Wednesday, April 23 at 5:00
Alumni Reading Room of Pratt Institute Library, Brooklyn
Refreshments will be available

The Pratt Community is invited to attend a round table discussion and dialogue on:

“The Value of Art, and of Art and Design Education.”

At a time when the worth of education in the fine arts and design, and in the liberal arts, are challenged in the media and on the national stage, we at the Institute will discuss the value (and the values) our teaching and research provide.

Last year’s report, “The Heart of the Matter,” by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences stated that:

Emphasizing critical perspective and imaginative response, the humanities – including the study of languages, literature, history, film, civics, philosophy, religion, and the arts – foster creativity, appreciation of our commonalities and differences, and knowledge of all kinds.

Our dialogue will concern in particular the critical perspectives and knowledge and skills provided by the instruction delivered at Pratt Institute in architecture; in the fine arts; in design; and in the liberal arts and sciences.

Our meeting participates in a national and international debate about the value of education in the arts. This first dialogue is part of a series to be continued in two further dialogues next fall, and in an all-day conference in 2015 in the spring semester.

The round-table participants include Theo David and Eric Wong from the School of Architecture, Aurora Robinson from HEOP, Bill McMillin from the Pratt Institute Library, Kathryn Filla from the School of Art and Design, and Suzanne Verderber and Carl Zimring from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Theo David will open the debate with a short talk on “Contrast of Form and Making”.

Paul Dambowic will serve as moderator.

This event is held in conjunction with a meeting of the Dialogues Committee, which is sponsored by the Academic Senate. For further information, or to RSVP, send inquiries to:

Paul Dambowic, Vice-President
Academic Senate