Strengthening the Arts at Taylor: Facilities, Programs, and Investing in Excellence

Taylor University is committed to excellence—and the arts are no exception. Our creative and performing arts programs give students the space to refine their craft, explore bold ideas, and produce work that reflects the beauty and creativity of our Creator. In recent years, Taylor has made significant investments in our arts facilities, expanding and improving spaces that inspire collaboration and innovation. These enhancements are already providing students with opportunities to deepen their skills, showcase their talents, and pursue their God-given callings with confidence and joy.

Film & Media Arts: Shaping the Storytellers of Tomorrow

Taylor’s Film and Media Arts program equips students to create films that honor and reflect God’s truth, goodness, and beauty. The program combines artistic inspiration with industry training, preparing students to enter the field competitively with both technical and creative skills.

The program has grown exponentially in resources with the opening of the $29.5 million, 45,000-square-foot Horne Academic Center, completed Fall 2024. Custom-built to teach visual storytelling, Horne houses the Boren Television Studio for multi-camera live production and the Soderquist Film Sound Stage for shooting film scenes. The sound stage features a 26×13-foot LED wall capable of projecting any digital landscape, enabling students to create immersive, hyper-realistic scenes without leaving campus. Horne’s post-production hallway further advances student learning through 10 dedicated video editing suites and six audio editing suites, giving students the tools to refine every frame and sound element with precision. In the film finishing and screening room, students complete color grading, mix cinema-quality soundtracks, and evaluate their work in a professional venue.

“These recent investments have been such a blessing to the artistry of Taylor University’s Film and Media Arts program,” said Kathy Bruner, Department Co-Chair and Professor of Film and Media Arts.

The program’s national reputation is continually reinforced through its award-winning student work. With three national College Television Awards, numerous NATAS Central Great Lakes recognitions, and semi-finalist honors in the Student Academy Awards, Taylor filmmakers consistently demonstrate excellence. To date, the program has earned 1,248 awards and recognitions, with roughly 100 already received this year alone. Through world-class facilities, committed faculty, and a mission-centered approach, Taylor’s Film and Media Arts program is equipping the next generation of Christians to tell stories that resonate—on screen, in culture, and around the world.

Music: Empowering Musicians to Lead and Serve

The Music program at Taylor is committed to guiding and investing in students as they develop the skills needed for a successful career in music. Through private lessons, chamber groups, and large ensembles, students engage a wide range of musical traditions—from classical repertoire to contemporary styles to musical theatre—while growing in both artistry and spiritual formation. The Taylor University Chorale and Sounds Chamber Ensemble maintain a strong tradition of musical excellence, performing regularly on campus and touring nationally and internationally. Their tours have taken them to Romania, Ecuador, Alaska, and the southeastern United States. This spring, the Chorale will travel to South Korea for a highly anticipated international tour.

Recent investments in the Smith-Hermanson Music Center continue to demonstrate Taylor’s strong commitment to expanding opportunities for student-musicians. In the past few years, the University has refreshed many of the building’s common areas, creating warm, inviting gathering spaces that serve as a welcoming front door to the performance hall and practice rooms. Most recently, the band rehearsal room underwent a complete renovation—including new flooring, paint, instrument lockers, and chairs—resulting in a polished, functional, and inspiring learning environment.

There is also exciting news on the horizon for the Music program: thanks to a generous donor, Taylor will soon begin construction on a new on-campus recording studio. Work is set to start this summer, with the studio slated to open Fall 2026. This state-of-the-art space will empower students to blend composition and music technology in dynamic, meaningful ways, equipping them to thrive in today’s digital and highly collaborative landscape. We look forward to sharing more details as this exciting project continues to take shape.

Student achievement continues to reinforce the strength of the program. Recently, 13 Taylor students earned awards in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition—the highest number of recognitions in Taylor’s history, with 10 awards going to Musical Theatre majors. These accomplishments reflect not only the talent of Taylor students, but also the quality of instruction and mentorship they receive from dedicated faculty. Through enhanced facilities, outstanding faculty, and opportunities for global engagement, Taylor’s Music program is shaping musicians who pursue excellence and steward their creative gifts with purpose.

Art: Inspiring Greater Creativity

Taylor is one of the few schools within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) to offer standalone Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in Design, Illustration, Photography, and Studio Art. These rigorous programs prepare students for both graduate school and professional careers. With faculty who are active practitioners in their fields, students receive both expert mentorship and real-world artistic insight.

Taylor’s Art program continues to grow through strategic facility and equipment upgrades that enhance hands-on learning and artistic exploration. Support from Taylor’s 1846 Giving Circle provided iPads for digital painting, giving students access to professional tools used in illustration and design. Photography students benefit from a new 44″ wide large-format ink jet printer, three medium-format ink jet printers, and updated camera bodies and lenses—equipment that enables professional level work.

The 3D art studios have also been refreshed with updated flooring, new hand tools, three electric kilns, a stone-cutting saw, and a sandblaster, enhancing student experiences in ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media. Increased gallery funding has further strengthened the program’s capacity to host student exhibitions.

Boren Art Gallery: Preserving Art, Enriching Community

We are honored to be among the few CCCU institutions to offer a dedicated art gallery on campus. Located in Helena Memorial Hall, Taylor’s Boren Art Gallery (BAG) serves as a cultural gathering space for both the University and the surrounding community. Designed as a refined venue for exhibitions, meaningful gatherings, and elevated events, the gallery invites visitors, classes, and community groups to experience the beauty and significance of its collections in an inspiring setting. Established in 2022, the gallery features a distinguished collection of Western and Indiana art generously gifted by Leland and LaRita Boren. Taylor’s gallery director oversees a regular rotation of collections, including the current exhibition highlighting works from the Hoosier Group of American Romantics. Student exhibitions are also featured throughout the year, and students may earn practicum credit through their involvement in the gallery’s operations.

Theatre: Bringing Stories to Life

Taylor’s Theatre program invites students to explore the human experience through storytelling, grounded in the belief that God’s character can be discovered in every narrative. Recent investments have strengthened both the artistic and technical sides of the program, ensuring students gain industry-standard job experience.

New seating in Mitchell Theatre, upgraded house lighting, and enhanced safety and rigging systems have transformed the performance venue, elevating both production quality and the student training experience. Refreshed mezzanine furnishings create a more welcoming and functional gathering space for audiences during intermissions. These recent improvements have strengthened our theatre program in meaningful ways—and even more renovations and program enhancements are on the horizon thanks to a generous $425K gift to the program.

These facility enhancements support a robust performance season. Each year, students participate in four faculty-directed productions, a student-directed one-act festival, and a senior capstone showcase. Every production is powered by an all-student staff—offering real-world experience in scenic artistry, costume design, carpentry, stage management, and other industry-standard specialties.

With expanded facilities, award-winning programs, and dedicated faculty, Taylor University is committed to strengthening the arts for generations to come.