Border Crossings

Photo by Natasha Moustache

CFA Faculty

Border Crossings

A Note from Dean Harvey Young: Winter 2024

November 25, 2023

I was raised along a border. I tend not to use these words to describe my childhood because folks often imagine an alternate existence filled with political tension and dramatic crossings.

A fast-moving river ending in a series of spectacular waterfalls separated me from Canada. However, bridges made it easy to cross that body of water. Toronto, the nearest major city, was my Oz. It had everything. Thanks to robust immigration, it was home to people who spoke different languages, possessed every complexion, practiced varying religions, and contributed to the larger cultural diversity of the region.

Looking back, I see the privilege that I had as a kid. As an adult, I now know the history of quotas and prejudicial restrictions that selectively targeted certain groups and prevented their movements. I am cognizant of the suffering that occurs in refugee communities caught between and along borders. I am aware that not every community, including Toronto, has enthusiastically embraced immigration and evolving neighborhood demographics.

Border crossing is a fundamental part of a College of Fine Arts education. I regularly tell BU students that I try to shrink the world for them. I want them to see the interconnections. When the world seems smaller, the prospect of effecting change through one’s artistry or advocacy is less daunting.

We shift students’ perspectives by investing in global study. Every undergraduate theater major studies abroad as does the majority of visual arts and music majors. Our students have access to BU programs in 25 cities across 20 countries.

We affirm our confidence in the skills of our students by providing them with opportunities to perform or exhibit their work on globally recognizable stages. Last year, we curated a professional gallery exhibition in Venice that ran concurrent with the Venice Biennale. This past summer, our student musicians performed in concerts throughout China and juried competitions in the United Kingdom. As you will read in this issue, our theater students recently participated in the Prague Quadrennial, the premiere showcase for theatrical design.

We create and extend professional networks for our students by welcoming international guests. The School of Music, in association with the BU Arts Initiative, is a lead sponsor of the annual BU Global Music Festival. The School of Visual Arts convenes a Tuesday Night Lecture Series and the School of Theatre offers On Set, which brings prominent artists and scholars to campus nearly every week.

How has border crossing and, more generally, travel changed your outlook on the world? I would love to hear from you. You can reach me at cfadean@bu.edu.

Harvey Young, Dean of CFA