexton Family Creative Computation Suite.	$250,000
Art Chair’s Office Office for the Chair of the Division of Art, located within the Art Suite.	$100,000
Art History Chair’s Office Office for the Chair of the Department of Art History, located within the Barbara Thomas Lemmon Art History Suite.	$100,000
Seminar Room Multi-disciplinary workspace for instruction, seminars and meetings.	$100,000
Research Lab Offices (Multiple) Cross-functional office labs for the study of art, design and creative computation and for trailblazing digital-based research.	$100,000 (each)
Balcony Outdoor space for rejuvenation overlooking the Sexton Family Courtyard.	$100,000
Darkroom Located within the Photography Lab, a wet darkroom using chemicals for analog photo development and enlargements.	$50,000
Faculty Offices (Multiple) Renovated offices for art, art history and creative computation faculty located throughout the Rogers Center for Visual Arts.	$25,000 -$50,000 (each)

News

For More Information

For information about giving opportunities in support of the transformation of SMU’s Owen Arts Center, please contact the Meadows development office at 214-768-2610 or meadowsgiving@smu.edu.