Visual artists and scholars engage history, theory, and practice to create work that speaks across cultures and disciplines.
About
Why Study the Arts at Howard
For generations, Howard University has stood as a place where artists refine their craft, expand their thinking, and shape culture. At the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, students join a community of musicians, actors, visual artists, scholars, and creators dedicated to artistic excellence and cultural impact.
At Howard, students develop:
• Artistic mastery through rigorous conservatory-style training
• Intellectual depth through a liberal arts foundation
• Cultural leadership through engagement with global arts communities
Rooted in the intellectual tradition of Howard University, the College prepares artists to lead with integrity, innovation, and purpose across the global arts community.
A Creative Ecosystem Built for Artistic Growth
Students at the College learn in an environment designed to support both discipline and imagination. Professional-caliber studios, performance spaces, rehearsal halls, and galleries provide the environment where ideas become practice and practice becomes mastery.
Across disciplines, students create, rehearse, perform, exhibit, and collaborate in spaces that encourage experimentation while maintaining the rigor expected of professional training.
Mentorship, Access, and Real-World Experience
Our students study alongside accomplished faculty, visiting artists, and creative leaders who bring deep professional experience into the classroom and studio.
Through performances, exhibitions, collaborations, and partnerships across Washington, D.C., and beyond, students gain opportunities that connect classroom learning to the broader arts world. These experiences prepare graduates not only to enter the profession, but to shape the future of artistic practice.
At Howard, artists are not only trained to master their craft. They are prepared to shape culture.
Advancing Global Creative Engagement
The College continues to expand its impact through new initiatives that connect artistic practice with global cultural exchange. Among them is the Center for Black Arts, Design & Global Engagement (BADGE), a hub for research, collaboration, and creative dialogue across the African diaspora and the broader global arts community.
Through lectures, partnerships, exhibitions, and interdisciplinary projects, the Center fosters new conversations about art, culture, design, and social impact, strengthening Howard’s historic role as a meeting place for artists, scholars, and cultural leaders.
The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Named in honor of actor, playwright, and Howard alumnus Chadwick A. Boseman, the College embodies the spirit of an artist whose discipline, vision, and leadership continue to shape contemporary film and stage.
1893
Department of Music founded
The Department of Music was founded by Miss Lulu Vere Childers—more than a century before the College itself—establishing a deep foundation of artistic excellence at Howard.
The College’s work is carried forward through three departments that together cultivate the next generation of artists and scholars.
Three Departments. One Shared Purpose.
Get In Touch
Whether you’re exploring programs, seeking collaboration, or interested in joining our community, we’d love to connect.