Arts education is endangered everywhere. For those of us who have pursued the arts in some way - we know that education in the arts is foundational. 

Emory's Visual Arts Department is unique because it serves one of the nation's top research institutions. Emory’s liberal arts education combines the sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts in a vital education.  Within this richness, as students we were able to in understanding and developing artistic voice. The Visual Arts Department was an essential part of our education, for those of us who have participated in it.

For many of us, law, business and medicine are not our paths. Instead, we want to lead the world with creativity as a tool for service.  Within the liberal arts tradition, we had the opportunity to study philosophy and literature and to translate our education into art.

We respectfully request that the President of Emory University and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences reconsider the plan to close down the Department.   The Visual Arts Department has launched many of us into fields we did not think we would pursue when we arrived at Emory from filmmaking, non-profit work, photography, journalism, product design and architecture. 

We ask that the decision to close the department be reversed. The education and opportunity that the Visual Arts Department provides is necessary and vital to Emory's students. Please keep it alive!